I was just wonder that since I have the Hobby Craft M1A1 with mine plows which is actually a Trumpeter. Is the Hobby Craft “Marines” M1A1[w/o a mine plow] a Trumpeter as well? Love the current one I have and I was wondering if maybe the other Abrams was the same kit without the plows. Does anyone know the differnces between the two Hobby Craft kits? I was thinking of getting another, they are only $18.99 at my local Hobby Lobby and mine with the plows came with metal chains and rubber hoses for the plows.
Yeah its a Trumpeter kit too. I just built it and I really liked the kit. great detail.
THANKS! Do you know if it’s the same exact mold as the one with the mine plows? What all comes with it such as figs and such? I ask because if it is the same kit as the mine plow one then I can just get another ‘mine plow’ kit and keep the extra parts. If the marine is a diff kit then i’ll get it so i will have one of each.
Yes, it’s the exact same mould. Trumpeter made only one, which they used for all their M1s, save the M1A2, which I’m not sure about. That’s the one I’ll be building for the M1 GB. It’s great, even has the non-slip surface moulded EVERYWHERE it’s supposed to be on the tank.
Zokissima, do you mean you are building the M1A1 or the A2? The M1A1 has the no slip coating too unless that was the one you were refering too. What’s the diff between the A1 and A2?
I’m building the A2. I was only saying that the mouldings for all their M1 kits look peculiarly the same to me.
I’m by no means an expert on the M1, so I’m not quite sure what the A2 upgrade entitled.
But I’m sure that enough people on this forum can write books on the differences
The external differences between the A1 and A2 version are the Commander’s Independant Thermal Sight (CITS) on the left front turret top where there is a bolted access cover on the A1, and the new Commander’s Cupola. The A2 cupola has a new .50 cal mount that allows it to be fired from outside the turret, more like a traditional pintle mount .50 cal and new vision block set-up. You can see the new parts in the photo below. 
And yes, the Trumpeter A2 is the same kit as A1 with extra parts added. It still has all the A1 parts too, so you can build either.
OOOOOOOOOO…AAAAAAAAAAAAH[:p]
THANKS GUYS![bow] So i guess there is no point in getting the Marine one then. I’ll just get another one with mine plows and the new A2 when I get the scratch![:D]