I’m historically and aircraft builder, but I’ve always been interested in the M1 Abraham tank. I’d like to build a kit and am looking for a kit reccomendation. I’d like to build one form either the Desert Storm period or OIF.
I know of the Tamiya kit and the Academy kit. Anyone have an opinion, reccomendation or know of some good kit reviews?
Thanks,
Toad
I love the Tamiya kit, but you will have to add the anti-skid. They make an OIF version too.
the new Tamiya M1A2 looks a great kit with lots of options
Academy review
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/academy/acd13202.htm
Tamiya M1A2 review
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tamiya/tam35269.htm
Dragons M1A1
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/dragon/dr3533.htm
Italeri
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/italeri/it6438.htm
The Tamiya M1A2 OIF is probably the easiest to build. It can also be built as either an Army M1A2, Army M1A1, or USMC M1A1. It has a few flaws, as all do, the biggest being the absense of anti-slip coating.
The new Academy M1A1 Iraq 2003 has a couple of problems. First, the track are the older angled block style from Desert Storm and earlier era. Secondly, the turret is too short and is crowded around the smoke launcher area. It comes with lots of gear and an extended bustle storage rack (USMC version, not US Army type).
Here is a review of each.
Tamiya M1A2 OIF: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tamiya/tam35269.htm
Academy M1A1 Iraq 2003: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/academy/acd13202.htm
I like the DML M1 kits as well. Their latest USMC Iraq version is nice. All the DML versions come with a partial interior as well (driver’s area and upper turret). The newest version, M1A1 USMC Iraq comes with a full load of gear, PE screen for an extended bustle storage rack (though it is a US Army, 3ID rack, not USMC), and paper MRE boxes.
Dragon review: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/dragon/dr3533.htm
The Trumpeter kits are pretty nice as well, a little fidgety to build, but they come out looking really good.
Italeri has a new multimedia kit out too. It includes resin interior parts and a resin engine. Kinda pricy though.
Here is a review on it: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/italeri/it6438.htm
Here is a comparison of most of the M1 kits out there, compliments of Vodnik.
http://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m1-comparison/m1comp1.htm
That should give you all the info you need to decide which one you would like to build.
Good luck and have fun.
Gotta love when we get a “wingy thingy” guy to convert to armor!!
By the way, toadwbg, the name for the M1 is not the ‘Abraham,’ but is actually the 'Abrams." It may seem like Abrams is a shortened version of Abraham, but it is actually named in honor of a US Army armor commander, General Creighton Abrams. (you’ll get converted to all the armor lingo soon enough[;)])
Thanks Dudes!
I’ll check out the Hobby Lobby 50% off sale and see what I can find. I’ll probably go Tamiya as I’ve built their kits before.
The only Abrams I’ve built was the M1A1HA, which was a pain in the neck but oh-so-satisfying in the long haul. [2c]
I’ve been disappointed in all of them for one reason or another. Trumpeters and Dragon has better detail than Tamiya, but Tamiya’s goes together better. I did have some fit problems on the turret of the Tamiya kit however. My Dragon’s turret wasn’t even completely molded! Italeri’s wasn’t bad, but a headache to get together. Just my [2c]
Echelon makes some fine decals for the M1 tank. #35006 contains markings for 2 forest green and 4 NATO three-tone tanks. #35013 contains markings for one complete platoon and two other vehicles all desert scheme.
Hello , I like the Tamiya M1A1, and M1A2 Abrams , though a bit pricey , I find the details more sharper than the Dragon kits, and the turret contours are more acurate than the Dragon kit , especially , around the shape of the foward part of the turret. Check out HeavyArty’s links , and go from there. The Tamiya kits lack the “anti-slip” surfacing , but after looking at pictures of M-1’s , and seeing real M-1’s , I think this is a minor detail. But what ever kit you decide to build , I am sure you will be happy !
Frank
“PERSEVERANCE”.
TRUMPETER!!!
I have built two of their M1A1HA Abrams and i couldnot find a single thing to complain about…
But thats just my opinion??
Robert
If you are (as you suggest) new to 1/35 armour kits…I would recommend the Tamiya M1A1 Abrams. Of all those available, it probably fits together the best. My second choice would be the Academy kit of same (# 13202). Dragon & Trumpeter also have Abrams kits in 1/35 scale, but they both require much more work/effort in terms of producing a satisfactory finished product.
The Tamiya kit, no doubt, goes together the easiest, with the least problems. I don’t have that one, but built a Trumpeter M1A2, and even though it had some fit problems, nothing major, and the kit was a joy to build. Plus, you can find the Trumpeter offerings pretty cheap. IMHO, they are better than the Dragon kits of the Abrams.
I purchased the Academy M1A1 Abrams ‘Iraq 2003’ #13202 today at Hobby Lobby for half of the $32.00 retail price.
A side by side comparison of the Academy M1A1 and the Tamiya M1A2 #35269 show that the two kits appear to be almost identical molds with the Academy showing a slightly less crispness to the detail. Most of the details however less prominent on the Academy kit are virtually identical to the Tamiya including underside mold marks. The wheel tree labeled A is very similar with even the tow cable being cast in the same spot on both trees. The Academy kit also offers a one piece rubber track.
No matter, even if it is a clone of the Tamiya Abrams, the Academy Abrams kit looks just fine with me.
I agree that the tamiya kit is a good choice and Academys kit is also a good choice but academys tracks are a little thick but thats just my opinon
The Academy kit includes the old style track not used since Desert Storm. The Tamiya kit makes into a US Army M1A1HA or M1A2 or a USMC M1A1HA.
The Academy kit is a slightly tweaked version of their old kit, generally considered the worst of all Abrams tank kits still available on the market. The Esci ones were worse but are long OOP.
I just bought the Revell M1A2, in the box it looks like a pretty nice kit. It even has the anti skid surface on it. Other than that for right now that is all that I can tell you. When I finally get done moving into my house and get started on it I will let you guys know how it goes. Has any one out there put one together before?
Revell M1A2 is a rebox of the Italeri M1A2. I haven’t built it myself, but heard it is a pretty nice kit. Here is a build article on the Italeri M1A2 by Jim Lewis, Gunnie over at www.Armorama.com
Stay away from the Dragon kit. In my opini it is a nightmare. I am struggling through mine, it is taking hrs upon hrs and just lousey results. I have commented on this previously, the plastic is not great and the parts do not detach easily from the sprue. They are molded right next to the rib leaving little room in many cases to clip off the piece cleanly as you can do with Tamiya kits. In addition, the individual tracks are a nightmare. I am frustrated. Last night, removing the machine gun from the sprue resulted in a barrel split in half. I am trying to figure a way to rebuild it right now. Not worth the savings from the Tamiya kit. Last Dragon kit I will purchase. I’d go Tamiya.
Dragon kits are not that bad, I would say you are not in the majority in your opinion of them.
Don’t discount them because of one persons difficulties with them. Until the new Tamiya kit came out, they were considered the best M1 Abrams models on the market. They may take a little more work, but come out looking great and have more detail that the Tamiya kit. For a new builder, you may want to go with the Tamiya just for ease of building, but the Dragon kits are still high on my list, can’t beat the price either.