Opinions on the Italeri 1/35 M1A2 Abrams tank

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Hello

Someone is selling a brand new 1/35 scale Italeri M1A2 Abrams tank (kit #6390) for 30 dollars (so no tax and no shipping)

I’m wondering if this is a good deal or not. I’ve seen very mixed reviews online, as some were saying it’s a great and accurate kit that needs very little AM parts to look good, while others have complained on the fit issue, the 120mm barrel that is too short and the gazillon ejector pin marks visible all over the hull.

I must say that I have a love/hate relationship with Italeri kits so far (I’ve built 2 tanks, 1 truck and 1 aircraft) and I’m not really impressed with them, as far a fit is concerned.

Thing is, the Tamiya kit of the same tank is 45$ at my LHS (plus tax), Trumpeter and Dragon kits are more into the 50$ range.

So what are your thoughts about this kit ? What I should be aware of if I get it ?

thanks

2

It is an OK kit. It is an upgraded Trumpeter mold. The details are kind of soft, it does have some good attributes such as the mud release holes on the sprockets. With work, it will look OK. It is no where near the quality of Tamiya or esp. the Dragon M1A2 SEP kits.

This article gives a good comparison of pre-Dragon AIM and SEP Abrams kits.

vodnik.republika.pl/…/m1comp1.htm

3

HeavyArty, yes I’ve looked at this site (I believe it’s also on the Armorama forum).

Actually what I want to know if I should buy it or shell a little more money in order to get the Tamiya kit (which seems easier to build) because at 30$, it’s quite a lot of money for a kit that I won’t enjoy.

4

It isn’t a bad kit, but it also depends on what you want to build. If you just want a generic A2 in your collection, it’s fine. But if you want to do a specific in service vehicle in a wartime setting, then you want one of the later Tamiya or Dragon SEP kits.

As depicted in the Italeri kit, the tank is a straight M1A2 that saw limited fielding in a couple of units. By the time you add any AM to make it into a current combat configuration, it will be more than the newer kits.

5

I just found this thread on this very site : http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/3/t/36677.aspx

A bit old but very interesting nonetheless.

I guess I have my answers now ! [:D]

I’ll save a bit and get the Tamiya kit instead.

Even though it’s not a M1A2, the one with the mine plow looks great (kit #35158)

6

Also keep in mind that not all Tamiya Abrams kits are created equal. The have the OIF M1A2 that builds into an A2 or US Army or USMC M1A1 heavy. Then there’s their newest M1A2 SEP w/TUSK II with most items on the kit up dated.

The older Abrams kits with the mine plows and without are 1990-91 vintage with a base kit from the early 80s.

7

Thanks for pointing that, Rob.

I thought they were made out of the same mold, with only adding the different parts for different versions.

Btw, is the M1A2SEP with TUSK kit worth getting ? Have you build it yet ?

8

I haven’t bought the Tamiya TUSK yet, but if I did not own an Abrams and just wanted a current combat version, I’d buy it because it has all the extra armor upgrades. I’d imagine the Dragon SEP is probably a better model kit, but the Tamiya one has the most recent upgrades.