After discussions with some fellow modellers earlier this year, a need (desire?!) seemed to shake down for a chance to do the M1 Abrams some justice ‘group build-style.’ I volunteered to host/adminster the venture, so I’d like to air the idea here on the general Armor forum.
The Official M1 Abrams Group Build 2011
All variants of the Abrams from the prototype to current service types, plus specials and derivatives, every last member of the Abrams family no matter how distantly related, would be eligible. All markings, all theatres of operation, all kits from all manufacurers, all scales, all aftermarket items or straight from the box: basically, anything goes, if it’s an Abrams it’s in!
Proposed timeframe: January 1st - December 31st, 2011 – plenty of time to get to that promised build, plenty of time for enthusiasts to field a number of projects if they like.
For myself, after struggling with an older Dragon StuG, I’m more than ready to relax with a Tamiya M1A1, in desert scheme with Echelon decals.
Please let me know what you think of this propsal and if you’d be interested in coming aboard for a build at some point during 2011.
Wish I could I would love an Abrams on display, but I’d trying to nail down all my current GB’s and since santa just spent well over $300 on models for me I cant justify another purchase anytime soon.
I’d love to get in on this, too, but first a couple questions:
I’ve never built an Abrams and have no idea who produces M1A1 kits. Suggestions, preferably in 1/48th? (I have built some 1/48th Humvees and would like to keep the trend going…)
How detailed should these be, are there any sort of detail sets for 1/48th?
Hi Klik, welcome aboard. To be honest i’m not sure, 1:48 is not a scale I work in for armor, but I believe I saw an Abrams recently in that scale, possibly a Tamiya though that’s a pure guess.
The detail level is entirely up to you, as basic or as sophisticated as you like. As the type has appeared in the scale there will doubtless be detail sets and decals putting in an appearance. For photoetch, search on Eduard, Aber and Lion Roar as a likely starting point. The smaller scales lend themselves wonderfully to dioramas, imagine a base that combines your Humvees with an Abrams? Food for thought!
For Abrams kits:
1:35 – Tamiya, Dragon/DML, Trumpeter (LOTS, all good, though some are easier than others)
1:72 – DML, Revell Germany (I think)
There have even been some specials in larger scales, I remember a limited run 1:16th scale kit in resin from a firm in California (IIRC) that looked stupendous, and I think there was even a 1:10th scale monster.
The only 1/48 Abrams kit out there is put out by Academy. It is pretty weak being more of a remote controlled motorized toy than a proper scale model of any M1. In 1/72 and 1/35 there are lots more choices.
How bad can Academy’s be? Is it one of those crappy kits that comes with motor parts, or one of those that has bits that are optionial, depending on if you choose to add a motor?
Are you sure that Tamiya hasn’t put out an Abrams in 1/48th yet? They’ve got quite a selection of 1/48th tanks, but I am by no means an expert.
I just checked www.tamiya.com for their 1:48 armor range and they’re almost universally WWII, though a Humvee has recently put in an appearance – so an Abrams might not be far behind.
I don’t know anything about the Academy item, though I will say I’ve built a couple of Academy armor kits in 1:35th scale and enjoyed them very much.
There are actually several 1/48 scale Abrams kits. There is the Kitech and Zhengdefu kits that are under scaled. They suffer from the same problem Academy’s 1/48 scale Abrams suffers from; they use a common lower chassis for all kits. So the T-72/80/90/M60A1/Leo/Abrams all use the same tracks, suspension, etc. The kits are motorized and are more like toys than serious kits.
Arii and Aoshima make a presentable Abrams kit in 1/48 scale. While this kit is designed to be motorized as well, The Propaganda Kompany makes a resin track set to replace the rubber band style tracks to update this kit. They also make a similar update set for the Kitech/Zhengdefu kit.
Rob – many thanks for the roundup of 1:48th scale Abrams offerings, I had no idea there were that many (or that the best would be a resin kit! The subject is really still waiting for its definiitive treatment in this scale).
I do have a Tamiya M1A2 Abrams Operation Iraq Freedom with Voyager Model PE update in my stash. This might be a good excuse to build it. I’ve never been in a group build before.
Kentucky Colonel and Camo Junkie – welcome aboard! JC, nope, it doesn’t matter ultimately what you build so lonh as it’s an Abrams of some sort. Yes, those Trumpters do look very rugged and impressive in the box, I have a couple in the stash. I find myself leaning toward their Panther II mine clearance vehicle as an extra build…
We have about four firm expressions of interest so far, this is coming along nicely!
I haven’t been active for much of the past couple of years (new daughter) but finally have everything cleared out and a bit of room to start back up. I have three M1 variants, the M1A2 Dragon/Shanghai kit, the M1A1-HA USMC Desert Storm Dragon kit, and the M1 Panther Mine Clearing Vehicle Dragon kit.
This GB would give me a great reason to finally build that M1 Panther that I’ve been toting around for the better part of the past 5 years. Unless that variant doesn’t qualify, then I’d do either of my remaining two kits. Anything to get the smell of styrene (and Z-7 debonder) back again.
