I originally thought about converting (modernizing) an M1A1 HA kit I have to make a dio of the 3rd IDs first Thunder Run into Baghdad. BUT … I’m thinking of buying the Tamiya kit of the M1A2 … as I don’t have a kit of this version anyway. My question … does anyone know if the A2 was used by the 3rd ID on the Thunder Run or were all their Abrams the A1 versions?
Thanks,
Paul
3ID did not have M1A2s in OIF. A2s were from 4ID once they got there. 3ID still has mostly M1A1s. Sorry, but A2s won’t work for 3ID Thunder Run. M1A1 HA from Dragon is a good representation of a M1A1 in OIF with addition of bustle rack APU, CIPs on turret, and extended bustle rack basket. Actually, the new Dragon USMC M1A1OIF version will make a nice 3ID vehicle if you leave off the MCD and put on Army smoke launchers, and it comes with all the parts for the basket extension and CIPs, along with the Army specific parts and crew gear and MRE boxes…
Thanks Gino … boy that’s going to save me some bucks. By the way, what’s the MCD? Also you mention it comes with a lot of the parts needed for an Army Abrams … does it include the Army smoke grenade launchers?
Paul
MCD stands for Missile Countermeasures Device or commonly know as the dazzler. It is only mounted on USMC M1A1s and used to jam incoming missiles.
One note on the Dragon M1A1, prepare yourself to do a LOT of work.
Yes, all the parts to make a Army M1A1 come in the Dragon USMC M1A1. The turret bustle rack extension is actually the version 3ID had made in Kuwait or their tanks.
Min Soo, I disagree on the Dragon M1A1, it is a great kit, a little TLC makes it even better.
Thanks for the info. To tell you the truth, I haven’t made one myself. I was thinking of buying it but didn’t after hearing horror stories from other modellers.
Next time, I’ll give it a second look.