Proposed GB: Official M1 Abrams Group Build 2011

well I do have a few in the stash....

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. :(

Andrew

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?

Thanks in advance,

Klik

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.

Hope you decide to build!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

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.

stikpusher

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.

Klik

Hi Kilk,

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.

Cheers, Mike

stikpusher

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.

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.

The best option is the resin M1A2 Abrams by Gaso.Line: http://www.phpshopxml.com/quakit.shop/CID/e7d58beb26c4c0bd5f3c548ec9e275f2/function/itemPageDisplay/shopItemCode/GAS50099K

The photo is of the Propaganda Kompany track set, the link will take you to the Gaso.Line kit.

I'm in if you'll have me!

You're in!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

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).

Wanna build a turbine-engined rolling fortress???

Cheers, Mike/TB379

... a good excuse to make an Abrams  "Tusk" .... I´m in!

Welcome to the build, JLL!

Mike/TB379

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.

Thunderbolt379

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).

Wanna build a turbine-engined rolling fortress???

Cheers, Mike/TB379

I think if Tamiya took the shrink ray to their 3-in-1 M1A2/A1 Abrams kit and made it 1/48 scale, it'd be a huge seller.

may i be a part of this? i have an a2 i'd like to do but i also some of those trump kits. does it matter in the end what i choose?

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!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Does this mean your other proposed GB, the "Have Gun, Will Travel GB", isn't on the board anymore?

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.

Cheers,

Matt

Kevin -- well, "Have Gun Will Travel" would be a marvelous one to do, I remember there was a lot of doubt as to what was a good period to run it. Mid-October I think was the shake-down of discussions but then I fell sick and was due to fly off to the UK for a few weeks as well, and I'm only just really getting over the combination of infection and jetlag, so I confess that one had hit the back burner. That said -- if folks are still interested I would be delighted to launch it! Thanks for reminding me -- I'll put up a thread about it and if there's still a decent crop of interest then launched it shall be!

Matt -- welcome aboard! All three of those kits are solid contenders, so build away!

Cheers, MIke/TB379

I've got two Acad and one Trump M1 in the stash, but lots going on at the moment. If the run time is not short, I'm in.

Hi RBaer -- proposed run time is a full year, would love to have you in our unit!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thunderbolt379

Hi RBaer -- proposed run time is a full year, would love to have you in our unit!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

That I can do! Count me in. I'm not totally sure exactly what I'll do, but it'll be from an Academy M1A1 and a Trump M1 for parts.

i may have missed it and i admit im a bit lazy if there is more than one page...lol...but has it been stated as to when this gets started?

cj -- January 1st, going for 12 months,

M

I would also like to join the GB. I have a tamiya abrams that I would like to build. Plus can I get one of those cool GB tags.......

Bob

Hi Bob, welcome aboard, Tamiya it is!

M/TB379

I was thinking this over the past week. 1/48th is out, if there aren't that many good kits of an Abrams out there for this scale.

However, don't count me out yet!

I just need to know if there are 1/144th offerings. I know that one company has a bunch of modern 1/144th tanks out there...but darned if I can remember it...

Any help is appreciated.

thanks ahead of time,

Klik

Hey Mike!

Are previously started builds OK?

Even if they are almost finished?