old Dragon M1A1 advice

The Dragon Abrams series is basically the same with some sprues added to fit the model on the box. The reason you might be having some problems building the kit is maybe as you have said a lack of armor modelling experience. I would suggest that you post some of the problem areas in the instruction sheet and we will be able to assist you along the way.

Thank you constructor for the reply...most trouble with this kit I have worked through...little extra cleanup here and there...little tweeking..the usual. Again not being that familiar with armor..especially the interior..I'm having trouble with G-22,34,35,36 and 37..they are obviously interior parts, but cannot locate them on the sheet...if there were something to show I would..I may post pics of these parts...you guys may know exactly where they go..thanks

I dug my copy of the kit out and had to take a gander at those parts you listed. I may be wrong but I think those parts are for an A2  SEP version, if so you could leave them off and not be wrong.

Part G-22 is the driver's steering yoke. This isn't listed as "unused" in this kit, but there are several releases which include the interior and it's there in some but not others. This part goes on the inside of the upper hull just in front of the driver's hatch opening. there is a little "U" shaped mounting guide for it.

The other parts you have listed seem to belong to another variant, perhaps the M1A2 (non-SEP), but the release of the M1A2 that I have doesn't have any interior parts at all. In some releases of the M1A1 kits with the "G" sprue, this section is missing completely and the parts simply aren't there.

That little section of the sprue appears to be cut off sometimes and left there sometimes.

This section wasn't on the G sprue in the 3533 that I built several years ago, nor is it in the 3531 I have in the stash, but it is there in the 3516 I have in the stash.

Note that whilst the turret bustle APU is included in the kit, the connector box isn't, so to make it a little more accurate, you may wish to scratch this part.

(not the greatest view but it can be seen here http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/marc_peters/m1a1/images/m1a1_24_of_71.jpg  and http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/marc_peters/m1a1/images/m1a1_25_of_71.jpg)

Note also that the bustle rack extension included in the kit isn't correct for a USMC M1A1, though it is correct for an Army (specifically a 3rd Infantry Division) M1A1.

The A2 SEP didn't exist at the time of this kit's original release and the SEP was only released in kit form along with the AIM by Dragon a few years ago. So it is doubtful the extra parts are for a SEP.

I'll have to dig out one of my old kit boxes to see what the G sprue parts are for, but I am pretty sure they were for the interior (not all kits came with the interior sprue). Here is a tweaks list I helped with about 10+ years ago. Even though they left my name off the document (which still miffs me to this day), it is a pretty good, albeit dated, reference for Abrams tank modeling around the year 2002.

missinglinks2.tripod.com/M1.pdf

I can't recall Dragon ever issuing the older (straight) M1A2 kit with any interior detail, though perhaps it was planned at one stage. Those parts, including a large viewscreen and several additional control panels, may be consistent with an intended interior for an M1A2 that never saw the light of day.

As I mentioned earlier, that section of the sprue is cut away in some versions of the "G" sprue. Perhaps they decided that the labour involved in cutting it away was more costly than simply leaving it there.

Many thanks for the replies..i think my questions have been answered...G22 was bugging me and i see where it goes..still couldnt find on sheet..the other g parts are just good looking detail and wanted to include them...but oh well...i may find some good pics and see what I can include. Thanks again fellas!

If you cannot see these from the hatches, maybe you dont have to install them.

I have fairly comprehensive interior photos of an M1A1 tank that I took years ago.