M1A1 conversion kitbash

I would forget about Tamiya and go with the much better detailed and more complete Dragon M1A1 AIM.  Add the left over USMC parts (smoke grenade launchers and MCD) from Tamiya and you will have a really nice USMC M1A1.

Ghostrider114

I am on the final legs of finishing up a Tamiya M1A2 for the Gulf Wars GB, and I can't help but notice how many parts are left over for the other variants in the kit.

That's because Tamiya retooled their M1A1 kit (which was their retooled original M1 kit) into a 3 in 1 kit (Army M1A2, Army M1A1, USMC M1A1) so you have additional items like the two different commander's cupolas (CWS, ICWS), CITV, MCD, two different smoke grenade launchers, etc.

Ghostrider114

Anyway, I could buy another M1A2 on EBAY, but I can get the Tamiya M1A1 w/ mineplow kit at my local hobby shop for cheaper (and I don't have to deal with shipping).  I've got most of the parts I think I'd need, but there's some that I already used on the A2; in particular, I would probably need another EPU and the associated parts for that.  Is there anything else I might need? and does anyone know where I might find them?  On that note, would it really be worth it for me to do this, once I factor in all these extra parts?  Or should I just get another A2.

You could do this, but Gino's suggestion is superior. But if you can get one of the Tamiya kits cheap, it is a viable option. Fortunately, you made the M1A2/A1 kit into an M1A2 so the USMC pieces can be used on another Tamiya older M1A1 kit with little issue. If you had made the M1A2/A1 kit into an M1A1, you would not be able to add the newer M1A2 bits onto an older M1A1 kit without some surgery like removing the CWS and replacing it with the ICWS.

oh, I forgot that the CWS was part of the upper turret piece on that version, I was hoping to use the more detailed CWS from the newer kit.  In that case I guess it would be better to buy another A2 kit.