M1A1 Abrams "Iraq 2003" USMC

Thanks for building and sharing it  "out here" in the main forums. Too many good model builds get hidden from the main community in Group Builds.

No problem. I jut feel a little imitated buy this kit. Never had one of this detail before.

The kit is flawed in that Academy used a short M1 turret copied from Tamiya's M1 kit.  An M1A1 turret is about 5mm longer in the front in 1/35 scale.  The kit is a rehash of their older kit which, as stated, was copied with all the issues of Tamiya's older Abrams kits.  The only good part is the new J sprue with some nice upgrade parts.  I would keep the J sprue and trash the rest of the kit.  Use the J parts to update an older Dragon M1A1 kit as they are a better starting point.  The tracks are the old, chevron block track too that haven't been used since the early '90s.  If you go with it still, get a set of AFV Club indi-link replacement tracks for it.  The way I see it though, that is throwing good money after bad at it.

HeavyArty

The kit is flawed in that Academy used a short M1 turret copied from Tamiya's M1 kit.  An M1A1 turret is about 5mm longer in the front in 1/35 scale.  The kit is a rehash of their older kit which, as stated, was copied with all the issues of Tamiya's older Abrams kits.  The only good part is the new J sprue with some nice upgrade parts.  I would keep the J sprue and trash the rest of the kit.  Use the J parts to update an older Dragon M1A1 kit as they are a better starting point.  The tracks are the old, chevron block track too that haven't been used since the early '90s.  If you go with it still, get a set of AFV Club indi-link replacement tracks for it.  The way I see it though, that is throwing good money after bad at it.

Well the wife gave me my allowance this week so this was the only kit of this type that Hobby Lobby had. I think I will give it a try. I will have to wait till next month to get another kit. I got started on the road wheels this morning.

Like Gino says, it's one of Academy's copies from the 1980s with some new parts (pretty decent new ones too) they added to make their poorman's Desert Storm era Abrams into an OIF Abrams.

As is, it'll get you a "looks like" an up to date Abrams, but it'll have flaws. I'd just build it out of box and not worry about trying to accurize it. I saw one at Hobby Lobby yesterday for $34.99. With the 40% off coupon, I was tempted to buy it for the new parts, but it wasn't worth it to me.

I know the feeling on that. I am just limited on what I can buy and where to get the kits. I will have to save up money to get one of the real good kits.

any way here is an update on the build.

Are you really telling him to take the advice of 2 of the most knowledgeable people about modern US armor on this or any of the modeling forums and ignore it?  That is pretty strong words considering the original posted ASKED for advice and comments.

So far the kit is looking good! Keep up the good work on it.

Enjoy your kit, ignore what others say. I'm in the same boat when it comes to cash and available kits, so I just build what I like, how I like and that is that.

w00t!

MJames70

Have fun with your build. My other advice is to take the "advice" you get from some people on these forums, and file it where it belongs - in the crapper.

The Academy kit has some serious issues. That does not mean it belongs in the trash or isn't worth building. Let the rivet counters turn their noses up. Let me tell you a secret - most of them haven't actually built a model in ages, because they're all 'unbuildable trash', after all.

Enjoy your build, learn from it, and have a good time. Worry about the rest some other time.

So my advice to "just build it out of box and not worry about trying to accurize it" belongs in the crapper?

Isn't that your advice as well?

You say the "Academy kit has some serious issues."

I say "it'll get you a "looks like" an up to date Abrams, but it'll have flaws."

Seems to me your opinion of the kit is more harsh than mine.

I never said it wasn't worth building. I'm not Gino/Heavy nor do I control what he types, thinks or opines.

I agree with his stated facts that it is the old Tamiya copied. The original Tamiya kit is a personal favorite of mine. I have a half dozen of them both built and unbuilt; a couple built in the 1980s and a couple built within the past few years. One of which I converted into a Sgt. York ADA variant. I've built the Academy kit with my son when he was a kid and given one to the man who is now my son-in-law. I've also kitbashed the Academy kit with the Tamiya original M1 to make an M1IP.

Although I believe his "throwing money" comment alludes to not spending lots of money on after market items that will quickly surpass the cost of the kit (at least that's how I read his comment), I won't put words into his mouth.

I do take issue with you saying my advice belongs in the crapper when your advice literally mirrors mine.

I gave him advice and it is solely my opinion.  No one said he had to do anything with the kit or advice.  I could care less if he builds it or not.  He asked for opinions on the kit, and that is what I gave him.  As Rob says, my "good money after bad" comment was about spending more money on aftermarket items.  If he was going to do that, it would be more cost effective to get a better kit as a starting point and not spend the extra on lots of AM to correct the Academy kit.

For your info, I am a prolific builder and don't believe any kit is "unbuildable trash", it just depends on how much effort and money you want to put into them.  I personally like to build for accuracy, others don't - so be it.  I don't see what you are getting all bent out of shape over.  No one told you to do anything.

I'm just a bit curious. Do people actuall  pull out micrometers and such to compare to to the specs of the real thing .? If so ,that's fine. I'd just rather have fun building a model.

Raualduke

I'm just a bit curious. Do people actuall  pull out micrometers and such to compare to to the specs of the real thing .? If so ,that's fine. I'd just rather have fun building a model.

Why is it always assumed that using measurements to identify and correct a kits inaccuracies is not fun?  To some of us that is part of the enjoyment in building.  Personally, I find it extremely boring to just take the latest uber kit and build it without going over it.  I guess after building over 2600 models in the last 35 years my skills and desires have evolved past merely OOB builds (although I there is nothing wrong with building OOB if that is what you enjoy doing).

Some people actually do pull out the calipers, resize reference photos and make comparisons between the kit and the references. I've provided photographs to those responsible for assisting with Dragon's M1A1AIM and M1A2SEP kits.

I equate model building to yard work. You might be the type who uses a non-powered rotary push mower and a manual edger. Your neighbor to your right might use a zero turn riding mower and a motorized edger. Your neighbor to your left might hire a landscaping contractor. Neither one of you is doing it wrong, just different. There is actually a member of this forum that "hires a contractor" to do his model building. He just posts the pictures.

When I build some subjects, like WW2 German armor, I'll slap it together straight out of the box. At the most I'll get a turned aluminum gun tube if I can't get the plastic tube seam to disappear.

With a Sherman, I'll probably get a photo etch set because many of the kits don't include the wire periscope guards and other fine details like that.

With a modern US armor kit, I'll probably do some extensive research on the specific vehicle I am looking to replicate. I normally print my own decals to make the bumper numbers for the tank I want. I'll make any necessary modifications or changes to increase accuracy as it suits me.

This thread has degenerated into the reason why I don't give advice beyond "build it out of box and have fun." I'll answer questions about the history of a kit (is it a rebox, how long it's been around, who's repopped it, new tool?), I'll post photos that assist modelers in determining a detail for themselves, and I'll answer some questions about a kit (paint colors included) that I have first hand knowledge about because I have it or have built it.

I've long given up providing any useful critiques or constructive comments at this forum. If you do, even if specifically asked by the original poster, you run the risk of being called a rivet counter, joy sucker, nitpicker, and any other insulting term of endearment by other modelers rushing to the defense of the original poster.

Though I seriously doubt Rob or Gino need anybody to defend them, I'll cast my vote to keep their and the multitude of other experts' advice OUT OF the crapper and on this forum. If a poster asks about something that is in their expertise, they answer. Straightforward. I find it hard to believe how that is a bad thing? I remember my AAV I built a couple years ago, I asked for advice, they and some other very knowledgable forum members gave it. It helped me build a model easily 10 times better than it would've been.

I have the Academy kit in this post, I picked it up with a 40% coupon at hobby lobby because it was cheap and its an Abrams. Because of this, and previous posts about this kit that both Gino and Rob  have commented on, it has saved me the trouble of buying AM for it...which I was seriously considering.

I believe Gino did a build on it or at least posted a link to somebody who did and tried to correct the problems with the kit. The problems are certainly more than a "rivet counters" tiff with the dimensions. The turret is WAY off IIRC. I may not use the knowledge they freely give towards updating a kit, but I am very thankful of the advice that Rob, Gino, and the many other experts on this forum give when asked.

PS if you click on the link that Gino has in his sig you'll see the multitude of wonderful builds he has done. If you took the time he does to research, update, and make kits as accurate as he does, I doubt you'd be pumping models out every month. I don't mean to take away from the models that Rob or any of the other experts in modern armor do here either, I was just using Gino as an example because he has a link in his sig.

Also....Nomad...its looking good so far, be sure to paint the middle of the wheels black as on the real thing it is clear so you can easily check the oil....here's an example...

....Something I learned from the advice that should apparently be thrown into the crapper

Personally I did ask for advice and opinions and all are welcome. I did not take any of the comments as offensive at all. Someone that has built modern armor for that long I say bring on the advice.  As for the kits I will save up the money to get a Dragon kit or another one that is of better quality.

I am not set up for PE yet but that is another option that I am looking at. I want to go for accuracy in a build and I am striving to get there and I will in time.

I have not built models for a long time. I am disabled and have all day long to build. My hands are really giving me problems with some of the smaller parts so PE would be a big thing for me to do. Like I said I will get there in time.

So with that said lets not bash each other over the comments and get to building and helping each other and have fun.

Here are some new photos of the build.

Thank for that great advise. I will do that. I have been looking at photos of the Abrams but that slipped my eye.

Here's a link to a detail pic of the aforementioned wheel hub.

http://svsm.org/gallery/m1a1abramsjh2/DSC08861

I really like the photo. I will use that as a reference.

Thanks again Phil.

One quick fix to any Abrams kit is to drill out the mud holes in the outer sprocket half. You can use something as simple as the tip of your X-Acto knife. There are four holes in each sprocket that are literally rough cut into the shape of a D. Here are a couple of photos to help you if it is an item you wish to improve.

Additionally, please let me know if this type of advice should be "filed in the crapper" so I don't waste time linking my photos and typing my answer. Sorry if this sucks some of the fun out of the build for you.

Rob,

First off your advice is not GOING into the crapper. I will use what you tell me. I am so new to this stuff, even tho I used to build all the time, that I need advice from the more experienced modelers on this forum.

Second I will look at the photo and see if I can do this. There are already "D" holes in  the sprocket. If there needs to be some other work on them I will do it. Below is a photo of the sprocket on the kit.

tThird, lets put this crapper stuff in the crapper and flush it. LOL

Also for the ones that left complements thank you very much. I may not reply to each one but do khow that I do read all of the posts.

Looking good so far.  I trailed a pair of these on our push into Basrah International Airport and they were picking off targets I couldn't even focus on much less identify with the sights in my AAV while hauling cross country.  There would be a massive thump from the Abrams firing and then way off in the distance after a second or two would be a quick fireball.  300 miles behind an Abrams was reassuring but offered that aromatic and heated exhaust that was already available in Iraq.

OK, I see your construction error from the photo; the raised portions of the inner and outer sprocket should be glued together, but you have the lower and upper portions mated. You may find the sprocket will be too narrow for the track to sit if you don't rotate the outer portion a quarter turn.

You'll get a bigger D-shaped hole.

Nomad your attitude is spot on! Looking good so far. Bob