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Hi Guys, Which Abrams Kit is best for this build? I am building this for my friend to commemorate his time as a tanker in Iraq. Which kit do you think would best meet my needs, anything you see that might need to be scratchbuilt? Stik? Gino? Also note the damage from an EFP (explosively formed Penetrator/Projectile) hit.... (excuse the unknown wannabe thugs in said picture)
Thanks!!! Rudy
On the Bench:Revell AMT 1/25 GMC Sonoma, Revell 1/48 Dauntless, Dragon T-34/76 Recently Finished:1966 Charger, British Vosper P.T. Boat, 1962 pontiac Catalina 1:48 Tamiya Dehavilland Mosquito 1:24 Pinto, 1:24 1966 Chevy Suburban
On the Bench:Revell AMT 1/25 GMC Sonoma, Revell 1/48 Dauntless, Dragon T-34/76
Recently Finished:1966 Charger, British Vosper P.T. Boat, 1962 pontiac Catalina 1:48 Tamiya Dehavilland Mosquito 1:24 Pinto, 1:24 1966 Chevy Suburban
Hi Rudy,
That will be a great build. Sorry I have no idea, but am courious as well. I assume you are intrseted in 1/35?I heard the best 1/72 kit is the Revell.
Steve
Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.
http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/
First, the photos are not of the same tank, or at least not at the same time. The one w/the EFP hit has TUSK I ERA blocks and a .50 cal on the barrel (and no black stripes on the bore evac), while the others don't. Also, the uniforms are much later (ACUs vs DCUs) on the two guys throwing gang signs thinking they look cool. Not sure when/how you want it to depict.
It is an M1A2 though, can't tell if it is a SEP or not (most likely it is a SEP in '05). The best M1A2 kit is the Dragon M1A2 SEP. It can be built w/out the SEP parts though if needed. It also looks like you would need a M1 Mine Roller attachment plate as well. There are none available as a separate kit, but Trumpeter (5-in-1 Abrams and M1 Panther II) and Dragon (M1 Panther II) both have them in other M1 kits.
By the way, there is no "h" in Abrams.
Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!
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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
Rudy,
It's an M1A2, probably a SEP v1, given the date stamp on the first pic. Your most likely candidate would be Dragon's M1A2 SEP kit (#3536)
It's interesting that it has the mount for the mineroller kit installed, but without the rollers themselves. This would have to be sourced from another kit (Trumpeter?)
Trumpeter has an Abrams 5-in-1 kit from which you could build a basic M1A2 and includes the mine roller, but of the available Abrams kits' it's pretty ordinary.
I will pass to Gino and Phil on this, as I am not up to speed on all the nuances of the current/later Abrams. But I will agree that the Dragon M1A2 kit is gonna be what you need for this project, along with the source kit for the mine roller attachment plate. Why not build two kits- one for your buddy, and one for you? I certainly like the non TUSK version with the cav turret art and B4 on the sideskirts more myself...
F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!
U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!
N is for NO SURVIVORS...
- Plankton
LSM
Thanks guys, I knew there was something wrong with the spelling, but the spell checker was not being too helpful. I apologize for the wannabe thugs and whatever the hell they are doing, I have no Idea who they are. Definitely looks like two different deployments to me as well on a second look... I also prefer the look of the Non-Tusk version as well. It will be 1:35 scale... It will be my first Abrams, and second tank. (third if you count the Dragon 251 I'm mostly done with, but had to put to the side after working on the tracks for hours upon hours.)
Thank You very muich for the help fellas!
Rudy
I would go with the Dragon M1A2 SEP kit (3536) then. It is a great kit.
The Legend M1 Abrams Stowage set (LF1163) has the storage box on the side of the turret. It is actually a HEMTT storage box. The set comes with lots of nice gear and accessories as well. You could also scratch-build it from sheet styrene.
Good luck on it and keep us posted.
I picked up Dragon's M1A2 SEP kit on the recomendation of the experts here and it's a fantastic kit from the looks in the box. I haven't started on it yet but I have done some work on Dragon's M1A1HA and it's nicely detailed and everything fit really well.
"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen
Hey Rudy,
Sprue Brothers has the Dragon M1A2 SEP on sale today and tomorrow: Here
Bruce
On the bench: 1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF
1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I
Also, Meng is going to release an 1/35 M1A2 SEP and Rye Field Model just released one. And with the past release from both manufactures, IMHO, I would think both will be quality kits.
Edit: I'd like to hear Gino's opinion on both of these kits!
hogfanfs...Meng is going to release an 1/35 M1A2 SEP and Rye Field Model just released one. Edit: I'd like to hear Gino's opinion on both of these kits!
Both are actually out now. From what I have read and seen, Meng's only builds into an M1A2 SEP w/TUSK II armor package. It looks a little better than the RFM kit, but not really any better than the Dragon kit. The RFM one can be built w/out the TUSK or as an M1A1, but has a few issues with some undersized parts and is not really an improvement over the Dragon kit either. I would stick to Dragon's M1A2 SEP unless you have to have one w/TUSK, then I would go with Meng. Meng's is quite a bit cheaper than the RFM kit as well.
Another option may be the forthcoming Academy M1A2 SEP TUSK II kit as well. It looks better than either Meng or RFM and will be much cheaper. Keep an eye out for it as well.
Thanks for the information, Gino!
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