Small Scale M1 Abrams

Great info. Thank you.

STOVK

I like that one from Flyhawk. I wonder if i could modify it from an SEP to a standard package? That'll test my limited skills.

No, you can't back date a SEP to an M1A1 without a lot of rework and scratchbuilding. There are hull changes and a totally different cupola. It would be like trying to backdate an M4A3E8 into a regular M4 Sherman.

I would direct you to Revell of Germany's M1A1 Abrams kit (#03112) which is a very good kit. It has some minor issues, but nothing that detracts from it and fits to a circa 1991 tank. Revell also has a M1A2 Abrams kit (#03146) which is the same kit with a couple small sprues that add the A2 specific parts. As an A2, the kit has more issues since the replacement parts just add a cosmetic change, but you can still build the kit as an M1A1 and it gives some updated wartime items to give you more options than the original kit. So as an M1A1, this is a good kit to get, but as an M1A2, I'd recommend some other kit.

https://www.revell.de/en/products/model-building/military-figures/vehicles-modern/id/03112.html

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/103914-revell-03146-m1-a2-abrams

Rob Gronovius

The Abrams tank is going on 40 years of use, do you want an early 80s Cold War tank (M1, M1IP), late Cold War/Desert Storm (M1A1, M1A1 heavy common), early Iraqi invasion (OIF) M1A1 heavy common, M1A2, later Iraqi war use (M1A1AIM, M1A2SEP)?

There is a website dedicated to 1/72 scale plastic soldiers. Go to this site, click the "periods" link on the right and select "modern" at the bottom of the page. Then you'll see some manufacturers, some with photos of the figures.
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Index.aspx 

 

Good point. Mainly the standard M1A1. I am not interested in the TUSK or any of the variants and upgrades. My Diorama would be circa 1991

RX7850

I dont know what kit manufacture  you have looked at so far but  I would  suggest  the Flyhawk M1A2 SEP Kit# FH-3300 and Tiger models M1A2 SEP Tusk II  Kit # Tig9601. Both kits exhibit exceptional detail.

Good luck.

 

 

I've looked at Dragon, Trumpeter, and Hasegawa. I also looked at Tiger, but I see the tracks are molded to the wheels. From the photos I have seen, I can't make out the level of detail.

I like that one from Flyhawk. I wonder if i could modify it from an SEP to a standard package? That'll test my limited skills.

Thank you for the help.

The Abrams tank is going on 40 years of use, do you want an early 80s Cold War tank (M1, M1IP), late Cold War/Desert Storm (M1A1, M1A1 heavy common), early Iraqi invasion (OIF) M1A1 heavy common, M1A2, later Iraqi war use (M1A1AIM, M1A2SEP)?

There is a website dedicated to 1/72 scale plastic soldiers. Go to this site, click the "periods" link on the right and select "modern" at the bottom of the page. Then you'll see some manufacturers, some with photos of the figures.
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Index.aspx 

I dont know what kit manufacture  you have looked at so far but  I would  suggest  the Flyhawk M1A2 SEP Kit# FH-3300 and Tiger models M1A2 SEP Tusk II  Kit # Tig9601. Both kits exhibit exceptional detail.

Good luck.