1/72 scale Italeri Abrams

The one I have is the old straight M1. I was planning on using it in a diorama with the Tamiya Full Interior M2 Bradley and several of the Modern Troops in a desert scene, to honor those in Desert Storm. It's good to know that it's still a decent kit.
Thanks for the input.

demono69

Demono69, The Tamiya M1 or M1A1?

The Tamiya M1 is out of production but with some accurizing, builds into the best XM1, M1 or M1IP available. To build an "IP", some swiping of parts from an M1A1 or M1A2 kit is necessary. The only other out of box straight M1 kit in 1/35 scale is the old Esci/AMT/Ertl M1 kit. This kit doesn't come close to the Tamiya kit.

If you are referring to the Tamiya M1A1, the DML kit has outclassed it for over a decade now. Plus the DML Abrams run under $20, almost half the price of the Tamiya M1A1. Also the Tamiya M1A1 kit represents an early M1A1. The DML kit is a later M1A1HA also referred to as a "Heavy Common". Either kit is correct for a 1991 era US Army Desert Storm tank. Only the Tamiya kit is proper for a 1991 USMC Desert Storm tank.

You're too modest, Major. I, or may I say anyone in this forum, would hardly call you a hacker.
BTW, how did you like the Tamiya 1/35 M1? I haven't even really looked at it yet. Is it worth the time to build? Aside from it being an Abrams, of course.

demono69

Hi Eddie, congrats on your trophy. Was it the DML or Tamiya kit? How about a pic?

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

Nice job Major looks almost 1/35th .Feels good to win a prize from IPMS .
I entered my 1/35 PERSHING last month got a first place trophey . I thought it was pretty exciting .I never won any thing for models before ...

Oh yeah, this was also the first kit I ever entered into a contest. Never thought I could build a kit good enough to be judged in a contest. Still don't think I have the expertise to enter a kit in the 1/35 or "real" modeler scale. Those guys do some impressive work and I'm just a little old plastic hacker.

I've built many in both 1/35 and 1/72 scale. The only Abrams kits I have not built yet, but I do have them is the 1/35 Trumpeter kit (M1A2), 1/35 Italeri M1A2 and the 1/72 Revell of Germany M1A1HA. I use the Trumpeter kit for detail parts, I had the Academy M1A1, but gave it to my 13 year old son since I did not think it was worth building with better Abrams kits so plentiful.

In 1/35 scale I've built several of the Tamiya original M1 Abrams, both motorized and static, both of their M1A1s, DML's M1A1 and M1A2, Esci/AMT/Ertl M1 and M1A1. Most of these were built OOB before I discovered accurizing, scratchbuilding and aftermarket accessories. The DML M1A1 is the only one I've actually used any aftermarket on and I built it about 6 years ago. This was the last time I built a normal scale Abrams kit. The Esci kits were built when the only other Abrams kit on the market was the original Tamiya kit, around the 1988-89 time frame.

In 1/72 scale I've built the Esci M1 and M1A1, Hasegawa's M1 and M1E1 and Matchbox's M1. Again, these were built OOB many (15) years ago. The Italeri M1 is the first small scale one I attempted to accurize. It was built late last year.

I do have several 1/48 scale M1A1 and M1A2 model kits. These were all designed to be motorized and not serious Abrams kits. I haven't built any of them though.

Impressive stuff Rob. A deserved winner. Just curious, how may Abrams models have you completed? Again congrats.

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

So good for a small kit. Congrats, Rob.

Congrats!!

Very nice, indeed! Alot of work for such a little guy, albeit an impressive little guy!
Congrats on the show!

demono69

Congrats Major Rob ..... well deserved.

Nice job, Robin! And congrats on your 2nd place finish. There's almost nothing better than getting an award to make you want to go out and build that next kit. Keep up the good work.
Gip Winecoff

It is a beautiful model, Robin. Those road wheels must have taken some time! Congrats on your prizes.