Looking for photos of the hull mounted APU (the box hanging off the right side next to the exhaust). Preferably of the left side as I haven't got any of the detail on that side. Or anything that gives a good idea of it's dementions. The couple photos I have are all at weird angles.

Also need to know where I can get a plough from? The only solution I can think of is to source it from the DML Panther II.

Trumpeter also makes a PantherII that is alot easier on the wallet as well

Christopher,

First off, I understand that the DML Panther II kit only comes with the Mine Roller. If you can find the individual DML kit for the Track Width Mine Plow (#3804, OOP):



or the TWMP from the Trumpeter 5-in-1 M1A1/A2 Abrams kit (#1535):



or the TWMP from the Tamiya M1A1 kit (#35158):



I'll look in my images for views of the Hull Mounted External APU, but do understand that it was only used for a short time around ODS/GWI. Its use discontinued just a year or two later, and was replaced by the Turret Bustle Rack Mounted APU.

Didn't know it was used for such a short time.

I knew about the OOP DML plough set but undrrstand it's been gone for quite a while.

The photos would be appreciated if it's not to much trouble though.

Thanks guys.

Do you have these pics already ?








H.P.

Nope, thanks a lot Frenchy.

Chris,
Get the Tamiya M1A1 with the mine plow as the Dragon one is hard to assemble, looks "chunky", and needs a bunch of work (with references) to get it "up to standard". The Dragon one that I built still does not look right when it is in the raised position. When you finish withthe mine plow, you will still have a Tamiya "early" M1A1 that you could build as a 1987-199 1Germany based or 1986-1990 era 3 ACR tank.

I only saw the hull mounted APUs at Ft Knox in 2000. I was in Germany from 1990-1993, NTC 1994-1996 and never saw one of the hull mounted APUs, only the turret mounted ones when I was at NTC.


FWIW

John

Talking about the hull-mounted APU, at least four 1/35th scale Abrams kits include it :

http://www.vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m1-comparison/m1comp1.htm

H.P.

Thanks a lot guys.

You can get just the plough directly from Tamiya USA
1-800-tamiya-A
ask for kit # 35158
part # 9003343 $7.60
and part 9403044 $ 2.25 (PE)
S & H should be around $3.00

google these parts to confirm and for directions
otherwise you can see directions here:
http://www.model-making.eu/products/M1A1-Abrams-w-Mine-Plow.html

I bought a couple sets about a year ago after waiting for them to get some inventory.
Very friendly and helpful at that number, emailed me when the parts became available.
Prices were last year, don't know if they've gone up.

One for my Abrams and one for a future project.

I've been puzzled by the old Tamiya Abrams with TWMP. The old style APU mounted on the right rear end of the hull and there is another slimmer rectangular box mounted in the middle in front of the exhaust grill. What is it?

Hi;

The Hull Mounted APU at the rear was short lived, as it was NOT in A Ideal location as it tended too Catch Fire; Do to the Hot Engine Exhaust ! Also Which ever TWMP you use, they will rerquire A Bit of extra details as none are Completely accurate; The TWMP was built by the RAMTA Corp; and came in Different Configs,- the U.S. example while not widely addopted was seen, and was the Best TWMP used by Colation Forces.

CHEERS; MIKE.

The center box is called a CLaMS (Clear Lane Marking System) which dropped a line of flares at set intervals to mark the lane that the plow cleared through the mine field for other vehicles to safely follow.

Here's a Spainish modeller working on this combination , keep an eye on it as he does really nice work http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?15626-quot-IN-THE-DUST-BOWL-quot-M1A1-Abrams-de-la-24I-D-en-el-NTC-1993

Sean