I am going to start an M1A1 1/72 model by ESCI. I actually am going to do 2, one an ESCI M1 with Dragon parts and some PE to kit bash it so it will be a bit more accurate. I purchased some parts from a fellow member here, Jeff thanks, and also acquired from him the 1/72 ESCI A1M1 kit which I am building OOB for "stress relief" and to enjoy some basic modeling. Here's the basic ESCI M1A1 no frills build, I will start the more accurate build a bit later, still collecting parts and info for that.---John

I have the hatches all added. I closed them, not sure if I want to add the MGs to the hatches either. I puttied up a couple of gaps, will sand then continue on with the turret.---John

Looking good so far, John.

You could use the main gun, side storage bins and bustle racks from your M1 kit to make this a slick M1. ESCI only changed those parts in their M1A1 kit. Actually, that's just switching the kits to use the ESCI M1A1 kit to kitbash with the DML M1A1 parts.

That way you would end up with a fairly accurate M1 Abrams, and a kitbashed M1A1 Abrams.

Thanks Jeff but the gun and racks from this kit are already on this kit, oh well I read your post too late. I am not sure the PE will work on the kit bash as it is 46 mm wide and the turret in the rear is 43 mm, but maybe it should overhang each side of the turret to join the side bustle racks? I still have a LOT of reading and planning for the "kit bash" build.---John

At least one M1E1 test vehicle / mock-up was in the configuration in this kit so it wasn't entirely fictitious. If it's still around there's also the Hasegawa M1E1 kit for a test/trials configuration.

I have the racks on the sides and back. The right side rack is missing one rail to connect to the rear rack. Looks like I need
to stretch some sprue.---John

The rails are incorrect. They should be straight back and join the bustle rack, pretty much at a right angle.

It is what it is, this is an OOB build, but thanks for the heads up when I do my kit bash.I have the top right missing rail piece made and added.---John

Though wrong for an M1A1 the bustle rack is close to one of the mockups that existed during the test program. So there was a tank that actually looked like that but it was an early prototype.

I will finish this then post images so no one gets annoyed that I am building such a flawed model. Later---John

Ah the eternal struggle of do-I-build-OOB-and-have-fun or will I be annoyed at the inaccuracies and forever hate my model!

(I over think this way too much!)

Anyway looking forward to more posts. I'm currently building ESCI Brummbar and Wirbelwind. Found out the ESCI Pz IV models sit too high so having 'fun' cutting them down!

I have ended up compromising more and more as I mellow with age. If a correction looks fun or challenging I'll do it. If it'll just be grunt work that promises fits of frustration and rage? I won't.

I built a whole series of the Esci and Hasegawa M1s to document the evolution of the design including the mockups and prototypes. Then sat down to wait years for a reasonably accurate M1A1 in 1/72 to come out. Somewhere along the way I got impatient and switched to 1/35.

Roco had an excellent M1A1 almost as soon as the design was fielded so I had to use an HO scale kit to round out the collection!

More work to raise "eyebrows and blood pressure". Here's the start on the inaccurate bottom hull. Looking good to my eye.---John

Yea! 1/72 scale. I'll be following along, keep up the good work.
Cheers
Dave

I did a dry test fit of the hull and turret. It looks
like an Abrams to me. I am ordering paint, Tamiya spray
can TS-46 light sand this week. Now back to finishing
the road wheels.---John

Your smoke grenade launchers need to be tilted up more. Looks like the bottom grenade would hit the rail.

More work. I painted the turret Tamiya TS-46 light sand.
This is an OUT OF BOX fun build for me. I am NOT fixing
any kit errors! This is a stress free build. I am re doing
this later as a kit bash with another ESCI kitbashed with
a Dragon kit.---John