Hi all,

The video of a few Saturdays ago with the 3D ID Task Force penetrating Baghdad propelled me into breaking out the Trupmeter kit. This is the kit with the mine roller set, which I have elected to not use. It also has a prototype hull mounted APU and mine layer device, also not used. I am trying to go OOB for most of the kit, aside from correcting big-time flaws and trying to scratch-build the Kuwaiti-mod additional bustle rack and water can racks.
One big correction is the fix the lower left side turret face. It is molded too short. Plastic shims are needed to add the appropriate depth to the turret face.
Here's my pic after modifying the turret:

and another view:

The information for the mod came from the Missing Lynx website's M1 Abrams tweaks list:
Missing Lynx Tweaks List
Hope this helps!

That is great! I have all four issues of Abrams by Trumpeter but have never even broken the boxes open. Keep us posted on the progress. I am specially interested in knowing the ease of construction. I built the Tamiya Abrams years ago as my first armor kit and that was joy. I hope Trumps kit holds up that well.

Cheers,

CDT Reimund Manneck
U.S. Army ROTC

These Trumpeter M1 kits go together very well.
I didn't find out about the turret facet until after I had painted their M1A2 kit.
The error really stands out when you add an IFF panel to the faces. If I had the info at the time I would have fixed it.
Other than that the kits really go to smoothly, yeah detail could be a little crisper, but that is the price you pay. I will
probably never build the DML one again, as I got soured on them by the M1A1 w/ Mine Plow and also their T-80 kit. Fit
and warp on those kits drove me to stop building for a while.

Dave S.

Very Nice work M60A3

I have not been able to put in the time needed to make a nice plug I can cast up in resin...and I need mold compound again...Sigh.

Hopefully soon. I am thinking of offering a few of the little bits I have had to add to my current M1 series tanks as resin parts for the rest of you mooks. THings like the lift lugs and Bustle rack APU for the Tamiya kits, the plug for the trumpeter kits, etc...

...and I do not think anything will save the Academy kit... #:-)

I still think the DML kits are the best overall, but tend to be a bit more work to make.

PS Hey, I just made Captain...whoo hoo! #:-)

Congrats, Captain Jacques (Jack...LOL!)
Thanks to all for the kind words. I am planning on writing this project up (!) and would like to post the article on ArmoramA (Boy I just set myself up...)

What if any changes need to be made to the bottom of the turret? I looked through the tip sheet and didn't notice any mention of it.

You need to add a plate to mate up with the new sections and extend it back to meet the bottom of the turret. I have made this piece already, but haven't had a chance to mount it yet. I plan on accomplishing alot this weekend.

Hey this is great. I'm working on the same exact kit at this time. I appreciate the pics of the turrent fix, I'll have to make sure I do that also.

Anymore things you run into or just post some works in progress pics, that'll be great also.
I'll be sure to keep a sharp eye on this thread.

Bill

I'll be watching too. I have the kit with the TWMP "on deck". I would like to see pics after you mate the turret halves as well. Thanks for the pics of the other fix....what was Trumpeter thinking??

Thanks for the Info...Was about to start on one myself

Hi all,
Not very productive this weekeknd. One good thing was I found the mine-roller version of the Trump M1A1HA DOES incude the bustle-rack APU! It is mis-iedntified as a tool box in the instructions! I slapped it together and will include it. I will not add the tail mounted APU also included in the kit.

Okay guys, here's some more pics...this time I added some sheet plastic to cover up the void left by shimming the left turret font and side.


The turret joins needed alot of Tenax to avoid big-time puttying. Other than that, it's a good fit.

Great tips. Going after one of these on ebay as soon as I get home...

Looks good, now to just get over thsi virus and down to work.

Is it me or is it everytime you travel you get sick?

I'd participate in a Trumpeter Abrams build (if we could build any of their Abrams variants), but after having spent some time taking the injector marks off of their link&length tracks, I'd have to see what their vinyl tracks look like. I have the M1A2, but have never really taken a good look at it.

Haven't really looked at the tracks yet. Now I'm scared!

, real nice ... I am slightly annoyed that I did not see that on my kit . I'll have to redo that ... Hey have a closer look at the turret mounted APU, you can use the hinges from the other thing, shear them off and have a couple of nice additional detail
As I got both M1A" by ITALERI and TRUMPETER I'll try to post a few comparism shots if anyone cares -Andreas-
http://online-club.de/~rp40713/

That would be very useful, Andreas! Please do it!



Didn't even think about it...great idea!