I have been thinking of a project build for an upgraded M1A1 AIM Abrams. The Dragon AIM kit is a very well detailed kit, but the Italeri #6438 has the resin parts that would make the Dragon kit a very nice build. I have both of these kits along with the AFV workable tracks and several other Abrams related figures ,ammo, and Voyager PE Set. The question is is there an engine compartment for the Abrams that would keep me from robbing the Italeri Kit. I got the Italeri Kit off ebay before they jumped up so high in price. I was looking at the Upper Hull on both kits and the engine bay would have to be cut out of the Italeri kit and put into the Dragon Hull. Now another option would to be building the engine bay out of styrene and saving the Hull of the italeri kit.
Now here is the thing, I am fairly new to armor modeling, and this seems to be a project way out of my league. I have built one AIM kit and it is OK, but it lacks the finesse that I see on the builds pictured in here.
Anybody else with experience thought about a build along these lines? It would make a great diorama with engine maintenence being caerried out on the battlefield.
Your thoughts would be appreciated,
Stan

The Italeri engine and bay are not that great. They are lacking lots of parts. The other Italeri resin parts in the kit are flat and lifeless. For a great engine compartment, get the CMK one. It is very complete and fits in the Dragon kit just fine. I wouldn't waste the time and effort w/the Italeri one.

Legend has one engine and compartment set.

Lars

Thanks for the advise. I spent Friday night cleaning up the CMK Engine Set. My only concern is the transmission detail. I guess because of it being hidden they really don't represent it well. The Engine bay is fine, I really like it. I have set it in the Lower Hull, not sure how it is going to work if I decide to display with open hatches. I have a few reference photos of work in progress changing engines in the field, but need to find some more to look at how those engine covers are removed, ie what stays in place and which covers are removed. Anyhow it is going to be a long term project. Saturday night I put some time into those PE CIP panels. Those are so much better than the plastic panels supplied in the kit. It takes some pracrice to get the louvers bent up but it's worth the effort. The Voyager PE set has some really nice parts. It looks like it's going to be a challenge puttnig all those grab handles in place on the hull hatches.