According to a few different webstores, these two new Abrams kits have been released:

07276 M1A1 Abrams MBT


07277 M1A1 Abrams with Mine Clearing Blade System


I've looked at them on Trumpeter's website, but the CAD images actually look kinda bad.

Has anyone been able to purchase either one? Or seen a review? I'm curious as to how these compare to Revell/Germany's M1A1/A2 kits.

Bump - had the moderator change the title, since I am asking a question.

Hi Jeff,

i've got these kits already. They are nicely made, my only comments are the loader's / driver's hatches are molded solid on the hull and turret. But this M1's are comparable to revell and dragons fine details.

Cheers,

Nicky

Ofcourse the CAD images aren't super. Don't forget their 1:72 and not 1:35.

Lars

I would've sworn that my LHS has had the mine plower version for months. I could be wrong though.

The NATO camouflaged one is odd. It is clearly an Army tank with the US Army style bumper markings, Army style grenade launchers and the US Cavalry flag marking, but has the USMC deep water fording kit attached (US Army tanks do not have the ability to equip the fording kit).

They don't look bad, but I've got a few of the Revell ones that I think are pretty good. I do like the newer style track on these though. I have not seen the Trumpeter kits before.

Thank you all for your repsonses!

Nicky - do you have any close-up sprue shots? Or can you provide close-ups of the model if you completed it/them?

Lars - yes I realize that a model manufacturer will have to make some compramizes for 1:72 scale, but the CAD images seemed rather too chunky and simplified to me. The M240 on my old Italeri M1 Abrams has finer details and thinner looking gun barrel, but that's why I want to see how the actual kit parts/sprues look.

Dean - I guess its "location, location, location".

Sabot - I noticed that also and was wondering if the kit included parts for both US Army & USMC Abrams in the same kit. The tracks on the Revell and Italeri kits are their shortfall for building current versions, but the Trumpeter's look like they are rubber-band tracks.

With the success and market leadership for their 1:35 Abrams kits, WHY HASN'T DML PRODUCED AN ARMOR PRO M1A1/A2/A2 SEP ABRAMS?

An Armor Pro Abrams, in which scale 1/72 or 1/35? In 1/72 scale, the answer is obvious, their Abrams kits are sub-par and they would have to start from scratch. In 1/35 scale, they still have money to be made off of the separate SEP and AIM kits.

I meant an Armor Pro kit in 1/72, downsized from their 1/35 AIM & SEP tooling.

Just think of correct 1/72 scale DS100 tracks with seperate guide horns like the SEP kit! I'm blind already! But the DETAIL!

I'm in Australia for peat sake!! If something happens, we're he last people to know!!

UPDATE

I did recieve some pictures in a pm from Nicky, call sign: "vertex". Thank you!

I don't want to offend anybody, but I did find a new review of the Trumpeter 07276 M1A1 Abrams MBT kit on the Missing-linx website, reviewed by Al Bowie:

M1A1 Abrams MBT, Trumpeter

I hope this helps my fellow braille scale modellers out...

You are very much welcome Jeff. Thanks also for the review link.

Cheers,

Nicky

Having reviewed it (although it is 72nd not 35th as indicated in the review header!) I would say it is quite good but with the reservations I state in the review and those repaeated above. The closed hatches are a pain and I do not know what they were thinking with the Waders but not the other USMC features.
The quality is very sharp and well detailed and the construction is simple and not a collection of minuscule parts requiring a team of Swiss watch makers to assemble it .
It is an ideal wargamers model suited to a quick build. The Tracks despite being rubber band are very well done. The Box picture really does it no justice.
I look forward to seeing waht other Abrams they have planned.
Cheers
Al

I saw the review on ML but disagree with the conclusion. It wouldn't be a very good early DS Abrams, it has features found on later Abrams such as the 3 anti-sleeping bag mines on the blast panels and the later style track (although they were in use, but mainly on newer tanks not deployed). Older original issue M1A1s were sent to Saudi during Desert Shield. The newer variants stayed in Germany.

While the smoke dischargers used by the Marines vary from that of the Army, during Desert Shield/Storm, the Marines drew Army M1A1s that were shipped straight from Europe. They had all the standard Army fittings, including smoke dischargers. These original M1A1s would not have had the ability to be equipped with wading gear. The Marines got their heavies for keeps after Desert Storm. Those were the tanks that could have used the wading gear.

This tank looks like it was designed to be a mid 90s, post ODS tank.

A bump to see if anyone else has built one (with pictures) of these or even the ones with the Mine Roller or Plow, or even the new Panther II.

I do have the Panther II, easily the nicest M1A1 hull in 1/72 scale. Herein lies the problem with the Trumpeter Panther II; the real vehicle uses the M1IP hull and not the M1A1 hull. I'm undecided on whether or not I just build it OOB or if I sacrifice an Esci M1A1 hull (that basic kit is useless) to make a more accurate Panther II.

I'll probably hack the Esci upper hull to backdate the Trumpeter hull.