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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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Build most recent Abrams. what do I need?
Boris1991
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 07:05 AM UTC
Like the tittle says, I want to build the most up to date Abrams
I got the dragon M1A2 #3524.
will the legend Tusk II set do? does it suit with my kit?
I bet you guys can tell me everything about it
HeavyArty
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 07:21 AM UTC
The latest version, and best Abrams on the market, is the Dragon M1A2 SEP kit (3536) . The Legend TUSK II set is designe to fit it and does well.




If you want to make it the most up to date, also add the Blast Models CROWS II set instead of the TC's .50 cal MG.

HazZaRd
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 07:47 AM UTC

Quoted Text






Gino, question what's up with the extra armor plate on the lower Hull + turret there also seems to be an extra pate under the smoke grenade box?

part of a new upgrade progam?


Gr,
Gijs
HeavyArty
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 07:56 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Gino, question what's up with the extra armor plate on the lower Hull + turret there also seems to be an extra pate under the smoke grenade box?

part of a new upgrade progam?


I just noticed them too. I have never seen them before. Our M1A2 SEPs w/ CROWS II here at Ft Stewart don't have them and we were just fielded them in JUL '11.
Boris1991
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 08:28 AM UTC
Thanks!!
I see the extra panels on the turret, but cant seem to find the one on the lower hull, can you guys be more specific.

so what I need:
- Dragon M1A2 SEP
- Legend TUSK II
- Blast Models CROWS II set

The extra panels can be scratched I guess.

thanks guys!
jwest21
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 08:30 AM UTC
Did any TUSK II Abrams fielded in Iraq have the Crows II?
HazZaRd
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 08:33 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks!!
I see the extra panels on the turret, but cant seem to find the one on the lower hull, can you guys be more specific.

so what I need:
- Dragon M1A2 SEP
- Legend TUSK II
- Blast Models CROWS II set

The extra panels can be scratched I guess.

thanks guys!



the one on the lower hull is just under the headlight

GaryGore
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Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 10:26 AM UTC
How is the CROWS II mounted on the M1A2? Do you happen to have any pictures of the mount and its location on the turret roof?



Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Gino, question what's up with the extra armor plate on the lower Hull + turret there also seems to be an extra pate under the smoke grenade box?

part of a new upgrade progam?


I just noticed them too. I have never seen them before. Our M1A2 SEPs w/ CROWS II here at Ft Stewart don't have them and we were just fielded them in JUL '11.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 12:14 PM UTC
The CROWS II sits on a bracket that goes over the Gunner's Primary Site box. You can see it below.




I posted a bunch of pics of a new M1A2 SEP w/CROWS II here at Ft Stewart in the below album.

M1A2 SEP w/CROWS II

GaryGore
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 02:43 PM UTC
Excellent photos, thank you for sharing.

Also has everyone seen the voyager models complete Tusk II set yet? Lucky has it for $125.00 and you seem to get everything.
chnoone
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Armed Forces Europe, United States
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 11:45 PM UTC
Great pics Gino !
Got some more ?

Cheers Christopher
HeavyArty
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Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 - 11:59 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Great pics Gino !
Got some more ?


Click on the link in the poat, about 20 pics there.
chnoone
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Posted: Friday, January 06, 2012 - 12:21 AM UTC
Did that already .... still got some more ?

Would need a detailed shot of those "U-hooks" on the turret roof, between TC and LDR hatch forward .
Anybody know what they are good for, seen them on the M1A2 pics from Korea as well.

Thankx and Cheers
Christopher
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, January 06, 2012 - 12:29 AM UTC
Sorry, that's all the pics I have. If you are talking about the two brackets with an OD strap between them to the left of the CROWS II (in below pic), they are a holder for the CROWS when it is stowed in the down position. The CROWS folds down and to the left.

Boris1991
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Posted: Friday, January 06, 2012 - 04:56 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Excellent photos, thank you for sharing.

Also has everyone seen the voyager models complete Tusk II set yet? Lucky has it for $125.00 and you seem to get everything.


any idea why it is so expensive? the other sets from legend are much cheaper...
As HeavyArty mentions the CROWS II, that is missing on this set from voyager.

HeavyArty you are amazing, thanks for all the info and pics!! really usefull!!
Do you know if this Abrams was / is being fielded in Iraq of Afghanistan?
cause i would like to make the last deployed type. Otherwise i will only buy the legend set without the CROWS II
one other thing, when i check their site (blast models) it shows the humvee CROWS set is deactivated, means i cant order it right? and the PANDA CROWS set is in preorder. can i fit that set right on the Abrams or do I need a little scratching on the platform?

thanks for all the input everyone!
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, January 06, 2012 - 05:12 AM UTC
For the latest deployed Abrams, you will not need the CROWS II. They are only on the latest new fieldings to units not deployed.

For the latest Army Abrams in Iraq, an M1A2 SEP w/TUSK II would be the latest version. For a USMC Abrams in Iraq, you would want an M1A1HC (USMC doesn't use M1A2s) with some of the TUSK I bits added, but not all.

For A'stan, the US Army has not sent any tanks there. The USMC has sent one PLT (14) M1A1HCs with partial TUSK I kits on them.

The best bet is to find a pic of the vehicle you want to build and copy it. The latest gear changes often and will differ from service, location, timeframe, etc.

For the Blast CROWS II set, either way you would have to scratch-build a new mounting bracket for it. It is not designed for the Abrams set-up. Either set should work though.
chnoone
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Armed Forces Europe, United States
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Posted: Friday, January 06, 2012 - 05:13 AM UTC
Thankx a lot Gino !
Just the info I needed .... gonna build one of those Korean M1A2's soon so that pic is perfect !!!

Thankx & Cheers
Christopher
Boris1991
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Posted: Friday, January 06, 2012 - 06:18 AM UTC

Quoted Text

For the latest deployed Abrams, you will not need the CROWS II. They are only on the latest new fieldings to units not deployed.

For the latest Army Abrams in Iraq, an M1A2 SEP w/TUSK II would be the latest version. For a USMC Abrams in Iraq, you would want an M1A1HC (USMC doesn't use M1A2s) with some of the TUSK I bits added, but not all.

For A'stan, the US Army has not sent any tanks there. The USMC has sent one PLT (14) M1A1HCs with partial TUSK I kits on them.

The best bet is to find a pic of the vehicle you want to build and copy it. The latest gear changes often and will differ from service, location, timeframe, etc.

For the Blast CROWS II set, either way you would have to scratch-build a new mounting bracket for it. It is not designed for the Abrams set-up. Either set should work though.


Great! thank for the fast head-up. I will order both the M1A2 SEP and the right TUSK II set then. nothing else needed right? when the build starts (might be long time away) I suppose to get a lot of help from u guys again!
Thanks Gino!
GaryGore
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Posted: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 01:28 PM UTC
Found some more pictures of the M1A2 SEP v2 with CROWS II.

http://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/gallery/view.html?b_bbs_id=10044&num=159637

http://www.kaskus.us/showthread.php?p=548586582

Original source for the pictures as well http://www.army.mil/media/198439

If you look closely there is an extra box in the turret bussel rack as well, seems to have an antenna mount in it.

Does anyone have any close-up pictures of it?
HeavyArty
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Posted: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 02:28 PM UTC
Yup, both sets of pictures you linked to are of 3ID tanks last summer during the fielding.

The box is a new DUKE anti-IED device set-up. There are pics of it in my set linked above.
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