In the begining of the 1990's Sweden made trials for a new MBT, the tanks tested where the German Leopard 2A5, French LeClerc and the american M1A1 Abrams. And wich tank got choosen is another story (but the wrong one according to me...)

Now, to the question, is there anyone with some knowledge what so ever of how the Abrams tank where marked? Did it recive Swedish camo and markings, or where it in it's original camo? Any tips are welcome.

And while I'm at it, wich M1A1 kit out there is the best (and simplest to build)?

There's a website out there on the Strv122 (try a google search using the words "Bad Cat" and "Abrams" and "Tank Trials") which shows a pic of both the Leo2A4 and the M1A1 in the tank competition. IIRC, the M1A1 was in typical US Army camoflauge. What exact markings, I dunno - maybe it was "loaned" from the USAREUR or something.

OT - Now, which tank was chosen, IHMO you got the better of the lot ( :-) Oh yesssss... Strv122 is just incomparable both in looks and armor - IIRC, your Strv122s will be getting the same L55 gun as the Leo2A6s of the Bundeswehr giving it the same penetrative kill ability of DU ammunition but using "ordinary" APFSDS).

BTT - Best M1A1 kit would be IMO offered by Dragon. They have several - M1A1HA, M1A1HA with mine roller, M1A1 with mine plow, USMC M1A1, and M1A2. Trumpeter does very nice Abrams kits and have the best suspension AFAIK (and heard), but its turret suffers from a wrong angle. There's Tamiya's old M1A1 kit (I dunno if they released a new one already) which is more representative of an early M1A1 - but you do get typical Tamiya "A+" quality. Then there's Academy's M1A1 which is basically a copy of Tamiya's (but isn't just as crisp in detail IMO). I've dabbled building one Abrams from each manufacturer. So far, all are more-or-less identical - easiest for me would be Tamiya's M1A1.

As for the Swedish test Abrams, no clue, sorry. But as far as the easiest Abrams kit to build, they are all equally royal pains in the rooty-pa-tooty. :-) Try a braille scale one maybe, they might be easier. The stowage racks on the Tamiya kit are probably the easiest to put together and the single piece Tamiya tracks are a lot easier than Dragon and Trumpeter's link and length system. However Trumpeter also comes with rubber band type as well, but the suspension is harder to do and the stowage racks are not that great. I have no clue about the Italeri one, but I think it is a decent kit from what I have heard.

Rob

At www.mainbattletanks.net -> photos -> Eilert Gezelius there are some pictures from the trials.

I think we got the best tank. But the L/55 gun won't be fitted to any Strv 122. Too long to be practical in the forrests of Sweden. Even the L/44 is a bit too long, I have used this to my advantage! ;-)

EDIT: www.mainbattletanks.net has got lots of nice pictures. Mats Hjorter is me, so those pictures were taken by me, lot's of CV9040.