For anyone chasing the Dragon M1A1 AIM kit that has been relatively rare on model shop shelves lately I found 4 pristine kits on the shelves at the Victorian Hobby Centre, in Melbourne, Australia yesterday. There are now 3 left

They have an online shop.

http://victorianhobbycentre.com.au/dragon-1-35-m1a1-aim-abrams.html

Hope that helps anyone who is looking for one.

A nearby hobbyshop has at least one DML M1A1 AIM kit in stock for around $48:

HobbyTown USA
10120 Two Notch Road, Suite 5
(803) 736-0959
[email protected]

Ask for Keith (the brit).

I have had my back order for a 3535 kit into Dragon USA since July 2014. I called last week on another item and the lady said that the M1A1 AIM kits are due in this month (Oct 2014). Now the online Dragon USA website lists this as in stock. Seems like the eBay prices have been dropping probably because the re-release is looking more real?

"New" Dragon M1A1 kit 3535 arrived today 10-27-2014. The only difference that I can see is that there is no metal barrel option and the Magic Tracks are gone. Rubber bands only. All the plastic spruce, PE, and decals look the same. Kinda disappointed for the extra $$$.

Old on the left..."New" on the right...


Rubber bands...

Sounds good to me. The plastic barrel is more accurate and looks better anyways and the magic tracks suck. What do the center guide teeth on the tracks look like, solid for T-158 tracks, or hollow for T-158LL tracks?

Thank you for your comments! I admire your opinion and your art. Well sir..all I have found in the box so far are the hollow teeth...T-158LL? Pix...

That will work. The T-158LL track are correct for an M1A1 AIM as well.

Thank you Gino. What about for the Thunder Run 3rd ID tanks? From what I can see of the books photos of "...BONES" and from Don Haney's excellent work, these look like solid tooth T-158 track? So would the Magic Track option be correct for TR in 2003? I am posting Don Haney's photo here for reference (Congratulations on a wonderful effort Don Haney!).

Having just completed the older version of this kit (shameless self-promotional link! ) I can say that I would have welcomed the DS tracks in place of the magic tracks which were difficult to pre-assemble prior to painting and still maintain their integrity during post-painting assembly. When it came time for final assembly, I found it somewhat difficult to get a good fit around the drive sprockets and also noticed a difference in the angle of approach from the ground to the drive sprockets and idler wheel. This is my fault for not watching more carefully during the initial assembly, but this would not have been an issue had DS tracks been available.

In addition, since there are skirts on this model that hide the upper run of track, there is no reason to assemble it as a complete loop meaning that half the links go to waste unless you want to spend the additional build time to clean and assemble the extra links.

And I agree that the metal barrel added no value to the kit since the plastic barrel is a single slide-molded piece with rivet detailing that is missing on the aluminum version.

Overall, I found this to be a highly challenging kit with an abundance of detail and the updates listed here in the newly released version will only make it better in my opinion. In fact, I'd even consider building another one now knowing that I didn't have to fight with the magic tracks again!

Thanks to amoz for the review.

You would have to verify tank by tank. Both the T-158 and T-158LL tracks were in use during the OIF 1 (invasion of Iraq, early '03) time period.

Don - Thank you for the insight from one who knows! So I assume somehow adapting to the solid center tooth (with a filler?)T-158 track would be appropriate modification to the kit? Very much looking forward to seeing your entry with the others in the Museum TR display. All the best, Stuart

You would have to verify tank by tank. Both the T-158 and T-158LL tracks were in use during the OIF 1 (invasion of Iraq, early '03) time period.[/quote]

Understood. Must have ground thru a lot of track at that period of 2003. Thanks Gino

FYI, the Magic Tracks provided in the kit were never noted by the group as "incorrect" for the TR build because of their solid guide teeth and as such, I personally did not research this aspect of the build. However, now that it is mentioned, a quick Google image search has revealed several shots of TR era M1s with open guide teeth. One example is here:



If you look closely you can see daylight through the guide teeth.

^ That's a pretty picture.

Hobbyeasy has restocked this kit, if anyone is looking for one

Hisham

And in the US,stocked here:

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/m1a1-abrams-a-i-m/DML00003535/product.php?s=0&t=2&u=10&micr=23&pg=1&ppp=48&sb=stocknumber&so=a&era=7,8&ct=1&sc=35

I was hoping they would re-issue the M1A2 SEP (3536), as I already have this one

Hisham

Hisham i believe that Dragon will release according to Europe stores in December the M1A2 SEP V2 (System Enhanced Program) (#DML3556). So it should be the #3536 with futher pieces like crows system etc!

Scalehobbyist is where I do a good deal of my purchasing, so I'm glad to see that they have it in stock. I'm really torn on if I should pull the trigger on this though. It's a kit I've had my eye on for quite some time, but the timing is bad. It's getting to be that time of year where the wife (who is wonderfully supportive of my hobby) gets annoyed when I buy things for myself, as I am apparently supposed to wait and put it on a Christmas list.

Thanks for the info, Aristeidis.. I saw the news about the V2, but I thought it was something totally different than the first (3536).. So, I'll look forward to that one

Hisham

According to Dragon: new parts such as the CROWS II weapon station, new commander’s cupola and the Loader’s Armored Gun Shield II for his hatch. There’s a rear-mounted tank-infantry phone, plus an FBCB2 system and a DUKE electronic counter measure system installed in the bustle rack. So believe that both M1A2 SEP and M1A2 SEP V2 can be build from their new release!

Now I can get a base vehicle for the M1 ABV. RIGHT?

Couldn't you use this instead? The hull is the same as Dragons 3535
Just a thought

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/m1-panther-ii/DML00003534/product.php?s=0&t=2&u=10&pg=1&ppp=48&sb=stocknumber&so=a&era=7,8&ct=1&sc=35

Any M1A1 kit will work as a base vehicle for an M1 ABV conversion.

It would work but the hull of 3535 is new tool if I recall.

Sean