I am planning to build a small-scale diorama showing an M1A2 Abrams powerplant being removed by an M88 recovery vehicle. As far as I am aware, no 1/72-scale kits exist of the M88 (or even a 1/76-scale version). Does anyone know of a conversion set that could be used with an M60 Patton kit? I had thought of using the LAV25R, but gather that this would not have had the lifting capacity for the Abrams engine.

Hi!
You might be interested in seeing this:

http://www.tsahal-miniature.com/m88.scratch.html
http://www.tsahal-miniature.com/m.88.html

You may scale down from a 1/35 kit.

Andreas

I'm not aware of a 1/72 scale M88A2 or I would probably have it! I purchased a small reference book with the intent of eventually scratchbuilding one.

Keep in mind the M88A1 would not be the most accurate (if at all accurate) with a M1A2. The M88 underwent upgrades to allow it to be a better counterpart to the Abrams tanks. I think there would have been about a 5 year gap between M88A1 leaving active service and the M1A2 introduction.

M88 ARV
Minitanks #232

Found this on eBay. Y'all might use it as a guide (?). It looks toy-like though: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-72-BATTLE-Field-Germany-M88A1G-ARV-TANK-/390985851686?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b0892a326

HTH
MattP

I guess easier option would be to think about 1/87 there was at least M88 from Roco
Regards from Vienna
Robert

That Battlefield Germany M88 looks like a nice start to upgrade. The return rollers look out of scale but could easily be replaced with smaller ones.

The Minitanks M88 is an M88 slick not even an M88A1 and needs some serious detailing to look decent. That toy one gives the basic shapes and would need the same detailing as the Minitanks one so the effort might end up being similar.

I did an M88A1 for a Desert Storm dio in 1/87th and it was not as easy as I had thought it would be. Those molded on headlights were a major pain.

By the way Arsenal makes a 1/87th scale M88A2 in resin.

http://www.fidelismodels.com/product/Arsenal_91093.html

AH! I thought I had seen a resin kit somewhere, I just couldn't find it! It's a -2 so would have to be backdated for what Paul is wanting to do. I guess I could add this to my Christmas wish list with the Merkava IV!