One more thing while we are at it - Could someone please confirm when the non slip coating was introduced?... Were indeed XM1/M1/M1IP tanks originally issued without it?

The factory applied nonskid arrived with the M1A1. The photos i have, and those in the old squadron/signal "In Action" show it. The verlinden book also shows early A1s with it, and M1s without. I don't know the firm date that it was directed to be applied in the field or depot level, but it would have to be mid to late 1980s. I can tell you that M1s definitely did not arrive with it, and early IPs didn't either, judging by the photos i received from cat 87 participants. I have a couple of japanese magazines- "Tank" and "Panzer" I think they're called, that feature early M1s in great detail and they definitely have nice, smooth surfaces for the crew to slip on.

I have a copy of the M1 and IPM1 TM-9 and field applied no-slip coat appears for the first time in "change 7" dated october 1987

Talking about old Tamiya M1, this is the link to my reworked model. I hope it can help you

http://www.network54.com/Forum/110741/thread/1372064922/M1+Abrams+%28Tamiya+old+3624+kit+reworked%29

Pierantonio

Bottom Line: We definitly need an M1/M1IP in the quality of the Dragon A1 kit.

P.S. More than a new Chieftain???

My vote is for new Chieftain. The Tamiya M1 is a generation newer, and the detail level holds up pretty well. The Chieftain is just awful. I've had one in my stash for a decade and i have no idea when i'll have the will to rescue it.

I agree with the what we remember or we're told versus reality, wasn't trying got be the authority, especially here. My hats off to the rivet counters and protractor folks! We all have to aspire to something...

When I went through Knox in '89, the "IP" stood for interim production, not improved product. At all of 19, that's what it was cuz TC said so...

Jamie,
No issues Brother. In 1989, I was in the $1.94 Armored Brigade on Fort Knox.

M1 Blow off Panel dimensions as well as pictures of several different blowoff panels from a late M1 (SN:5121), Late XM1 (SN:0078), and XM1 Thurderbolt formerly of the Patton Museum.



Hope that this will help someone out there...

John

It'll help me for sure. When I photographed number four, I didn't measure the panels - I just wanted a reference in case I decided to build it, ie welds, fittings and such. I'm pretty sure I'm wrond about them being rectangular now. Usually I think of a trapezoid as a triangle with the top clearly chopped off. Of these are as well, just not nearly as obvious.

really do appreciate the discussion guys, I've got some vague plans of cobbling up something from Tamiyas kit and a DML panther mineclearer.

Sean

I'm no Abrams expert, but something I noticed whilst researching what needs doing to the old Tamiya M1 was that the very first production M1s seemed to have deeper exhaust boxes than the majority of M1s. Sorry - can't find a good photo online, but this detail seems to have been picked up by Tamiya and carried through their subsequent kits.

Or maybe my eyesight is just going...