I am building the M1A1/A2 with Full Interior despite the poor instruction sheet. Mine also had no "J" sprue tree. I am not a novice builder, but due to the lack of sequence information in the instructions I messed up the suspension system. Because of the reason I am building it, I bought another one. This one had the "J" sprue. Now there are a lot of parts in the kit, but not all of them are listed in the instructions. What part # fits into part # "C 24"? There is very little Decal placement listed in the instructions. You can surf the internet for this. Very good kit, very poor instructions.

I am also working on it and I agree, the instructions could be much better.

Hi guys

They posted an amended instructions on their Facebook.

You can download it there I got mine there.

Ken

I've seen the updated instructions. They don't answer my question. What part fits into part "C 24" that is on assembly "L"?

My kit was missing the J sprue too, which is a pain because the APU is on it, I solved that problem by taking the APU off an old Dragon kit. I'm about 98% finished with the build and have some observations. The worst issue I had with the kit, besides the instructions, was the very sloppy fit of the suspension arms to the hull. I had no issues with the interior parts, all went together well. I didn't do any super detailing although the potential is there. Once built and with the turret on the hull not a lot can be seen anyway, but the view down the hatches does look good. Overall a nice kit. Enjoy the build.

The suspension was very sloppy on mine to. So bad I scraped it and bought another one. It works better if you don't use the torsion bars as instructed. Cut off the ends and just glue in the road wheel arms. My second kit had the "J" sprue Some kits come with a greenish clear plastic sprue. Go figure.

Hi,

I have 4 or 5 of these kits and non had J sprue. I can't see it in the instructions on the parts' layout page. Nor can I see the J parts referenced anywhere throughout the steps. Their 3 in 1 abrams kit had J sprue. Could you please post photos of this sprue or where it is referenced in the instructions?

Many thanks!

Mark, the APU is in fact on sprue B and not on sprue J. It is step "I" in the instructions and consist of parts B25, 26, 34, 36, 37, 40, 41, F54 x2, and Z21 and 22.

Now if your talking about step "M", that is the AC unit that goes on a M1A2 SEP and the full interior kit is only an A1 or A2 version.

Lloyd, can you show a picture of what you are talking about in step "L", with part C24. If you are talking about the construction of the suspension, part C24 is the center support arm for the side skirts.

I've done the review of the ODS and 3 in 1 kit for the sight and will be doing the review of the ABV kit. didn't get to do the review of the interior kit, but I am working on that one.

Pete, I uploaded photos, (I think). I'm doing my model based on what you did. I don't know where my photos went or how to insert them into this box. They show up when I click on the "Photos" box. Wow, my bag it's part "C-22".

Nice build! That pic of the drivers hole gives a good insight to the front armor and fuel tanks that are on both sides of the driver. Brings back memories

Lloyd,
I see what your talking about. That is the exhaust deflector shield, yea sounds like something from Star Trek. It comprises of parts C22, C29x2, and C41x2

Thanks Pete, I wonder how much trouble it would have been to add that to the instructions. They also left out the T.I. phone and some other stuff.

Not a problem Llyod. But again, the kit is titled A1/A2 and the rear telephone was a upgrade with the TUSK kit. So you can say it is RFM's fault for bad instructions and then it's not because of the title of the kit.

But I do understand about adding the shield to the instructions as the 3rd ID carried them on their A1's during the Thunder Run. At least show it as an option.

Depends on the country operating it - Australian A1 were delivered with the phone out of the factory, unrelated to TUSK.

The T/I Phone is part of later AIM upgrades and later added to all rebuild/upgraded M1A1 and M1A2 tanks. It was/is not part of TUSK upgrades.

LtGen Marty Steel, who was a LCpl in 3rd Tks, Vietnam was the USMC man during the early M1 program, he insisted that the USMC version had fording capability and among other things a TI phone. At least that is what he told us at a reunion.
Can any one tell me how to post a photo here?

Lloyd,
Here is what you need to type to add pictures.

img]http://put.url.here/image.file[/img

put this at the begining,[, and this at the end,].