Panda has shared the boxart for an M1IP Abrams
Read the Full News Story
If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
News
Panda Hobby : Abrams M1IP
varanusk
Managing Editor
Joined: July 04, 2013
KitMaker: 1,288 posts
Armorama: 942 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 22, 2018 - 07:42 PM UTC
Panda has shared the boxart for an M1IP Abrams
Read the Full News Story
If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Monday, July 23, 2018 - 12:49 AM UTC
The linked news article has a few factual errors. First, the IP stood for "Improved Product", not Improvement Performance. Also, it still had the M68 105mm main gun. The 120mm gun was not introduced until the M1A1.
Here are M1IP features partially from an earlier Armorama post by John "Tankrider" Charvat:
The M1 Improved Product was an a M1 hull with a M1A1 turret, mounting a 105mm M68 gun. The IP tanks were the result of the program to transition the M1 production line to the M1A1 tank without stopping the line and ran from late 1984 through 1986, producing almost 900 M1IP tanks.
Identification features are:
- Longer M1A1 turret with the small turret stowage / BII boxes, but still with 3-part trapezoidal blow-off panels as on M1s
- Shorter appearing 105mm gun (the M68 main gun appeared to be shorter between the face of the turret and the bore evacuator due to added armor on the turret face)
- Modified / longer mantlet for the 105mm gun with a goose necked vice straight search light mounting bracket over the gun and a lower GAS aperture (a half moon at the bottom of the mantlet vice a full circular aperture mounted higher on the mantlet)
- M1A1 style reinforced Gunner's Primary Sight cover
- Factory installed bustle rack and extended turret rails
M1IPs that were made early in the production run didn't have the extended turret rails as seen on the 4-8 Cav, 3AD Canadian Army Trophy M1IP tanks. The "Bill the Cat" tank depicted on the box art is one of these tanks from the '87 CAT shoot.
Earlier discussion on this upcoming release.
Panda M1IP
Here is a full review of the upcoming kit at Moxing.net too.
Here are M1IP features partially from an earlier Armorama post by John "Tankrider" Charvat:
The M1 Improved Product was an a M1 hull with a M1A1 turret, mounting a 105mm M68 gun. The IP tanks were the result of the program to transition the M1 production line to the M1A1 tank without stopping the line and ran from late 1984 through 1986, producing almost 900 M1IP tanks.
Identification features are:
- Longer M1A1 turret with the small turret stowage / BII boxes, but still with 3-part trapezoidal blow-off panels as on M1s
- Shorter appearing 105mm gun (the M68 main gun appeared to be shorter between the face of the turret and the bore evacuator due to added armor on the turret face)
- Modified / longer mantlet for the 105mm gun with a goose necked vice straight search light mounting bracket over the gun and a lower GAS aperture (a half moon at the bottom of the mantlet vice a full circular aperture mounted higher on the mantlet)
- M1A1 style reinforced Gunner's Primary Sight cover
- Factory installed bustle rack and extended turret rails
M1IPs that were made early in the production run didn't have the extended turret rails as seen on the 4-8 Cav, 3AD Canadian Army Trophy M1IP tanks. The "Bill the Cat" tank depicted on the box art is one of these tanks from the '87 CAT shoot.
Earlier discussion on this upcoming release.
Panda M1IP
Here is a full review of the upcoming kit at Moxing.net too.
panamadan
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 1,513 posts
Armorama: 1,449 posts
Posted: Monday, July 23, 2018 - 06:36 AM UTC
Get em Gino!
Served on these at Ft. Stewart ‘88-‘90.
Dan
Served on these at Ft. Stewart ‘88-‘90.
Dan
Taeuss
Joined: January 03, 2016
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 3,778 posts
Posted: Monday, July 23, 2018 - 11:27 AM UTC
This is always so cool on this site: you come across something weird and/or vague and find someone who has served in them, serviced them or simply saw them somewhere. And you learn something in the process. I personally had never even heard of an M1IP. Now I know a little more. Probably an interesting kit to build as well.
junglejim
Joined: February 18, 2003
KitMaker: 1,728 posts
Armorama: 1,629 posts
Posted: Monday, July 23, 2018 - 03:53 PM UTC
I might get it just for the Bill the Cat decals...although I think I still have the Esci ones!
Jim
Jim
BunkerBuster
Joined: March 29, 2017
KitMaker: 157 posts
Armorama: 122 posts
Posted: Monday, July 23, 2018 - 04:13 PM UTC
Question, for the early overall green Abrams schemes, what is the correct green? The Panda instructions calls out H303, which is FS34102. I've read the color is "Field Green", which would be FS34097.
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Monday, July 23, 2018 - 11:30 PM UTC
The actual color was Forest Green (FS34079). FS34102 is Medium Green, which is a good color for faded Forest Green. Field Green is probably close too. Any of the three should look good.
Not trying to get anyone. Just setting the record straight.
Quoted Text
Get em Gino!
Not trying to get anyone. Just setting the record straight.
BunkerBuster
Joined: March 29, 2017
KitMaker: 157 posts
Armorama: 122 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 24, 2018 - 01:10 AM UTC
Gino, thanks for the color info.
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 24, 2018 - 07:46 PM UTC
Saying that IPM1 had M1A1 turret is a simplification. IPM1 turrets had the same armor configuration and many same other external features as M1A1, but the turret shell itself was not the same - it retained three trapezoid blast-off panels over the ammunition compartment, bolted directly to the turret "roof", of the XM1/M1 turrets. The two larger rectangular panels on a raised "frame" first appeared with the introduction of 120mm gun on M1E1 and then on M1A1.
SEDimmick
Joined: March 15, 2002
KitMaker: 1,745 posts
Armorama: 1,483 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 25, 2018 - 03:14 AM UTC
The M1 IPs where also re-manufactured into M1A2SEP V.2s also-but hey we don't have to worry about doing conversions like that anymore 
Petition2God
Joined: February 06, 2002
KitMaker: 1,526 posts
Armorama: 1,294 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 25, 2018 - 01:14 PM UTC
Didn't these tanks serve in the ODS? Looks like there's no decal option for that.
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 25, 2018 - 11:47 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Didn't these tanks serve in the ODS? Looks like there's no decal option for that.
No, I am almost positive all M1IPs had been exchanged for M1A1s by the time the ground war kicked off. If I rememeber correctly, no M1IPs were sent to Saudi at all. All units changed out before going or fell in on new M1A1s in country when they arrived.
Bravo1102
Joined: December 08, 2003
KitMaker: 2,864 posts
Armorama: 2,497 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2018 - 12:30 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextDidn't these tanks serve in the ODS? Looks like there's no decal option for that.
No, I am almost positive all M1IPs had been exchanged for M1A1s by the time the ground war kicked off. If I rememeber correctly, no M1IPs were sent to Saudi at all. All units changed out before going or fell in on new M1A1s in country when they arrived.
There were a couple of units from Europe who had M1IP that transitioned to M1A1 upon arrival. You'd have to look up the codes of every unit in the stack to find them but they were nothing special just green with black codes on sand. Might as well do an M1IP in USAEUR or one of the handful that the Guard and Reserve had.
According to the sprue photos I've seen this kit actually comes with the M1 short turret too so a remanufactured M1 could be done. We had some "bastard" tanks mixing M1 and M1A1 parts and fittings. Some had come from the NTC so were sand under their fresh coats of green that quickly chipped and flaked off. Oops. Change a light bulb n the headlight and strip off all the green paint on every bolt and screw touched.
Petition2God
Joined: February 06, 2002
KitMaker: 1,526 posts
Armorama: 1,294 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2018 - 03:03 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextQuoted TextDidn't these tanks serve in the ODS? Looks like there's no decal option for that.
No, I am almost positive all M1IPs had been exchanged for M1A1s by the time the ground war kicked off. If I rememeber correctly, no M1IPs were sent to Saudi at all. All units changed out before going or fell in on new M1A1s in country when they arrived.
There were a couple of units from Europe who had M1IP that transitioned to M1A1 upon arrival. You'd have to look up the codes of every unit in the stack to find them but they were nothing special just green with black codes on sand. Might as well do an M1IP in USAEUR or one of the handful that the Guard and Reserve had.
According to the sprue photos I've seen this kit actually comes with the M1 short turret too so a remanufactured M1 could be done. We had some "bastard" tanks mixing M1 and M1A1 parts and fittings. Some had come from the NTC so were sand under their fresh coats of green that quickly chipped and flaked off. Oops. Change a light bulb n the headlight and strip off all the green paint on every bolt and screw touched.
Really? I am looking at a whole bunch of photos of Abramses with the M68 105 mm main gun on pp. 13-15 of this book, Ground War Desert Storm: https://www.amazon.com/Ground-War-Desert-Storm-Specials/dp/0897472616
Supposedly, these tanks are M1IPs from the 24th Infantry Division sent to Saudi near Kuwait border.
Not that the book is totally accurate but you all are saying that all these Abramses may have been upgraded to M1A1 in Saudi Arabia?
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2018 - 05:12 AM UTC
From my understanding, yes. All M1IPs were traded for M1A1s before the ground war started on 24 Feb '91. Only M1A1s went across LD.
Bravo1102
Joined: December 08, 2003
KitMaker: 2,864 posts
Armorama: 2,497 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2018 - 05:21 AM UTC
Like Gino says, They were all traded for M1A1 before Desert Storm. I have the book too. Those tanks are doing training.
They set up a whole M1A1 DETT (detached equipment transition training) and ran people through it.
They set up a whole M1A1 DETT (detached equipment transition training) and ran people through it.
Petition2God
Joined: February 06, 2002
KitMaker: 1,526 posts
Armorama: 1,294 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2018 - 07:47 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Like Gino says, They were all traded for M1A1 before Desert Storm. I have the book too. Those tanks are doing training.
They set up a whole M1A1 DETT (detached equipment transition training) and ran people through it.
Wow, good to know! Thanks for the info, gents!
m1juan
Joined: February 27, 2007
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 2 posts
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 2 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 01, 2018 - 03:54 PM UTC
I was in the 3rd Bde, 3rd Armored Division, "SPEARHEAD", A Co. 2/67 Armor Bn.. We transitioned from M60A3TTS to M1IP's in July 1987. It is an incredible tank, a big improvement over the M60's.It had the improved suspension, additional armor in hull and turret of the M1A1, the aditional stowage provided by the bustle rack and extended rails in the turret but kept the basic M1's 105 mm gun, blow out pannels and NBC filter.
 |
WEB HOSTING BY
Copyright ©2021 Armorama and Kitmaker Network, a subsidiary of Silver Star Enterprises
All Rights Reserved. Please read our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
All Rights Reserved. Please read our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.