Tamiya released the PE set for their M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams kits in Japan today. Just four parts included in the set. Price is 700 yen.





Tamiya missed the opportunity to correct one of the errors in their kit - the shape of one mesh screen on the left side of the hull. They only included the part for outer screen mesh, correctly molded in the kit.

Rgds,
Pawel

Well, Tamiya has given us what exactly, with this offering? Haven't we got PE from other manufacturers that are far more comprehensive? I'm sorry but, unless 700 yen is equal to $1 U.S., this set is worthless to me.

This is another $6.74 added on to an already expensive model.

Interesting, if the photograph Pawel posted is of the new Tamiya M1A2, then Tamiya did retool the lower hull. The original M1A1 kits did not have the two engine access hatches molded onto the back deck. These were added with the Heavy Common tanks and not on early M1A1s or M1IPs. Doesn't look like the set contains even as much as the Eduard Zoom Set.

Rob,

Only early batches of Tamiya M1A1 kits didn't have those two hatches there. Later batches did have them. They are even shown in M1A1 kit instructions I have. A few years ago, when I was building my Academy M1A1 kit, I used my friend's Tamiya M1A1 as a template to add them to my kit.

Cheers,
Pawel

Looks like simple greed to me . AFV provided almost as much PE in their M3A3 kit along witha turned aluminum barrel (No Seams ) You'd think Tamiya would simply toss that in and make their kit a better value.

I agree too - it mystifies me trying to figure out why would they sell that little fret separately instead of just putting it into the kit. The same went for the Cromwell & Steyr 1500 Heavy Field Car grills.

Maybe Marketing in Asia is telling them that they have to bring in a new kit at a certain price ceiling in order to maximize its sale potential - and these little additions come off the top to meet that mark - kinda like dancing the "Limbo"...

Anyway - I don't really see the value in even offering the little fret...

Gunnie