Hey Guys

I am building my very first Abrams using the Academy M1A1 Abrams Iraq 2003 kit:



Because this kit comes with the old "chevron style" tracks, I want to build it as a Gulf War era Abrams. My question is, what would I need to leave off of this kit for it to be period correct.

Alternatively, where any Abrams deployed to Iraq in the early years (03 to 04) with the old style tracks? And if so, what would I leave off the kit on those models.

No luck searching Google images on this one...

If you have any other choice of kit to start with, I would. The biggest problem is not the tracks, but the turret. Academy used the same turret from their M1 kit, which is about 5mm too short just in front of the smoke launchers.

If you have to use it and want to backdate it, leave off the turret bustle APU, USMC Missile Dazzler box on the top left of the turret, no CIPs, no extended bustle rack, and don't use any of the USMC-specific parts like the snorkels or 8-shot smoke launchers. There are probably some other items to leave off, but I can't really think of anything off hand.

Thanks Heavyarty!

I actually have Tamiya's M1A1 Abrams (Iraq 03) kit that I got from my colleagues when I resigned from my last job, and even splurged and got myself the photo-etch kit. Will build it when I have given the Academy kit a shot as a trial run.

Thanks for the valuable advice.

If you're interested,
Echelon makes two ODS decal sets.
https://echelonfd.com/products/details/D356025

https://echelonfd.com/products/details/D356273

Thanks Marc, these look good

For a Gulf War M1, you need to ditch those CID panels.