Hi all, I'm new here. This is a great site. I've been
modeling for twenty years, but have been away for a few years. I have a question about PE detail parts.
I want to build a Tamiya M1A2 and am curious which PE manufactor has the best detail sets.
Thanks for any input.

Welcome to Armorama!
There is a basic PE set from Tamiya for the M1A2 Abrams, Eduard had released some PE sets for the Tamiya M1A1, the Italeri and Dragon M1A2 but not for the last Tamiya M1A2, I am looking a new PE set for this one.
HTH.

I have use PE sets both from Aber and Edward. Can't say I have a preference. Just make sure you get the right PE set for the kit.

Aber does some really nice stuff that is truly comprehensive. Unfortunately, the only modern US PE sets they do is the set for the M2 machine gun and another for the DML TOW & Dragon anti-tank weapon set.

I like Eduard since they do modern sets, something that Aber doesn't do a whole lot of. Eduard PE tends to be much stiffer and Aber PE sets are thiner with much finer detail.

I recently found a company called Voyager that makes a really nice M1A2 update set for the Tamiya kit. It ran me $14.99 on eBay with $3 shipping. Still cheaper than the Eduard set that I bought that was made for the Italeri M1A2. I am making the assumption that Eduard's PE set for the Tamiya M1A2 would be similar in price to the Italeri set.

I think the Voyager set #35021 is a superior set to my Eduard Abrams PE sets (have many different ones). The set contains several brass colored PE frets as well as short pieces of wire for tow cables, and a couple of pieces of styrene rod.

Here is a link to the seller, aaamodel: Voyager M1A2 PE set. I've purchased both the M2A2ODS and M1A2 sets for the new Tamiya kits and have no complaints regarding this seller. Not associated with him in any way other than being a satisfied customer.

Tamiya also puts out a small PE fret for their M1A1/M1A2 kits that is relatively inexpensive, around $9, but you don't get much more than grills. Not worth it if you can get a more comprehensive set like Voyager for only $5 more.

The M1a2 Set from Voyager is featured here:

M1a2 Set

Hopethis is some help -and Welcome to the site as well!...Jim

Thanks guys for the help. I'll check out the Voyager sets. Sounds like what I'm looking for. Thanks again.

Sabot, many thanks for your opinion on the Voyager PE sets. I never built models with Voyager PE products.
I'd already ordered a PE set for the Tamiya M1A2 and also another for my Tamiya M2A2 Bradley ODS.