Greetings everyone,

This is my first post in this incredible forum...and I'm hoping for good luck in getting it answered...

I'm building an old Tamiya M1 into an IP M1 and I have a few questions:

The Squadron Signal M1 In Action says that later IP M1's had the additional turret bins and smoke grenade storage boxes of the M1A1. However, I can't find any pictures to back this up. Is this true?

I'm planning on building the track circa '85 in Germany. Can you tell me which units BESIDES the 3 ID were outfitted with the M1 at that time? More importantly, were ANY units in Germany at that time fitted with the IP M1?

I've read in a thread that some IP M1's were fitted with the rear hull APU, but I think I saw that only those in the CONUS had them. Were OCONUS tracks fitted with the APU? If so, any idea WHEN they first received them?

Last one, and probably most difficult. I know that the front turret armor was increased, and have a line drawing showing the front of the turret extending further over the driver's hatch than the M1, but how on earth could I modify the turret to reflect this? Would it be easier to just use an M1A1 turret with backdated blow-off panels?

Thanks for the help in advance everyone..

Dave Lueck

Hi David,
first welcome on board. It's always nice to see the membership growing (and with a modern-minded modeler moreover ).

To answer your question, try to go to the features section, you'll find an article by Gino (Heavyarty) about the M1 variants. I think you'd find what you're looking for.

olivier

I have photos of a couple of M1IPs I had in Massachusetts. Click on my selected link below to enter my motor pool gallery.

Sorry to say that, but Squadron book is not very reliable reference. All M1 IP tanks had the same short storage bins on turret sides as M1. They however had bustle rack added. M1 IPs never had M1A1 style smoke grenade storage boxes.



Use M1A1 turret. It is easier option, as the size of M1IP and M1A1 turrets was the same and modifying blow-off panels should be easy.

Pawel

The 2AD(FWD) at Garlstedt had M1s. Not sure if they were IPs or A1s. I wasn't there until '88.

Paul