I bought a Tamiya M1A1/M1A2 kit at Hobby Lobby during their 40% off sale and went back and picked up the Academy M1A1 OIF USMC model during the same sale. Looking back, I want to slap myself for not picking up another Tamiya M1A2 kit. I want to replicate both the Army and Marine Corps Abrams of OIF. I read the reviews post purchase and decided that the Academy model might be destined to be backdated to the original M1 of the 80's, but this is where my question finally arrives. I walked into Hobbytown USA and they have the USMC M1A1 with wading gear for $18.00. Would the dimensions be more correct then the Academy version? I was thinking I could build the Dragon and then update it with the missile countermeasure box and such. Just wondered if this sounded like a good idea or whether I should just wait until I can pick up another Tamiya? Thank you!
~John~
P.S. What M1A1/ M1A2 aftermarket products would you recommend to someone who is just getting back into modeling. Individual track links scare me a bit, but I realize that all of the kit tracks are off.

There is nothing wrong with the new Tamiya M1A1/A2 kit tracks. Now their older M1 and Desert Storm era M1A1 (w/ or w/o mine plow) had the center guides misplaced. Academy's Abrams kits duplicate this error as well.

The DML kits are more accurate than the Academy M1A1. Academy never increased the size of their M1A1 turret. It is the exact same size as the turret for the original Tamiya M1 (the M1A1 increased the frontal armor of the turret).

The new Academy OIF fittings are very good. You could put those on the Tamiya M1A2 and get a fairly decent replica of an Army tank in OIF (although the Army used a later variant of the A2) or likewise with the USMC parts on the Tamiya kit. Tamiya's new kit builds into three variants but is rather naked without all the nice OIF specific fittings included with the Academy and Dragon OIF Abrams kits.

I was thinking that I would add the OIF details from the Academy model to a Dragon M1A1 that is in amphibious landing configuration with the large stacks over it's air intakes. I think that the new OIF M1A2 has a pretty good amount of detail and it also includes the ability to make the USMC M1A1with the missile countermeasure device. Good to know the tracks are right on the Tamiya kit. Are Dragon's tracks wrong. If so, what would you reccommend in the means of a replacement for someone getting back into modeling after a siesta (ie first year of college). Thank you.
~John~

Dragon's tracks are correct. AFV Club makes a set of the second style individual track links that are easy to work with and look good. The only tracks that are faulty are the old Tamiya M1, M1A1, M1A1 w/plow, Academy M1A1 and the old OOP Esci/AMT/Ertl M1 and M1A1.

Dragon, Trumpeter and the Tamiya M1A2/A1 kit have accurate tracks.

Trumpeter tracks are almost correct - they have some strange bumps in the middle of rubber pads.

Pawel

Sounds good. Thanks for all of the advice. I'll post photos when I get building. One final question involves turned aluminum barrels...who makes the best for the Abrams. I have a Revell Paladin that will follow that I think I would like to also have a turned metal barrel on.
~John~

Model Point makes the best one: http://www.modelpoint.us/, but it's probably more than you paid for the Academy kit.