Gentlemen,

I just picked up the new DML M1A1 AIM at AAA Hobby here in Atlanta. As I'm in the Marine Corps, it can only be built as a USMC machine. However, I'm in the air wing and primarily build aircraft, so my knowledge of our armor is pretty much non-existant.

I would like to build an M1A1HA (from Echelon sheet 35004) as it appeared in OIF.

The Tamiya M1A2 is in the collection as well.

Can anyone let me know what I need to do to make the AIM a correct USMC HA? What parts do I need to add, remove, or modify to build the version I want?

Thanks,

Dave

Dave

I'm currently converting one of DML's older M-1A1 kits to the marine version. Good news is you have most of the parts in the Tamiya M-1A2 to make the conversion easy. You will need the marine version of the CITV cover (in front of the loaders hatch) with the missle counter measures device and the marine corp version smoke discargers that are in the Tamiya kit. Two other main differences between the USMC version and the kits that you won't find in either kit is the Marine version of the bustle rack extension and the infantry phone box on the right rear of the tank. You can find after market bustle rack extensions, the phone box will have to be scratch built. Hope this helps.

Rob

Rob,

Thank you for the info. I was pretty sure about the parts from the Tamiya kit, but wanted to be 100% certain before I robbed them.

As far as the BRE is concerned.....I'm going to assume Eduard? If so, do you know the set number?

Any idea where I can find a good photo of the phone box you mentioned?

Thanks again,

Dave

You still need to add some things to the Dragon M1A1 AIM to bring it up to current standards for a USMC M1A1HC (Heavy Common) though. Here is a short list of items to add to it.

First off, change out the smoke launchers to the USMC 8-shot, double-stacked type.

EPLRS antenna mount, minus antenna, capped post to the side of regular antenna. Also shows new, thinner steel antennas for radios too.



Power connection box next to the man-hole cover. There are two screw caps to connect to located on the front of the connector, toward the front of the tank.



PLGR antenna is mounted somewhere on the turret roof. Below it is in front of the crosswind sensor. I have also seen it to the front right of the TC's cupola as well. The location for it varies.





Tank/Infantry Phone on right rear of hull (and rear Slave Cable Receptacle shown on M1A1 AIMs below, not present on most USMC tanks).



Deep fording kit exhaust flange. (I think this is already in the kit.)



Forward MCB (Mine Clearing Blade) power/control box connector box next to driver's hatch. (only on later USMC M1A1 AIMs)



The box in front of the loader's hatch is not a CITV. It is an MCD (Missile Countermeasure Device). It is used to defeat optically and laser guided anti-tank missiles. Looks like this, and it is in the Tamiya kit.



Some USMC M1A1HCs are using the old sprocket guards as well. The older T-156 Chevron Block track had an issue with jumping off the sprockets. The newer T-158 Bigfoot track solved the problem. Just a couple years ago, the USMC started using them again to help with track slop as well. The below pic is a USMC M1A1HC in ops in Iraq.


For the USMC BRE used in OIF.


Eduard does make them, set #35598. There is also one in the new Academy M1A1 Iraq 2003 kit. It is one of the few good pieces off the new J sprue. It also has a T/I Phone box on the new sprue. The rest of the kit sucks though.

Check out Gary Johnson's resin ones too. He does a line of modern resin accessories. Check his stuff out here

You can take a look at my M1 Variants Article as well for more info and pics.

You can also take a look at my USMC M1A1HC that I did a while ago.

"Angry American", USMC M1A1HC

Good luck on it.

Thanks for the reference pics and info Gino, these will come in handy as I have a couple of the Tamiya M1's I want to build out as USMC M1's and I'd like to get the DML one too.

Semper Fi Dave! Nice to see a 'swing with the wing' type want to build one of us treadheads vehicles.

Gino,

DML M1A1 AIM kit includes EPLRS antenna mount (with parts to build it with or without antenna), PLGR antenna, deep fording kit flange and turret power connection box.

Cheers,
Pawel