I’m building the above kit at the moment. On the Dragon instructions, painting and marking section, it shows several versions of the vehicle. The first example (M1A1HC) is the only one detailing the rear storage basket. The rest have what I presume is an air conditioning unit installed. Am I right in presuming that the rear storage basket can’t be installed with this? I note that on earlier versions of the M1 this was attached on the rear of the hull.
Can anyone also confirm if any of these vehicles types where involved in the Thunder Run into Baghdad?

The M1A1 HC was used by the 3rd ID and the Marines during OIF. The one with the extended bustle rack, as you mentioned, was used by 2nd BDE 3rd ID. The item you are calling an Air Conditioner is actually and Auxilary Power Unit. The APU is issued with the tanks. When it comes to the tanks that were issued to the 3rd ID some had them, some tanks did not. If it worked the crews might keep them but if they did not the crews would ditch them so that they would have more room in their bustle rack. When the 3rd ID conducted their Thunder Run they had the M1A1 HC variant.

The vehicle with the box mounted on the right rear was only during Desert Storm back in 91. They were not used in line units after Desert Storm. The only places you could find them were at Fort Knox on the vehicles used to train new soldiers.

Ric

Cheers Richard
Thanks for the help I couldn't remember what the rear unit was. I want to build an M1A1 as seen during Thunder Run and was wondering what colour to finish it. Where the vehicles used in the Thunder Run all finished in desert sand colour. I fancied a European 3 tone camouflage. I have a picture of one vehicle which seems to be overall dark green, maybe this was distortion caused by the accumulation of dust and dirt or the light available when the picture was taken
Cookie

All 3ID Abrams were overall sand, hence, all vehicles on the Thunder Runs were sand. The vehicle depicted on the Dragon decal sheet, A32 from 1-64 AR, did take part in the first Thunder Run.

The USMC did have some NATO camo and a couple all green M1A1 HCs as well.

Cookie,
If the picture you saw of the overall green vehicle is of the initial invasion then as Gino said it was from the Marine Corp, however they did not participate in the Thunder Run. After the initial invasion 1st Armored Division was moved up to Baghdad and they were the 3 tone Camo. The only part that was not 3 tone from 1st AD was the 3rd BDE out of Fort Riley, KS. The rest of 1st AD came from Germany.

Ric

Thanks Guys i think i will go with the Vehicle used by the 3rd ID during Thunder Run with the M1A1 HC variant. In Sand colour. Any other points i need to watch out for during the build. Do any of you guys have a source for good referance pictures of these vehicles.

Thanks again Cookie

A great referance is Bob Burik's book "Thunder Run". It is full of pics of 3ID vehicles during the invasion. Good luck.

Here's a nice picture from Webshots ( just click on it to enlarge) :


Frenchy