I did a search on the site for previous topics regarding my question without success. I want to get an M-1 Abrams 105mm gun model. I know Tamiya use to make one, but I cannot find a dealer with them. Can you assist by letting me know who you believe makes a state of the art M-1 kit?
thanks
DJ

As far as I'm aware, Dragon makes the best Abrams kit right now. The M1A1 AIM's is the top of the line right now.

Cam, DJ is asking for a basic M1 Abrams. The new AIM kit has a 120mm barrel verses the M1's 105mm barrel. Although I did read somewhere that some one was backdating the Dragon AIM kit to an M1.

Unfotunately DJ, Tamiya was the only one who had the M1 Abrams. There are two in 1/72 though, Revell and I beleive it is Fujimi or Hasegawa.

This site SSOOO needs a proper, working, easy to use forum search function

Copy and paste this link where they discuss it in length
http://armorama.com/forums/91730&page=1

In summary - DML AIM for extreme accuracy, but not for noobies
OR
Tamiya M1A2 for a simpler build

Search for those 2 names on www.luckymodel.com

They currently have a New Year Sale, which includes the Tamiya

To my knowledge (wich is quite non-existant ) only Tamiya did the M1 with 105mm. Maybe you could be able to backdate an existing kit?

Hey D.J.
Your best bet to find the basic M1 with the 105 barrel will be to go to your local model shows and find one from a vendor, and also a few extra good deals

hi,
I'm not an expert on the basic m1 but, i know, that academys m1a1 is based on the basic m1 (shorter turret and some details on the hull I think)... so wouldn't that be a good base for a m1...
and I don't know it exactly, but doesn't the k1 (or however this korean tank is named :-) ) use the 105 mm main gun used on the m1?
oh, and by the way... which m1 version is the m1panther based on, isn't that the basic m1 either?
good luck with your project...
max

DOGH! Max, your absolutely correct! I beleive the review here on the Dragon Panther II does mention that it is the regular M1 hull and not the A1 hull. And your right on the Academy kit, but it is the first M1A1 kit and not the OIF kit. And it even comes with the older style tracks and not the "BigFoot" tracks.

The regular Academy M1A1 kit would be a real good start for back dating.

I happen to have one of those Academy M1's if the OP is looking for a trade.

To clear it up....

Tamiya is the only one who made an original M1 in 1/35.

Academy's M1A1 is a copy of the Tamiya M1A1 hull with NBC gear on the left side. It is not correct for an M1 hull.

To try to cobble one together, you could do the following and get close. You could use Dragon's M1 Panther II for the hull. You could also use the Academy turret, since it is a copy of Tamiya's M1 turret (not an M1A1 turret), you would have to remove and fill the man hole cover though. You would have to either use the Academy T-156 track, which is pretty bad and also incorrectly molded with the center guides in the middle of the track blocks as opposed to between them, or get a set of the hard to find Armour Track T-156 indi link tracks. You would havve to modify the turret bustle rack and grunt rails to an M1 as well. There is no after market M68 105 mm gun with the proper heat shielding for an M1 though.

Best bet is to look for an old Tamiya M1 on eBay or at a swap meet though.

Good luck.

Contrary to popular belief, two companies made 1/35 scale M1 Abrams tank kits in the 1980s. Tamiya did the first and better one, and Esci did another. The Esci kit was also boxed by AMT/Ertl and are the exact same kit inside. These are your only two choices and both are out of production, but still pop up on eBay.

Esci/AMT/Ertl also did an M1A1 that was their M1 kit with a basic mold swap exchanging the main gun and adding the man hole cover, bustle rack and newer blast panels.

In 1/72 scale, Esci/AMT/Ertl does the best M1 Abrams (reissued by Italeri in 2002). Much nicer than their 1/35 scale kit. Also Hasegawa does the straight M1 as does Matchbox. The Matchbox kit was really produced by Revell and not Matchbox, just released under the Matchbox label.

DJ, if you can't find one on eBay, let me know, I may be able to spare one of my extras.

DOH!!! I remembered the Esci/AMT/Ertl M1s after I posted. I even have one in my stash for a future M1IP project. They are much lower quality, with soft details, than the Tamiya kit. They will work as a basis for an M1 though.

Rob-- I will PM you if I cannot locate one.
thanks
DJ

Gino-- as always appreciate your contribution to the discussion.
DJ

Thanks for the leads and assistance.

But all useless if you are looking for M1 (not A1 or A2) model kit information.

And the site does have a search function that has been around for years: http://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=search

Rob is correct. In fact I just completed the Tamiya M1 build about two days ago, (purchased through Ebay) with some useful assistance from Rob quite awhile back. Headed for paint as we speak.

Steve

Here's my Tamiya M-1 I built about 15 years ago. Pretty much OOB with some Verlinden transfers I found that make it look like a bad*ss desert storm Abrams but historically inacurate. I brush painted it when I wanted to get back into model building as more of a 'can I still do this' project. Pretty nice kit IIRC so if you can find one, it's okay.








Bob

The biggest problem with M1 kits though are how they're still coming with figures dressed in utilities rather than hot suits...