Release date? Any chance it will contain parts for TUSK version?
Cheers,
Dmitry
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M1A2 SEP from Dragon - any news?
Mitrich
Joined: February 09, 2006
KitMaker: 3 posts
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Posted: Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 08:06 PM UTC
Violetrock
Joined: March 09, 2003
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Posted: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 10:50 PM UTC
A German Hobby show has listed it as a March 2007 release and a price.
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
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Posted: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 10:55 PM UTC
Quoted Text
A German Hobby show has listed it as a March 2007 release and a price.
This maybe a bit too optimistic.
But we are working on it and CAD designs are almost complete now. First test shots should be made soon.
And no, it will not include TUSK parts...
Pawel
Mitrich
Joined: February 09, 2006
KitMaker: 3 posts
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Posted: Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 05:03 PM UTC
Pawel, thanks for the answer. It looks like good news for modern armour fans. But why not TUSK? This set would add value to the kit and variety to the modeler's shelf 
BTW, I have read somewhere that Pentagon have ordered more than 500 sets to equip M1A2s in Iraq...
Dmitry
BTW, I have read somewhere that Pentagon have ordered more than 500 sets to equip M1A2s in Iraq...Dmitry
sarge18
Joined: November 09, 2002
KitMaker: 272 posts
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2007 - 04:56 AM UTC
I'd say not TUSK because it's not yet a viable cost option for Dragon. The TUSK is still going through modifications and isn't highly implemented. The amount of ACCURATE information that would be needed to produce an accurate TUSK variant in plastic just isn't available at this time.
I will be curious what the kit will contain, though, specifically with the right rear where the UUAPU was designed to go, and where the Hawker battery setup currently goes. Also wondering if Dragon's going to get the cupola correct with how the M2 rotates around, where the other guys have not.
Jed
I will be curious what the kit will contain, though, specifically with the right rear where the UUAPU was designed to go, and where the Hawker battery setup currently goes. Also wondering if Dragon's going to get the cupola correct with how the M2 rotates around, where the other guys have not.
Jed
Violetrock
Joined: March 09, 2003
KitMaker: 831 posts
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2007 - 07:11 PM UTC
Hope this kit will receive new tracks. I donīt want to spend my money on a kit with single tracks and purchase another AFV track set for replacing the kit ones.
Thomas
Thomas
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
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KitMaker: 12,596 posts
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2007 - 07:41 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I imagine they will have the same Magic Tracks that the M1A1AIM comes with.Hope this kit will receive new tracks. I donīt want to spend my money on a kit with single tracks and purchase another AFV track set for replacing the kit ones.
Thomas
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2007 - 07:54 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hope this kit will receive new tracks. I donīt want to spend my money on a kit with single tracks and purchase another AFV track set for replacing the kit ones.
Thomas
I agree with Sabot, there is nothing wrong with the Magic Tracks. They are accurate and look great when done.
Tankrider
Joined: October 07, 2002
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2007 - 08:06 PM UTC
Gino,
I am glad that you and Rob like them but, I still do not like them and will gladly spend the $$$ for AFV Club T-158... Also the centerguide looked a bit too small/short on the set that I ended up abandoning for my Panther II.
Now if we could get AFV to modify their molds to do T-158LL, with the skeletonized center guides, that would be great!!!! Maybe I will resort to the WWII German modeler trick of using the Dremel with a drill.
John
I am glad that you and Rob like them but, I still do not like them and will gladly spend the $$$ for AFV Club T-158... Also the centerguide looked a bit too small/short on the set that I ended up abandoning for my Panther II.
Now if we could get AFV to modify their molds to do T-158LL, with the skeletonized center guides, that would be great!!!! Maybe I will resort to the WWII German modeler trick of using the Dremel with a drill.
John
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
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KitMaker: 12,596 posts
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2007 - 08:14 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I'd like to see the LL tracks as well. I bought the Armour Track Models T-158 because the box art looked just like LL tracks. But alas, just regular T-158 inside.Gino,
I am glad that you and Rob like them but, I still do not like them and will gladly spend the $$$ for AFV Club T-158... Also the centerguide looked a bit too small/short on the set that I ended up abandoning for my Panther II.
Now if we could get AFV to modify their molds to do T-158LL, with the skeletonized center guides, that would be great!!!! Maybe I will resort to the WWII German modeler trick of using the Dremel with a drill.
John
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2007 - 09:25 PM UTC
Don't get me wrong. Sure, I would like to see a set of T-158LLs too. I believe the Magic Track T158s are quite adequate and don't really need to be replaced by the AFV Club set. In the end, it is up to the modeler to decide what is best for his build though. I just don't see the need to change them.
C_JACQUEMONT
Joined: October 09, 2004
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Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2007 - 04:43 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I'd say not TUSK because it's not yet a viable cost option for Dragon. The TUSK is still going through modifications and isn't highly implemented. The amount of ACCURATE information that would be needed to produce an accurate TUSK variant in plastic just isn't available at this time.
I will be curious what the kit will contain, though, specifically with the right rear where the UUAPU was designed to go, and where the Hawker battery setup currently goes. Also wondering if Dragon's going to get the cupola correct with how the M2 rotates around, where the other guys have not.
Jed
Maybe an opportunity for Cyber Hobby?
Cheers,
Christophe
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
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Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2007 - 11:54 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I'd say not TUSK because it's not yet a viable cost option for Dragon. The TUSK is still going through modifications and isn't highly implemented. The amount of ACCURATE information that would be needed to produce an accurate TUSK variant in plastic just isn't available at this time.
Spot on! I couldn't explain it better
Quoted Text
I will be curious what the kit will contain, though, specifically with the right rear where the UUAPU was designed to go, and where the Hawker battery setup currently goes. Also wondering if Dragon's going to get the cupola correct with how the M2 rotates around, where the other guys have not.
Oups... I guess my info is outdated! I don't know what Hawker batteries are
Are there any changes in panels comparing to UUAPU setup? If there are, they I think we still have time to include optional parts, but I need more info!And regarding the M2HB - yes, we are going to properly depict rotating ring around stationary cupola with limited range of rotation. By the way, why is the rotation of this ring limited so much (approx. 45 deg to the left and 75 deg to the right)?... I know that the gun itself can be rotated more on its base, but this means that commander has to practically leave the cupola. By the way, have anyone noticed that CWS in Tamiya M1A2 is noticeably under scale?
Pawel
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
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Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 12:01 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I imagine they will have the same Magic Tracks that the M1A1AIM comes with.
Nope! The kit will include T158LL tracks! Most likely these will be done in similar style as tracks in recent M4 Easy Eight kits, i.e. one piece tracks molded in DS100 (dragon styrene - mixture of styrene and vinly) with separate plastic guide horns. This means that in the future if regular T158 track is again needed in any kit, we can change these separate guide horns only.
And I have to confirm that guide horns in tracks used first in M1 Panther II kit and then re-used in M1A1AIM were too small... New guide horns for T158LL tracks will be larger and of course will have holes in them.
Pawel
Tankrider
Joined: October 07, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 01:04 AM UTC
Vodnik,
The center guides looked small to me. However, I was having trouble getting the track runs to stay straight - more my technique and the glue that I was using. I like the AFV Club & ATM track for its realistic look. It is fiddly but I find once I get in a rhythm, I can build it pretty quickly. Same with Fruili track. If your research shows that the center guides are spot on, I will shut up and go back to coloring in the corner... Perhaps I should have never left that corner.
John
The center guides looked small to me. However, I was having trouble getting the track runs to stay straight - more my technique and the glue that I was using. I like the AFV Club & ATM track for its realistic look. It is fiddly but I find once I get in a rhythm, I can build it pretty quickly. Same with Fruili track. If your research shows that the center guides are spot on, I will shut up and go back to coloring in the corner... Perhaps I should have never left that corner.
John
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
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Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 01:27 AM UTC
Quoted Text
If your research shows that the center guides are spot on, I will shut up and go back to coloring in the corner... Perhaps I should have never left that corner.
But I wrote that they indeed ARE too small
I can admit it - I had nothing to do with their design, as they were prepared for Panther II kit 
Pawel
sarge18
Joined: November 09, 2002
KitMaker: 272 posts
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Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 03:38 AM UTC
Yup, the Hawker battery setup has a different rear. No air intake, and no exhaust port, but has a hatch that takes up the top of the left rear cell area to access the batteries. All M1A2 SEP's are supposed to migrate to this version, removing the UAAPU setup as they go through reset/remanufacture. If I were creating the molds, would be a matter of 4 different pieces - the portion on the top of the cell for either the UAAPU or the Hawkers, the UAAPU intake, and the UAAPU exhaust. Both use the same fuel cap.
The cupola is capable of rotating all the way around, however, the two detents are there to prevent you from accidentally swinging your live .50 cal in directions you either can't control or that you would be firing at the loader. For general use, you'll leave the detents engaged. In 7 years of playing on M1A2's and M1A2 SEP's, I've only had to go past the detents a very few times, usually for maintenance purposes
Jed
The cupola is capable of rotating all the way around, however, the two detents are there to prevent you from accidentally swinging your live .50 cal in directions you either can't control or that you would be firing at the loader. For general use, you'll leave the detents engaged. In 7 years of playing on M1A2's and M1A2 SEP's, I've only had to go past the detents a very few times, usually for maintenance purposes
Jed
Majek_m
Joined: October 07, 2006
KitMaker: 10 posts
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Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 05:00 AM UTC
Hi,
I can't wait for the SEP to come. How much longer before it comes - 6 months?
Please, excuse my ignorance, but does the designation T158LL mean Link & Length type of tracks? Or is it a designation of real Abrams tracks?
Also, is the relative difference in size between real centreguides and Dragon's scaled version really big and visible? Or is it negligible? It is hard to tell just from looking at the pictures.
Thanks a lot!
I can't wait for the SEP to come. How much longer before it comes - 6 months?
Please, excuse my ignorance, but does the designation T158LL mean Link & Length type of tracks? Or is it a designation of real Abrams tracks?
Also, is the relative difference in size between real centreguides and Dragon's scaled version really big and visible? Or is it negligible? It is hard to tell just from looking at the pictures.
Thanks a lot!
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
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Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 12:31 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I can't wait for the SEP to come. How much longer before it comes - 6 months?
Hopefully not that long, but after exeprience with AIM kit, I won't give any estimates.
Quoted Text
Please, excuse my ignorance, but does the designation T158LL mean Link & Length type of tracks? Or is it a designation of real Abrams tracks?
Real tracks. T158LL is lightweight version of T158 tracks. If I remember correctly it was designed to reduce the overall weight of M1A2SEP tanks after additional equipment was added to the tank, but they are now used on all M1 versions in service. The only visible difference is a teardrop shaped hole in the guide horn (other differences are in the type of material used to manufacture tracks).
Quoted Text
Also, is the relative difference in size between real centreguides and Dragon's scaled version really big and visible? Or is it negligible?
Well, depends on how familiar you are with the correct shape. It is noticable if you know how it should look like.
Pawel
Majek_m
Joined: October 07, 2006
KitMaker: 10 posts
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Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 01:59 PM UTC
Pawel, thank you very much for your quick and detailed response.
Then, it looks like Dragon's SEP will be the first kit with correct rendition of T158LL tracks. If, as you wrote, currently all Abrams have the hole in the horns, then none of the kits available (including aftermarket tracks) is completely adequate in this respect.
I think I am not going to buy any aftermarket tracks for my 3535 kit. The magic tracks look good to me. I am planning a conversion of AIM into A2 using parts from Italeri's A2. But I haven't started yet and I don't think I am going to start anytime soon.
Anyway, I hope M1A2 SEP will be a fine kit and I will gladly buy it.
Regards.
Then, it looks like Dragon's SEP will be the first kit with correct rendition of T158LL tracks. If, as you wrote, currently all Abrams have the hole in the horns, then none of the kits available (including aftermarket tracks) is completely adequate in this respect.
I think I am not going to buy any aftermarket tracks for my 3535 kit. The magic tracks look good to me. I am planning a conversion of AIM into A2 using parts from Italeri's A2. But I haven't started yet and I don't think I am going to start anytime soon.
Anyway, I hope M1A2 SEP will be a fine kit and I will gladly buy it.
Regards.
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
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Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 03:00 PM UTC
Quoted Text
If, as you wrote, currently all Abrams have the hole in the horns, then none of the kits available (including aftermarket tracks) is completely adequate in this respect.
Old T158 tracks are still used (in fact older T156 were also spotted on active duty tanks not long ago!!!). As long as there is a stock of these older tracks, they will be used. But indeed T158LL are more common these days.
Pawel
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