Box contents

The set is packed in a sturdy cardboard box that protects the parts well. It includes resin and PE parts that allow you to upgrade the Dragon M1A1 AIM to a current USMC M1A1 HC that is currently in Afghanistan. The set includes one large PE sheet for the belly armor, four medium-sized PE sheets for the USMC M1A1 specific items, four smaller PE sheets for M1A1 common pieces such as screens and parts for the machine guns. It also includes resin and metal parts for the smoke grenade launchers, 16 resin smoke grenades, thermal viewer for the TC's .50 cal, a scope for the Loader's M240 MG, and parts for 2 duke antennas. There are also metal springs and bases for the antennas, wire tow rope, and a couple lengths of plastic rod included. The set is rounded out with 4 double-sided A4 sheets of well-detailed instructions that look easy to follow.

Conclusion

The set will give you everything you need to make a current USMC M1A1 HC in Afghanistan. It includes all the key parts for a USMC tank. These include 8-shot smoke grenade launchers, T/I phone box and Slave Cable Receptacle box for the right rear, and duke antennas. You also get TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit) parts that are used by the USMC; which are the belly armor, loader's gun shields, thermal viewer on the .50 cal, and scope on the loader's M240 MG. The USMC does not use all parts of the TUSK since they are not needed for operations in Afghanistan. The set also includes an exhaust deflector, but not the type commonly used by the USMC, which is part of the Deep Water Fording Kit (DWFK). The DWFK exhaust deflector actually seals the exhaust for water operations. The one in this set is the same as the one that comes in the Dragon kit which just sits on top of the exhaust vents. You will still need to source or scratch-build a DWFK exhaust deflector to build it correctly.

Additionally, the set is missing the folding Bustle Rack Extension (BRE) found on current USMC, and most Army, tanks now. This is the same BRE in the Dragon M1A2 SEP kit. Voyager does this BRE as a separate set, as does Eduard. You will need to source one for a current USMC HC as well.

Also in the set, you get most of the same common M1A1 parts from Voyager's M1A1 basic set as well (35415) which gives you many of the common upgrade parts for hatch interiors, smoke grenade storage boxes, rear exhaust vents, etc. Many of these items are already in the Dragon AIM kit though and will not necessarily be useful. The set could be used on any M1A1 to make it into a USMC HC though.

Lastly, the box-art is very deceptive. It shows a USMC M1A1 HC with a lot of other PE parts on it that are not included in this set. This seams to be an issue with Voyager. They like to show all their sets on one tank. The rear of the boxart does show what is in the set though, but you have to know to look there for it.