M1 Abrams

Jos Jansen Oh yeah...aussie armor, I am in!

Jan Raska planning this build any soon?

Bryn Crandell Probably not this year.

Florian Ayers Time to Make Modeling Great Again!

Dawid Branski hahah

Sören Reifert Wouldnt say so
Putin on a bear is also really funny
L-39 Albatros (Eduard BFC056, 1:48)

Dawid Branski lol

Nigel Now, Putin on a a bear I want!

seb H This project is based on a mix of dragon Kit (for the main structure), trumpeter for the turret and tamyia for the mine plough

Bart Goesaert I'm so in... Do have the resin conversion

Bart Goesaert I'm so in... Do have the resin conversion

Glenn . Bart it might be cheaper to buy the Rye Field Model than a resin conversion!

Bart Goesaert Yeah, but there's a law in modelling that says something like: you save and buy a pretty expensive resin conversion of kit, and within no time there's a less expensive plastic version...

Glenn . Murphy's plastic law! Or you just finish a really tricky vac-form build then a injection molded kit is released!

Bart Goesaert Yeah, unfortunately another victim. But it's a very nice cast, that softens it a bit

Chris Earl Scored still sealed for $20 at a trash and treasure toy stall in a local market on weekend holiday down the coast

Michael Hickey Lucky bastard, I've got the Italeri version with the resin engine included. One day I'll do her as an Aussie one.

Irving González Looks vert great

Pavel Pinzhin Thank you! Glad you like it

Brian Eberle I ordered mine yesterday. Like a kid at Christmas, I can't wait to receive this one. I have the DEF Model conversion kit that I have not begun, so I can build both and compare. I look forward to following your build.

Gluefinger @Brian Eberle: I had high hopes regarding this kit, and they were exceeded by what came in that deceptively small box, so you're probably in for one hell of a Christmas (I know, I know, but I'm atheist). Don't hold you breath, though - it will probably be quite a while before I start with my build. Contrary to ABVs, I am in no hurry to be the first one to enter the minefield...

Brian Eberle LoL......... Since I am a Combat Engineer (retired) I am used to going into the minefield first. I am in the middle of moving to another city. Once my move is complete, I will start this kit. Perhaps I will create that trail through the "minefield" for others to follow with this kit.

Gluefinger Makes me wonder why armies procure expensive ABVs when Combat Engineers can just walk into minefields and still live long enough to retire?

Brian Eberle leading with my eyes shut, hands over my ears and stepping lightly thru the minefield.

SapperAEV Booby traps and AP mines can ruin a Sapper's day, but in a pure AT (anti-tank) minefield the EOD tech's ground bearing pressure should not be sufficient to detonate an AT mine.

As a young Sapper I thought that walking around in a mine field may be unwise, but my training assured me otherwise. There were still days when I wished I had a job in a library instead.

The M-1 ABV seems to be the culmination of generations of engineering vehicle development dating back to Sherman and Churchill tank engineering conversions. I hope the dozer blade conversion is available soon.

I wonder if a remote control kit is in the works for the ABV? The RC capable M-1 Panther II was the best toy in NATO. I once saw a young lieutenant try to make hand signals to a nonexistent driver on a RC Panther II. The infantry were always entertaining.

The ABV is a force multiplier by increasing Sapper productivity, but it is noisy and tends to alert defenders. For sneaky preparations and probing of defenses, the tried and true "Liberace" method of crawling on your belly feeling the ground ahead of you, as if you were playing the piano will still have its place. As ever, match the tool to the job at hand.

Gluefinger Now, in January 2018, I can safely say that this was my kit of the year for 2017! Now, if we could get them to do a Grizzly, they'd be up for another winner

Michael Hickey Bust'in to get cracking on this one, I've been a bit non productive for the last few weeks so I'm hoping doing this beast will get my mojo back.

Moritz Fentzahn Looks interesting, I'll take a seat

James C In with a grin on this one

Michael Hickey Your most welcome Mates, I'm just thinking through some derelict apartment ideas as a back drop for the dio.

Robert W Martel Well,,, There are at least 7 reviews of this kit linked here on scalemates. All of them show with pictures that the kit comes with a metal barrel. Mine did not have a metal barrel!
I wrote to Dragon, they say they never made an M1 kit with a metal barrel !! ??????????????????
So I replied back sending them links to all of the reviews that show it.
We'll see what happens!

Robert W Martel Well it's been over 2 weeks and I've heard nothing back from Dragon.
That tells me a lot about their "Customer Service" !!

Lucas C. You probably got a kit from their 2014 reissue, where they deleted the metal barrel, from what I understand. They did a similar thing with the M1A1 AIM kit when they reissued it at the same time. If you look at your picture of the box, it says 3536-03, and the instructions don't show a metal barrel in the parts diagram. The first issue of the kit didn't have -03 after the number and did show the metal barrel in the parts diagram. Here's a link explaining the differences: armorama.com/modules.php?op=..p;topic_id=245131&page=1

Here's a link to the review where you can see the original instructions:
armorama.co.uk/modules.php?o..;req=showcontent&id=2650

Robert W Martel Lucas,,,,,
You are correct !! The instructions don't show a metal barrel. I'll have to remember to update the database.
But I feel like I got ripped. and they told me they never made an M1 w/a metal barrel!! LIARS!!
Every single review I saw showed a metal barrel! OH WELL
From the first link info maybe I'm better off anyway!! It's just that I expected a metal barrel, and for them to say they never made one just flipped me off. LOL
Thanks for the info Lucas,,,, much appreciated.

Lucas C. Yeah, Dragon should have been clear about what changed in the reboxings. I've seen a fair amount of confusion as a result of their "stealth" changes.

Robert W Martel Yea, it's just "marketing" !! But,,, I just didn't get what I expected!
I do like Dragon kits,,, but those little ploys & poor service don't make me want to buy them again!

Clifford Keesler Revell did that with me with a C-21 Learjet, I bought it and it is in a Revell box, but it had no decals, They told me they never made a C-21 {Lear-25}. Turns out it is a re-box of Hasegawa's Lear 25. So I had to buy after market decals. Otherwise Revell's customer service is the best by far.

Clifford Keesler Looks like a nice kit though.

Robert W Martel Yes I agree, Revell has the best customer service by far from my experience so far. I've gotten replacement parts for a 10 year old kit! At no charge, and it cost them $5.50 to send it to me.
The M1A2 is a real nice kit! But how they could say they never made an M1 with a metal barrel is beyond me, clearly they did!! Oh well, no big deal, the plastic one is quite nice anyway!

David Suhadolc I wrote an email once to Tamiya just asking how to moisten their Weathering Master kit after it dried up. They responded to just add a few drops of water and keep it in a ziplock bag. Ok fine and dandy. 2 weeks later i get a mysterious large envelope in the mail from Tamiya and low and behold they sent me two new Weathering Master kits that I didn't own yet. A+ customer service

Robert W Martel Wow David, that is good service, to send you something you didn't even ask for !!!
I only have a few Tamiya kits, but good to know they have such good service. Their kits are top quality! Goes to show, you do get what you pay for! Some others DON'T have such great service.

Derek Engelhaupt Now that I have started the kit there are a few more notes. The turret bustle rack is actually molded too long for the turret by about a 1/4". Had to shorten it by hacking some material out of the right side. The barrel also doesn't sit where it should stock. If you mount it by the directions the barrel will be sunken into the mount and appear to be really short. Both of the headlights are supposed to oriented the same way with the big clear light on the right side of the of the housing. The kit has the big clear light on the outside of both lights (one left and one right). One of the housings needs to be flipped 180 degrees to be correct so that both lights are mounted in the same direction with the larger light on the right side of the housing (both right). For being an M1A1 AIM version, there should only be a gas cap on the left rear of the tank were the generator should be. The extra door detail should not be there as the extra doors are for the M1A2 where batteries replaced the generator. In that case the fuel cap should be removed. The tank needs one or the other and not both.

gvahl just purchased my first new armour kit after 20+ years, awaiting delivery

Tim Heimer Welcome back to the fantastic plastic world! As most of us have found out that there is so much more to this than 20 yrs ago and with Scalemates all over you will be amazed with what you learn and do with this kit.

gvahl that's so true, i'm absolutely amazed at all the info and range of products that is out there! And no longer an obligation to use smelly enamel paints