Comparison
of M1A1/M1A2 Abrams kits.
PART
4
TURRET DETAILS
|
|
The rear of the
turret is separate part in all kits, but only in Tamiya M1A2 model this part also
includes walls and top of boxy turret extension. Tamiya correctly molded the
crosswind sensor as shifted slightly to the left side of the turret. Italeri
and Trumpeter molded them in the middle of support plates, what is not
correct. Dragon molded support plate and sensor separately with correctly
located "hinges", thus enabling modeler to attach the sensor in stored
horizontal position. Also note that Dragon's crosswind sensor is of
different type than those in other kits - both types are correct and both could be seen on M1A1 tanks during OIF. Tamiya rear turret part lacks the
small bracket supporting the sensor in stored position. In Academy kit (not
shown) rear turret part is flat, unlike in Tamiya kit, but the sensor part
looks the same as Tamiya's (just with less details).
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
Antenna mounts in all kits. Older Tamiya M1A1 kits had antenna mounts
identical to those in Academy model. Only Italeri, Trumpeter and new Tamiya
M1A2 kits include antenna mount springs (one in Italeri and Trumpeter kits
and two in Tamiya kit).
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
|
|
Stowage bins.
Please note various ways of molding side rails brackets. In Italeri and
Dragon kits they are molded on bins. In Tamiya kit only the two brackets are
molded on bins and in Trumpeter kits none is molded this way. Also note that
Dragon and Tamiya parts lack the small protruding "shelf" on the side of
each bin, used to store the ammo box. Academy part (not shown) looks similar
to Trumpeter part ("shelf" for ammo box present and no brackets). Only
Trumpeter molded a cover hinge line on the edge of each bin. Note that only
in Italeri kit the non-slip coating correctly "surrounds" the handles on the
bin lid. On top of the picture, next to Trumpeter parts are two small parts
added - these are latches used to secure stowage bins to the turret. Only
Trumpeter kit includes these parts. Italeri molded those latches on turret
sides and all other kits lack them completely.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
Side
rails. In Dragon and Italeri kits each rail is a separate part. In Tamiya
and Trumpeter kits all three rails for each side of the turret are molded as
on part with mounting brackets. In Academy kit (not shown) each rail is
separate like in Dragon kit, but to make assembly even more complicated also
mounting brackets are all molded as separate parts (not on stowage bins,
like in Dragon and Italeri kits). In each kit the way rails end (were they
meet the turret bustle rack) is portrayed differently. In Italeri kit rails
are not attached to the turret at their ends what is not right. There
is a part in the kit to be attached to the end of the rails, but it does not
touch turret. In Trumpeter and Academy (and also old Tamiya M1A1) kits the
end of rails looks like in older M1A1 tanks, with mounting bracket and
terminating plate behind it attached to rails. In Dragon and new Tamiya M1A2
kits there is no separate terminating plate, just single modified mounting
bracket - this is correct for later M1A1 and for M1A2 tanks.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
|
|
Towing cables. In Academy kit cables look exactly like those from Tamiya
kit. Only Tamiya and Academy kit parts lack brackets securing the cable ends to the
turret.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
Grenade boxes. In Tamiya kit you get two types of boxes - simple ones
without any hinges and latches (from old M1A1 kits) and newer, bigger ones.
The older ones seem to be too simplified, but in reality early M1A1 tanks
indeed had such simple boxes without any openable lid - the whole box was
hinged on the bottom. All other boxes are of newer type with openable lid,
as used on M1A1HC and M1A2 tanks, but differ in size quite noticeably. I
don't know dimensions of the real box, but judging from photos Tamiya part
seems to be the most accurate.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
|
|
Smoke grenade
launchers and their mounting brackets.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
Smoke grenade
launchers are not fully accurate in any of the kits, but Dragon part is
definitely the best and closest to the real thing. But at the same time it
is really difficult to assemble, as fit of parts is mediocre. |
One additional note about smoke grenade
launchers. For unknown reason in instructions for Italeri kit the part numbers for
grenade launchers and their mounts are mismatched. To make things worse it is
fully possible to assemble parts according to instructions, but as a result you
get launchers sticking out at strange angles to tank sides. Unfortunately I
already saw finished models with those parts attached "according to
instructions" and it looks weird. Please remember then: parts 25 and 31 go on
the right side of the turret and parts 24 and 32 go on the left side of the
turret.
Also in Dragon kit instructions (and in Revell ones as
well) those number are mismatched, but in this kit it is possible to assemble
grenade launcher to its mount in only one way, so the error in instructions is
not that dangerous. Correct way is to attach parts F34, F59 and F29 on the left
side of the turret and parts F33, F60 and F30 on the right side.
|
|
Blast panels.
Only in Tamiya M1A2 kit small lifting eyes are molded as separate parts.
Also round covers are separate and to attach them you first need to make
holes in panels (holes are partially molded inside the turret part). But
panels themselves are molded with the turret upper part. In Italeri kit
panels are also molded on the turret part and also have separate round
covers. In Trumpeter kit panels are separate parts from the turret, but have
round covers molded on them, so you have no option to omit them. In Dragon
kit those covers are separate, but it is difficult to omit them as non-slip
coating is missing in places where they should be attached. In Academy kit
panels don't have round covers and lifting eyes - it is correct for early
M1A1 tanks. Panels in old Tamiya M1A1 kits looked like those in Academy
model.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
Is it spaghetti
or maybe a pile of earthworms?... No, this is Italeri's idea of non-slip
coating applied to blast panels. The same style texture is on lids of
stowage bins on turret sides. Luckily on other surfaces the texture is
copied from Trumpeter molds and looks much better.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
Three configurations of blast panels
can be found on M1A1 and M1A2 tanks. The first one is portrayed in Academy kit:
there are no lifting eyes and no round covers on panels, but the loader's hatch
catch is on the left panel. This configuration was typical for all early M1A1
tanks. The other configuration introduced in M1A1HC tanks is shown in Trumpeter
kit - there are two lifting eyes and three round covers on each panel - those
round covers are parts of the ammo reloading system in which the whole empty
ammo rack attached to the blast panel is removed from the turret and replaced
with the new full rack. Because the blast panel was removable, the loader's
hatch catch was moved and installed over the cable guard in front of the left
panel. Mentioned ammo loading system was never introduced in US Army and newer
tanks no longer have those round covers present on blast panels. Those tanks
once again use "smooth" panels like those in Academy kit. Some tanks, including
some M1A2s, were manufactured in transition period before "smooth" panels were
reintroduced, but already after it became obvious that rack ammo loading system
is not used. Those tanks have blast panels with flat round metal plugs welded in
place of round covers and they also lack lifting eyes - only bolt heads remain
in place where those eyes were previously attached. Loader's hatch catch remain over
the cable guard in those tanks. Other noticeable difference between "smooth"
panels and those with round covers (including those with welded plugs) is that
"smooth" panels have only eight bolt heads on each panel along its edges, while
panels with covers have sixteen bolt heads - grouped in eight pairs.
Now let's take closer look at each of
the kits:
- Tamiya: kit includes lifting eyes and round covers and
loader's hatch catch is over cable guards. One error is that there are only
eight bolt heads on each panel instead of sixteen. Tamiya kit is the only
one with lifting eyes and round cover locating semi-holes correctly placed on
panels - in all other kits there are too far aft. To build panels in
"smooth" configuration you need to fill the holes Tamiya made for separate
lifting eyes. You also need to remove loader's hatch catch from the cable guard
and scratchbuild new bigger catch on the left panel.
- Dragon: kit parts are correct for the configuration with
round covers and I suggest leave it this way. The only inaccuracy is that two rear round covers
and lifting eyes on each
panel are designed to be installed too far aft.
- Trumpeter: the same is true as for Dragon kit, but
Trumpeter model lacks the hatch catch over the cable guard in front of left
blast panel. Two rear round covers and lifting eyes on each panel are molded too
far aft (as in Dragon kit.)
- Italeri: the kit instructions don't mention round cover
parts, but they are present on sprue C (parts C1) and I suggest using them,
although the locating semi-holes molded on the inner side of the turret part are
two far aft on each panel (as in Dragon and Trumpeter kits).
Italeri put a small hatch catch on the edge of left panel, but I suggest
removing it and scratchbuilding a new one over the cable guard, as the one in
the kit is completely inaccurate. To build late
production M1A2 with "smooth" panel you need to remove lifting eyes and eight
bolt heads from each panel (leave just eight on each one). Also remove the hatch
catch and scratchbuild a new bigger one attached closer to the left edge of the
panel (see Academy part).
|
|
Loader's hatches.
Only Dragon part has separate sight guard. Italeri hatch has separate grab
handle. It also has hatch lock details and a lip around the hatch edge. This
lip is a modification added to newer Abrams tanks, but similar lip is also
added at the same time to driver's hatch and it is missing from Italeri kit.
In all kits except for Dragon one you get a piece of clear styrene sheet to make
glass for driver's sight. In Dragon kit it is up to you to add some "glass"
or to paint the solid sight front.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
Bottom side of loader's hatches. This time Dragon part is the only one
without separate sight "socket". Note that only Dragon molded bottom of
hatch hinges properly. Ejector pin marks scar Italeri and Trumpeter parts.
Loader's hatch in Academy kit looks exactly like Tamiya one.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
|
|
Loader's machine
gun traverse rail. Only in Dragon kit you can put the gun in any position on
the rail as the carriage is a separate part. There is also a small handle
that is supposed to be attached vertically to the carriage, but it is not the correct position -
it should be on the other side of the
carriage and at an angle.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
M240 machine guns
- Italeri is the smallest and Trumpeter the largest. Note sink marks on
Italeri and Trumpeter parts. Gun in Academy kit is similar in size to Tamiya
part, but devoid of any surface details.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
|
|
"The doghouse" -
gunner's sight housing. Only in Italeri kit it is molded integrally with
upper turret part. In Tamiya kit you get two parts - old style from their
M1A1 kit, as installed in early M1A1 tanks, and new part for newer style
used currently on all Abrams tanks. In Dragon kit the support plate is
separate part and in Trumpeter kit this plate is molded on the turret (not
shown). The support plate of Academy kit doghouse (not shown) is also
separately molded and the doghouse itself is similar in shape to the old
Tamiya part, as Academy kit is also early M1A1. Tamiya doghouse is most
accurate in shape, but lacks some bolt head details. Italeri is close
second.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
Doghouse front and doors. In Tamiya kit you get two types of doors and sight
housing fronts - matching two different doghouses. The old part from M1A1
kits was inaccurate, as both "windows" should be almost the same width, like
in newer parts. Italeri obviously copied old inaccurate Tamiya part - bad
idea! In Italeri kit for some reason you can find two sets of doghouse doors
- be careful to use correct ones! Those on the right side of the picture
should not be used (they are marked as not used in instructions). Only in
Dragon kit the front of the doghouse is solid and interestingly the left
"window" is molded as convex, while, as far as I know, both are flat in
reality. Academy kit parts are similar to those from old Tamiya M1A1 kit,
but doors are a bit more detailed. In Italeri, Trumpeter, Academy and old
Tamiya M1A1 kits you get a piece of thin clear styrene sheet to make glass
for "windows" - in all except Italeri the sheet is precut to shape. In
Italeri kit instructions you get dimensions of the part to cut it yourself. Only in new
Tamiya M1A2 kit you get ready clear styrene part for windows.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
|
|
Three round
covers from M1A1 kits and CITV parts from two M1A2 kits. Immediately visible
is the size difference between Tamiya and Italeri CITV parts.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
Italeri CITV is noticeably smaller. You have to cut the glass for CITV from
clear styrene sheet in Italeri kit. In Tamiya kit you get nice clear styrene
part ready to use. I don't know exact dimensions of real CITV, but I took
some measurements of parts from both kits and compared them to photos of
M1A2 tanks and I think Tamiya part is more accurate. Italeri CITV is
too small.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. |
GO
TO NEXT PAGE
PART1
PART2
PART3
PART4
PART5
PART6
Copyright © 2004
VODNIK, mail to: pawel.k at vodnik dot net