Does anyone have any reference photos of M1A1 Bushpig Bandits? This is the only image I can find. It is the one in the background. Anyone has other images showing the whole vehicle and any from the rear?
I will be using the Tamiya M1A1/A2 kit.
For the Bushpig Bandits markings, I will be using the Echelon Decals 35016. The Echelon instructions says that this particular tank did not have the APU but the profile shows the APU conduit. Did Bushpig Bandits have the APU conduit even though it did not have the APU?
Also, does anyone know which drive sprocket was on Bushpig Bandits? The Echelon instructions show the older sprocket, is that the correct one? First image below is the older style. Second one is the later style. Which one do I use for Bushpig Bandits?
One last thing, was the exhaust heat shield mounting bracket attached as shown in the Tamiya instructions? Should I use it or leave it off?
At the time, OIF 1, most M1A1 HCs (Heavy Common, Common to USMC and US Army) from APS 5 (Kuwait) as 3-7 CAV, 3ID drew, had the solid sprockets. It would have had the flange around the exhaust and the conduit for the APU as these were M1A1 HC features. Most of the APUs were removed as they were old and didn’t work well, if at all.
Depending on the timeframe, some OIF Abrams had their APU removed from the bustle to remove a potential fire hazard in an urban counterinsurgency operational setting.
A few more questions but for a different M1A1. This time “Aloha” in the NATO camo scheme. I am using the Italeri kit decals. The decals have a “Kilroy Was Here” marking, does anyone know where it goes? It is not shown on the Italeri decal placement guide.
I found these images online of the specific “Aloha” M1A1 on the Italeri decals but I can’t see the “Kilroy Was Here” marking anywhere.
Does anyone know if this particular vehicle had the bustle rack extension? Would this vehicle also have the APU and APU conduit? From the image above showing the rear, it is hard to tell if it has the bustle rack extension or not. I am guessing it doesn’t.
Hi there,
I was wondering the same thing. All I could find was this picture of another 1-35 tank. It does not have an APU but the condiut is installed.
To answer your question about the bustle rack extension: I would say it does not have one.
Unfortunately this is all speculation as I am still researching OIF tanks.
I could find no trace of the “Kilroy was here” decal on “Aloha” 1-35, too. But it seems to be a recurring theme and I did find a National Guard M1A1 SA(?) with a somewhat similar sign on the turret cheek.
