Many years ago I bought a Tamiya M1, the original one, because I wanted one with the M68 gun and the MERDC colour scheme. Then I read on here a helpful piece about improving it to actual service standard, using parts from a different kit. One option was Academy, so I bought one of those as well. So now I have the plastic, and the paint guide, and … no idea. I should have grabbed that article when I could, and now it’s lost deep in the Armorama archive.
So, can anyone point me in the right direction? Or even better, turn up that article again?
I built an M1IP, which was the transitional model that was used in the late 80s and early 90s before the M1A1 was fully adopted. I used parts from three different Tamiya kits to get mine put together. It was a hell of a conversion. But in the end it came togetehr good for me.
The Abrams Squad magazine do a great book on modelling Abrams tanks.Spud Murphy from the U.K made his early M1 by using the original Tamiya kit and the rest was from the Dragon Panther 2 mine clearer for the hull and wheels etc.Ive just bought 2 Panda ones the early M1 and Ipm1.I know they get slated by some but good enough for my average build standards.
Richard
I have the Panda M1 and if I recall correctly, a few of the more knowledgeable guys on this site said it was very good , I think the recommendation was to replace the kit tracks.
Richard do you recall which issue of Abram’s Squad that covered the M1s?
Thank you 18bravo, that’s helpful. But I’m fairly sure the one I’m thinking of is older than 2015 and actually sets out the bits from the Academy M1A1 kit that you can graft onto the Tamiya M1 to improve it. Still, if it’s that straightforward to search the old stuff, I may stand a chance of finding it.
I have the Panda M1 on my bench right now. Good kit. I ended up using the kit tracks after trying the TRex set (save your $). It has a few small issues- if you count rivets. there is a thread with a rundown ( try M1 USAREUR)
I found the fit awful and they are over engineered. I was able to get about 4 runs of 5 shoes together, but lost lots of end connectors since the pins were a super tight fit. The run is did finish had very little workability all told. The Trumpeter set was much better, but I just stayed with the kit set. My plan is to use the kit in a diorama so I can cover the back of the kit tracks with mud- the Panda track is correct on the front of the shoe but the back is wrong (it is a minor issue to me)
That’s good to know. I haven’t been hearing good things about the T-Rex tracks. And they are expensive. I wonder if all their sets have these problems? I think I bought a set of Trumpeter tracks for mine.
