I’d like to build an Operation Desert Storm M1A1. I looked for RFM 5006 M1a1 1991 Desert Storm Edition, but can’t find it in stock and several sellers have it listed as discontinued. RFM 5007 appears to have the same exterior but I don’t need the interior. Any recommendations? Priorities are, Accuracy (high priority) and Detail (high to med).
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Yes, the plastic is the same in both kits. The earlier parts are all there. Mainly you need the earlier smoke grenade boxes (A8, inside the turret ring opening on the upper hull), the sloped back GPS (E27), and T156 track. The T156 track can be sourced from Trumpeter as a separate set. you can find the 5006 instructions for referance here.
There is at least one of the 5006 kits available on eBay.
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If you’re looking for USMC tanks look no further than https://www.super-hobby.com/products/M1A1-AIM-M1A1-Abrams-TUSK.html
Not DS but I’m sure that it could be made into one.
There is also this one https://www.super-hobby.com/products/USMC-M1A1-FEP-Abrams-Combat-Dozer-Blade-with-workable-track-links.html
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The Meng kit you listed does not have the parts to build an Operation Desert Storm tank, it is a much later version.
The Rye Field kit has all the same plastic as the 5006 kit, plus a few new sprues for the newer parts. It could be used for an ODS USMC M1A1.
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If you want to build one that saw combat make it as one of the USMCR vehicles from the 4th Marine Tank Bn. I think Alpha Co. 4th Tank Bn. was the only Marine Reserve unit w/ M1a1’s. The 2nd Marine Tank Bn which was all M1a1’s was held back in reserve and saw no actual combat. All of the fighting in the Marine sectors was done by USMC and USMCR units w/ M60a1’s, very few M60a3’s (which were loned from the US Army), and one company of USMCR M1a1’s. I was a tank commander (Beirut Payback) in Alpha Co. 8th Tank Bn. The “Big Plan” was for 2nd Tank Bn. w/ M1a1’s to hit the Republican Guard when they counter attacked us. But, that never happened because they all kept retreating.
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As Gino also mentioned; the USMC M1A1 FEP kit (RM5048) will have what you need to build a 1990s vintage Abrams tank, like those used by the Marines of 4th Tanks.
Maybe you can even use RM5120 as well.
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It was Bravo Co with the M1A1s at the Reveille Engagement. Alpha Co had M60A1s.
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Roger that. It is hard to keep up w/ who had what. My gunner had actually gone to an M60a3 gunnery course like a year prior to the war. They kept saying he was going to be taken away from us and traded out with one of the units that had received the M60a3’s. It ended not going through. I would have hated it had it gone through as he was one of the best gunners that I ever had seen.
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That would suck to switch up crews beforehand.
There is a book, Desert Storm Marines: A Marine Tank Company at War in the Gulf by Jeff Ducas who was with B Co.
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Thanks for the heads up on the book. I went ahead and ordered it.
One of the few pictures I found on-line of Bravo 4th Tanks is of “Stepchild”. I have seen several statements that said the marking on the barrel wasn’t painted on until afterwards. The image from before shows no markings I can see. Anyone know if Bravo 4th Tanks had any markings during the war? It would make it easier if not, I can’t find any separate decals of USMC Abrams during DS.
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The book has some photos. I don’t recall off hand but my guess would be during the combat phase they would have few markings if any like barrel bands and tactical symbols. Historically we are light on markings.
That is also the reason you don’t see many decal sheets as post war it was USMC tank serial number, occasionally tactical markings and few art work/barrel names. That said Archer Fine Transfers had a 3 sheet. Echelon also did 2 Marine sheets but all were OIF2. Could us possible use the tactical markings but they could also easily be painted on.
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/archer-ar35194-usmc-m1a1-abrams-in-iraq-iof--219917
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/archer-ar35193-usmc-m1a1-abrams-in-iraq-iof--219918
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/archer-ar35191-oif-usmc-m1a1-markings--219920
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/echelon-fine-details-t35006-m1a1-hc-abrams--107266
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I’ll look it up. Thanks…
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