M1A2 Abrams, what brand is the best?

I’ve been thinking of making m1a2 abrams but don’t know from which brand should I buy. I built sepv2 from rfm but its hull especially the wheels part was horrible.

Do you want to do a specific version? With TUSK or a bare M1A2 or a SEP?

Sorry to tell you, but Rye Field is one of the best. The Newer Dragon M1A2 SEP (3536) is also good. Meng’s Abrams are also very nice.

Tamiya’s M1A2 is much easier to build, but less detailed as well. I personally am not a Tamiya fan.

2 Likes

I would like the most sepv2 version but basic m1a2 also could be.

My vote goes for the Ryefield Models M1A2 SEP V2

And I have the Dragon M1A2 SEP V2, which is a really nice kit as well.

3 Likes

Yeah rfm is indeed good, good details but the assembling of wheels in sepv2 kit is horrible

what actually makes sepv2 from rfm better than the one from dragon?

Avoid the Tamiya kits, their engineering and details are not that good.

For a SEP V2 I would choose either

Rye Field Models 5029

Academy 13504 but with the extra track included

Dragon M1A2 SEP v2 3556 would be my last choice because the latest SEP v2 extra parts are not that good and because it is a nightmare to figure which part to use and which not. The instructions are the typical Dragon horrible sheet.

2 Likes

Speaking of the Abrams Gino who do you see most likly doing a SEP V.3 ?

I don’t see the issue with the RFM road wheels. They go together just like any other 1/35 Abrams (or most other 1/35 tank) road wheel.

The latest Dragon M1A2 SEP v2 and Rye Field M1A2 SEP v2 are about equal. The RFM one does come with a bunch of gear and stowage as well. Rye Field’s also comes with plastic indi-link tracks as opposed to Dragon’s soft DS Styrene (rubbery, vinyl-like) tracks.

As to the M1A2 SEP v3, I would guess either Meng or Rye Field doing it first, maybe Dragon as well. We’ll see.

4 Likes

I used Tamiya’s M1A2 SEP and took the SEP V.2 pars from Dragon’s but I have never been happy with the Tamiya wheels on my Tamiya SEP V.2 ,M1150 Assault Breacher, my Moroccan and Egyptian M1A1 are there any of the other brands have the correct wheels that will fit the Tamiya hulls?

1 Like

I bought abrams sepv2 from rfm and I don’t really understand why so many people say it’s one of the best. I don’t know how to call it in English correctly but it has tones of connecting lines tones of ejectors and the wheels issues. T-30 parts doesn’t fit good because of these thin „plastic rods”. Also the part c34 that keeps road wheel on place doesn’t fit so had to cut the plastic rod. And I’m not the only that have this problem, I checked on the internet that this is common.
Honestly I lost ma patience and if there will be any other issues with the kit I’m gonna throw it to the bin or keep it as a modelling trash to test new techniques.


2 Likes

Your post triggered me and I went and got this kit:

I expect to have it by tomorrow, will start assembly as soon as possible.

Let’s see how we can overcome the shortcomings of the kit.

2 Likes

I already have the Dragon SEP v2, but i really want to get the RFM one and get the srpues for the interior from the M1A1/A2 “2-in-1” kit, so i can build a SEP v2 with the engine compartment fullty open.

This kit…

With the engine compartment from this kit.

Looking somewhat like this.

1 Like

Wow, you don’t usually see them stripped down that much.
Ken

Well? Looks like a serious stripodown for repairs. Anything bigger than this (like a full overhaul) would be simply to pack the engine and send it to Lima or something (maybe) while the tank gets a new crate powerpack I’m not a tanker, but I can assume that major repairs on a powerpack would not be done at Bde Support level, but rather send it off-site.

Exactly. Most of the time if any major work needed to be done, they just gave us a complete new assembly, power pack or “pack” as it was known. Some times they would “split the pack” and replace just the engine or trans. but any major tear down and repair was done at Depot level or higher.
Ken

3 Likes

I’ve built Dragon’s M1A1 AIM, M1A2 SEP and M1A2 SEP V2.

Once you’ve built one, you know what to expect: terrible and vague instructions. Detail is decent and overly complicated IMHO. And then there’s the DS tracks for DS track haters.

On the other hand both the RFM M1’s (Desert Storm M1A and the M1150 assault breacher) I built were really fun to build with clear instructions and no overly complicated components.

I’ve built the Academy M1A2 SEP V2 also, without the silly TUSK stuff, it’s not a bad build either.

4 Likes

My only Abrams build was Meng’s M1A2 SEP v2 TUSK I/II and IMO, it was a good build, but i could’ve done better in some aspects.

93a64ae6b8e70fa6d8d30a71cd9016bb83101282_2_666x500

4 Likes

I built the Meng M1A1 USMC version with the wading gear and missile dazzler. It was on par with the RFM M1s.
Nice clear instructions and good fit with nothing over complicated.

2 Likes