G’day all
It was announced through social media this weekend, the last of our M1A1’s have left their lines at Gallipoli Bks, Brisbane as our new A2 SEP v3’s are due here very soon. Which coincides well with my RFM kit coming soon from HLJ.
To my question…are all A2 SEP v3’s the same? Info on any changes applicable to our cabs is obviously thin on the ground, but do any of my US friends have any info on potential changes?
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I assume you’re Australian, so I believe (Gino will come by soon to clarify); that the Aussie SEP V3 Abrams are exactly the same version the US is now fielding. the older M1A1 AIMs they’re replacing were a mix of both US Army and USMC tanks, sans the DU meshing on the turret.
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Thanks mate
Ack the changes that became our M1A1’s - working towards completing a kit of one of those as I type.
Will be good if Gino confirms the Aussie v3’s will be identical to the US army.
I haven’t checked online yet - does the RFM kit come with the T158 track, updated pattern roadwheels & drive sprocket?
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I can confirm they will arrive as standard M1A2 SEP v3s externally. They will probably not have the DU armor as the M1A1s did not. Once they arrive, most likely they will be Assui-fied, i.e. stuff added by the Aussie Army like the M1A1 AS was. They may have some of the same parts like a fridge in the rear bustle rack, umbrella mount, etc. That all is to be seen.
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Nice one.
Thanks Gino.
Now to source some more Aussie Abrams bits…
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US M1A2 SEPv3 don’t have DU armour - as indicated by the M on the turret serial.
Australian M1A2 SEPv3 reportedly will have fridges fitted, though I’m dubious of the fit with the v3’s turret patch panel.
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I will be building a Aussie A2 SEP V.3 as as well
One things i do know is there is a refrigerator in the bustle rack as on the A1 and a few other minor details there are 2 companies that make conversion sets for Australian Abrams
one is Arms Corps and the other Black Ops Models
arms corps stopped on the 1 35 scale conversion to work on other projects
here is a link to the Black Ops conversion but its for the Dragon A1 but in sure it will work with the RFM kit
Do you know what color they will be, green or tan?
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Looking sharp, mates. 
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Our SEP v3’s will be in AusCam
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Judging by the Emu plumes, these lads should be from 2/14 Light Horse REGT (QMI). This was the Unit (C SQN) that just had their M1A1’s depart the lines for the last time
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The first batch has already been spotted painted in the three-tone camouflage pattern, often (erroneously) referred to as Auscam. The factory-applied pattern is different than the previous two patterns applied to the M1A1 fleet.
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I see the wallaby on the smoke boxes are black and not red.
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Was a bit sad to see that the roo wasn’t red like it has been in some instances.
Regarding the three patterns, Australian M1A1s were initially delivered in CARC Tan.
These were to be camouflaged locally using SAAB Barracuda, but this trial was unsuccessful.
The easiest way to differentiate between the initial & current camouflage pattern in to look at the front of the turret.
Here’s the first pattern:
Here’s the current pattern:
And here’s the SEP v3’s factory pattern.
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Do they get their camo scheme in the US factory?
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The SEP v3 do, yes. The M1A1s had theirs applied here.
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I wonder if they will still have the fridge in the bustle rack like the A1 did?
Thanks for the Camo pics mate. Will come in handy when I get to painting mine. Unlike the A1’s at Gallipoli BKS where I could arrange access, I live about 1200-1300 km from where the majority of v3’s will end up, which makes it problematic to get eyes on cam schemes
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