1/35 Trumpeter M1 Abrams 5 in 1 x 2

[reserve]

Getting back to tanks for awhile, me. It's like coming home after a long absence.







I got two of these from ScaleHobbyist and the project I have in mind requires them both. Some time ago I did the Cyberhobby M1A1 HA with a mine plow so I already have one of those. To avoid duplication I'll do one with a mine roller and one plain bow; they will both be built as A1 HA's.

The kit I'm doing now is rather warpy and flashy with not the best fit so it looks like they'll make me work some. That said, the molding is better than Dragon/Cyberhobby and there's more detail than Tammy, detail that includes a nice anti-slip texture on the upper horizantal surfaces. Right now I'll give it a 3/5 only 'cause it has not really hacked me off yet

[Mike]

You have my attention.

[tcoat]

I built that exact same kit many years ago. Don't remember warpage or flash but do recall some fit issues. It does build up very nicely in the end though.

[lyle]

Great subject!

[handiabled]

I'm following this one!

[stikpusher]

Having one in my stash, I will sure watch to see where any problems may arise. 

[reserve]

This is by no strech of the imagination a friendly kit. Pin marks abound, many parts need to be filed to fit, and gaps appear in quite a few places. That being said, so far there's nothing that's not fixable with a little extra work. The plastic is of a softer variety which helps this process; it also bonds very well when hit with Tammy quick grab.

I had to drill out the roadwheel arm sockets as they were too small to fit the pins. Had to do the same with the drive sprockets. The arms themselves are very flimsy and the roadwheel fit is very sloppy. I made a small attempt at using the length and link tracks provided but deep sixed that idea pretty quickly after trying to fit them together which did not work out well at all. I pulled the bandies out of the box and behold they were about two links too long so the mess below is how I dealt with the problem. It'll all be out of sight under the side skirts anyway



I decided to glue all the running gear components together to cure the sloppy fit and somehow got 'em mostly straight



One of the bigger gaps. There's little ones all over the place



Still givin' it a 3/5

[reserve]

So another session with this model has convinced me I need to change directions and so I shall. After a couple hours spent on the turret I've found it to be a horror story featuring parts made with misaligned mold halves, flash, heavy mold lines, pin marks, and ill fit. It ain't fun.

I decided to toss the turret and will instead do the Panther II mine clearance option instead. Apparently they only made six of these but some saw use in Operation Iraqi Freedom so they were not entirely experimental. Information is not plentiful on these vehicles and apparently they are no longer in the inventory but the one thing I know for sure is they were all painted OD green and not repainted for the desert so that's something.

I also know I'm not gonna tangle with another one of those Trumpeter M1 turrets since the last one was such a good time

[reserve]

OK that's it I'm done I'll waste no more time on this, easily the worst excuse for an armor model I've ever touched.

[handiabled]

I don't blame you. It's near impossible for me to work on a build that is joyless in every aspect. There have been a couple of Trumpeter airplane kits that I have built that were near spirit breakers with ejector pin marks and ill fitting parts.

[stikpusher]

Man that is too bad that this kit fought you so hard. I hope that it was a one off on your kit, and not something inherent in the Trumpeter M1s.