Gentlemen,

After quite a few searches using Google, I haven't quite found exactly what I'm looking for.

Is there, anywhere on line, a break down of exactly what needs to be done to the Dragon M1A1 AIM to model a USMC M1A1HA?

What needs to be left off, what needs to be added, what needs to be changed?

I'm fully aware that there are probably numerous variations among the different machines used by the Corps, so if I can be put in the ball park, I (and I'm sure others) would be extremely grateful.

Thanks,

Dave

The Marines do use the AIM, which stands for Abrams Integrated Management program. That's just fancy talk for a rebuilt tank that is being completely remanufactured and having the last decade's worth of updates added to it.

When Dragon did the AIM, they just made a US Army tank and didn't bother to include any of the USMC specific fittings. It can be fairly easily added to to make it a Marine tank by adding the Missile Countermeasures Device (MCD) on top of the "manhole cover" forward of the loader's hatch and swapping the Army style grenade launchers with the style the Marines use. They use a pair of 4-shot launchers on each side (2 pair per side giving 8 shots total per side). The Army uses the same 4-shot style on their Bradleys, M113 family of vehicles and armored HMMWVs.

There are other antennas included on the AIM that may not be in use by the USMC, but I am not sure what you guys use.

There would be some additional wiring for the MCD needed, Pawel has a pretty good Abrams modeling reference site that should answer most of your questions.
http://vodnik.net/pages/AIM/aim.htm

RobG

Rob pretty much covered it. You have a couple of options:
-- find a Dragon USMC M1A1 HA kit and steal the parts from it (it also has the IFF panels, wading stack, MCD, and some nice gear included)
-- AEF Designs does a USMC upgrade...overall not bad, but my particluar set their were some bubbles on the end of the grenade launchers (easy fix)

Echelon has some awesome decals...3 different sets of USMC OIF Abrams, from overall tan, 3 tone, or overall green.


i have no idea why Dragon hasnt done a USMC Abrams yet!!!
hope that helps some. Check over on Armorama for more stuff. Couple of folks have done some USMC Abrams builds and you will find more info that you probally care to know!
Andy

and the Marine stuff from the Tamiya kit like Rob says.It took me about 6 months to research and build my M1A1. I had a great time building "Carnivore" here are some pics. Give me a call on my land line for more detail. If you don't have it , ping me through e mail.

Out here,












Mike

S.F.

Temecula Valley Model Club
"Haud Sceptrum, Haud Sentio, Haud Forsit