I have just seen a picture of an M1A1 with a 'dozer blade fitted, way cool, I wish there was a conversion set for it!! Does it have anything in common with the M60 blade per chance?
Shane

It's used to push dirt and it's a big honking piece of metal. Other than that, no.

Hi!
The M1 dozer blade is quite identical to the one on Challenger 1 & 2. It is made by Pearsson Engineering

http://www.pearson-eng.com/products/viewProduct.aspx?id=7&type=m

and the heavy version UDK1 is used with MBT hulls. The blade is part of some Trumpeter kits (Challenger), but to be used with the M1, some changes must be done to the mounting plate. The blade is a stand alone solution, meaning all hydraulical and electrical parts are contained in the blade assembly, it only needs an electrical connection to the carrier vehicle. You can also see this blade and details of it when searching for M1 ABV, but here it is used with the HLA mounting kit which is not used on M1 MBT. So be aware, any details of the mounting plate for use with ABV may be different from those of the MBT by reason of the useage of the high lift adaptor on ABV. On M1, it is bolted to the hull front, some of the M1 specialists out there can tell if modifications have to be done to the hull.

All in all I would say that the Challenger 1 & 2 UDK1 blade is a very good start to modify it to M1 usage.

Andreas

... can't find enough good close ups to work out how the blade is fitted to the Abrams.

If anyone could point to useful pics...

Cheers,

Christophe

.

NT

There are two versions of the Pearson Blade that have been used by the USMC on their fleet of Abrams. The original fitting required that four attachment points be welded to the front of hull. These parts could be robbed from the Trumpy KFOR Challenger II kit. This blade was in service from around 2005-2007. The current Pearson Blade is the 'M1 Direct Fit' in service from 2007 to present. As the name implies it mounts directly to the M1 hull without any modifications. With both types the Hydraullics are self contained with only a power/control cable connected from the blade to the hull slave receptacle via the drivers right vision block(modified).
Outta here, Mike sends . . .

I think I will leave that option alone....I don't want to go and get even more confused on setting up another M1....
Shane

Shane- I see you have been bitten by the Abrams bug. Perfect Scale Models in Germany just released a USMC update set that includes the DWFK attachments. They looked very well detailed. The conversion also offers all the proper USMC equipment to pimp out your USMC Abrams. Too late for me, I bashed and scracthed for mine. But my next one will most likely include their stuff. I know Voyager has also done a mixed PE and resin release for USMC Abrams.
Good luck and Happy Holidays
Joe

Yeah, I always liked the Abrams, but I spent too long on Shermans!! Now I wanna do the M1's!! Now I have to play catch up....
I too have gathered everything before finding out about the PSM kit, I was even going to master a set!!
Stay safe, take care,
Shane