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DRAGON MODELS LIMITED
Product Specifications.
3536, M1A2 SEP. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit, containing 682 styrene parts (including 40 clear), one photo-etched brass fret, one formed brass part, one metal spring, one turned aluminum part, one piece of wound metal wire, seven pieces of formed steel wire, one sheet of peel-and-stick material, one sheet of paper material, nine waterslide decal/markings schemes and 10 pages of instructions in 19 steps.
Introduction.
Since its first combat deployment in 1991’s Operation Desert Storm, the Abrams MBT has proved itself to be a reliable and powerful combat vehicle. The M1A2 is an upgraded version featuring new communications and targeting systems, as well as a number of other improvements; the “SEP” (System enhancement Program) is a further re-working of the basic ‘A2.
There have been numerous attempts to produce a scale replica of the Abrams MBT, going back almost 25 years, but all have had their problems either with accuracy or the overly simplified representations of complex features. Most recently, DML released an M1-based Panther II mine clearing tank, which was really very well-done; certainly it was miles ahead of any Abrams kit that had come before. Then came their M1A1 AIM kit, which was considered to be the best replica of this tank ever produced. The M1A2 SEP kit takes all of the previous improvements, and adds a few more changes, making it probably the “ultimate” Abrams replica on the market.
Tracks.
The model is furnished with soft styrene DS-100 tracks that are provided as single runs for each side. This allows for very fine details to be crisply rendered on any surface of the track run. They are devoid of center guide horns, which, like those on DML’s M4A3E8 kits are separate hard styrene parts; these must be glued in place individually and once this is done, the tracks will look fantastic.
Suspension System.
The road wheels include clear styrene parts to represent the transparent hub-caps that allow for easy assessment of the axle bearing lubrication level by the crew; the remainder of each two-part wheel pair is molded in the usual light grey styrene. The drive sprockets feature properly-shaped lighting/mud chute holes as well as a choice of two different tooth ring patterns. There are also two styles of mud scrapers for the area just forward of the sprockets. All torsion bars are separate parts, with the first ones on each side connected to the adjustable idler wheel axle by a multi-part assembly; the remaining axles can be positioned in any position for depicting rough travel of the model in a diorama display. Separate return rollers finish the suspension system.
Hull.
The hull includes a molded-on rear plate with complete detail. All wheel stations as well as the integrally-molded final drive housings are fully detailed, while complete weld bead detail is seen where appropriate. The tow clevis mounting points are molded in place, with pre-opened eyes; these can accept one of two styles of clevises.
The integrally-molded rear plate is further detailed with separately-molded tail-lamps and their associated armored shrouds; the lamps themselves feature clear parts for their lenses. A tow hook and base are also separate parts, as are the lifting eyes. Several small boxes, new in this kit, are also attached here. The beautifully-rendered engine exhaust and intake doors contain complete inner baffle details as well as separate outer grills. The doors can be depicted opened or closed and could probably be made workable with a bit of extra effort. This area is where every other Abrams kit ever made (except for the newest DML offerings) falls far short of expectations; for this reason alone, those older products can be considered obsolete.
Superstructure.
The superstructure is a remarkable piece of slide-molding; it contains non-skid texture, raised numerals and weld-bead details in the appropriate areas, has the proper openings on the port side, and has detailed fuel filler ports. Separate caps for them can be left opened or closed. Other separate parts include a tool box lid; surprisingly considering the level of detail seen elsewhere on this kit, as well as DML’s penchant for refining existing molds, this STILL has molded-on latch handles. Various vents and access lids (some in etched brass where a screen effect is warranted) are also provided. There are two different styles of multi-part driver’s hatch lids, which include clear parts for the periscope heads; the lids can be depicted opened or closed.
A great deal of attention has been paid to the engine deck, which combines separate styrene access plates with etched brass screening for extremely intricate details. Likewise, separate lids are also provided for the battery compartment, which itself has inner wall plates molded as part of the hull piece. This entire area is tailored for the installation of an after-market power pack, should the modeler wish to go that route.
Up forward, there are new separate front fender/mud-flap sections (specific to the ‘A2), which can be depicted raised, lowered, or removed. Each has three pre-formed steel wire parts to represent the torsion bar spring and its attachment points, for an extraordinarily detailed appearance; also included are the often-seen track end-connector parts that are attached to the torsion bar. A formed wire part is also provided for the grab handle seen on the port side fender/mud-flap section. Separate head-lamps (with separate clear parts for their lenses) and brush guards, as well as lifting hooks and tow cable clevises complete this area.
The side armor skirts are made up of four main segments and include complete attachment rods and girders; they are also molded to represent the various thicknesses of the plates. Hinge details are properly placed (unlike most other kits on the market) and separate etched brass parts are provided for the weather-stripping seen along the top edges, as well as the hollowed-out rectangle-shaped object on the forward edge of the front segment (the TM cited below says it’s a “lifting tube” for the insertion of a crowbar to help move the skirt during track maintenance); there are several etched brass bolt heads that are to be used in this area as well. Finally, the last skirt section on each side has the proper cut-away appearance and also has hinge detail, with the latter item not seen on most other Abrams kits.
Turret.
Starting with the 120mm M256 smooth-bore main gun, the turret is full of options. The main gun can be constructed using a turned aluminum “core” part with styrene additions, or it can be made completely from styrene; the latter version has the most complete detail. Either version can be made to “recoil” using the supplied steel spring. The seven-part mantlet is completely detailed on all sides, and includes a slide-molded coaxial machine gun flash suppressor with ribbed details inside the tube. Inside, there is a rudimentary breech, with a two-position block.
The new commander’s cupola (ICWS, or Improved Commander’s Weapon Station), which is peculiar to the ‘A2, is made up of 21 pieces including clear vision devices, with another 16 styrene and etched brass parts for the 12.7mm M2 heavy machine gun, its mount and ammo box. The loader’s hatch lid (there are choices of two different types) is composed of nine styrene and etched brass parts, including a clear vision device, while 12 styrene and etched brass parts comprise the 7.62mm M240 machine gun, its mount and ammo box. Both machine guns come from slide molds so they have pre-drilled bores and detailed receiver groups with separate tops. Each also has finely-molded belted ammunition as well as decals to depict the ammo box data stencils.
Elsewhere on the turret there are three different types of ammo compartment blast door configurations (plain and with two styles of “cookie” vent covers, but only one pair is marked for use), two different crosswind sensors (that can be shown in the folded or extended position), and two different configurations for the gunner’s primary sight “dog house”. The latter can be shown with the sight aperture doors opened or closed; it includes a clear part for the optics. The smoke grenade launchers each consist of ten parts, including separate grenades (two types) and properly-molded armored conduit covers. Although they are hollow in the back, there are still some shrink marks on the thick parts that comprise the main launcher housing; this will be easy to fix with a bit of putty. The stowage boxes for the grenades can each be modeled opened or closed and also include separate rounds. The tow cable can be made using an all-styrene assembly, or styrene, etched brass and wound metal wire. Either version includes complete and properly-rendered fastening devices.
The new CITV (Commander’s Independent Thermal Viewer) sub-turret is a multi-part affair that includes a clear optical panel as well as the appropriate GPS antenna mount. Other antennae bases and mounts are provided as are the power conduit covers that run beneath the turret to the bustle-rack-mounted box.
The turret bustle rack consists of the main frame in styrene from a slide mold, with etched screens and other styrene parts to finish it off. An etched jerry can rack and styrene/etched brass bustle rack extension can also be mounted. The turret side stowage boxes are well-detailed multi-part assemblies, that can be depicted opened or closed, but the lids still have molded-on handles. Each includes the external rack for holding a 12.7mm ammo box.
Accessories.
Several common stowage items seen on the Abrams MBT are included in the kit. There is a pair of spare road-wheel halves and the extra unused toothed rings from the drive sprockets can also be used for spare stowage. An excellently-detailed articulating tow bar assembly is also provided as are a pair of catch basins often seen below a parked tank as fluid leak containers. Four spare 40mm grenade ammo boxes, a pair of 12.7mm ammo boxes and four jerry cans (two each of two types) are also provided. All of these are either multi-part units or are slide-molded for complete detail. A piece of printed paper to make up cardboard MRE cartons (with separate outer slip-cases) is also provided; these must be cut out and folded. Other fittings include CIP panels (flat style made from “peel-and-stick”, die-cut, pre-printed paper, and louvered style in styrene) and Tac number panels, also from pre-printed peel-and-stick paper. The final extra is the multi-part deflector assembly seen centered on the tank’s rear exhaust panel doors.
Molding, Fit and Engineering.
Molding is, for the most part, up to DML’s current high standards. I noted sink marks on parts A10 and 11 (the smoke dischargers, mentioned above). There are several seams on the superstructure molding (part T7) that will need care in their removal, especially along the lower outside edges. The fit between this part and the hull pan (part Y) is a bit sloppy on the undersides, where the sponsons meet the side plates. It has been recommended that styrene (or brass) tube be cut to the proper width and inserted between the hull side walls to help spread them so the sponson floors fit snugly to the superstructure undersides; this is a fine idea. The rather complex separate engine deck access lids, all six of them, fit extremely well to the main part after routine clean-up.
Accuracy and Details.
References indicate that the kit’s overall visual accuracy is simply outstanding. I do not have what I consider are reliable scale drawings with which to check specific sizes or positions of the major components, or the basic dimensions of the tank. Some of the references listed below do have drawings, but I believe their reliability is suspect.
For the most part, every effort has been made by DML’s designers to depict every detail, down to the tiniest bolt head. With all of that, I am surprised that the handles seen on the turret stowage locker lids and the superstructure roof tool box lid are molded in place. I believe a resin manufacturer has these available and I am sure that when the etched brass after-market guys set their sights on this kit, their sets will have the handles included, but as less-desirable “one-dimensional” parts.
Instructions.
The instructions are typical for a DML kit: VERY busy! Most of the major numbered steps have several sub-steps within them. Each line drawing has a host of parts depicted, sometimes accompanied by a second drawing showing the options. I recommend the use of a felt-tipped “highlighter” pen to designate which option or group of parts is to be used; this will make it easier for the modeler to ignore all of the other stuff. There is also a tiny addendum leaflet provided to correct steps 8 and 15.
Of course, the modeler MUST carefully check references to determine which options will be used in combination with which markings scheme, since the instructions are of minimal help here. Throughout the instructions, decal placement on accessory items are depicted, as are some color notes; paints are keyed to Gunze and Testors products.
Decals and Markings Information.
Six complete markings schemes are given on the kit’s extensive water-slide decal sheets. As usual, the decals are from Italy’s Cartograf; they are crisply-printed, well-detailed, exhibit excellent color saturation and are in perfect register. Vehicles depicted are:
The Fort Knox Abrams is finished in the NATO three-color scheme of FS30051 Green, FS34094 Brown and FS37030 Black; the remaining tanks are finished overall in FS33446 Tan (a.k.a. CARC Tan 686).
Conclusion.
DML, working with input from enthusiasts such as Pawel Krupowicz and Ralph Zwilling, has again expended considerable energy regarding what appears in the box. This kit is on par with DML’s best, but it is complex and therefore will not “fall together”; this may put some modelers off. For the rest, have fun. Now, Mr. DML, please hurry with the Stryker ICV series!
Highly recommended.
Frank V. “Curly Stooge” De Sisto
References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to, the following:
1. “Abrams: A History of the American Main Battle Tank, Volume 2”, Presidio, by R.P. Hunnicutt.
2. “The M1 Abrams Battle Tank”, Osprey Vanguard No.41, by S. Zaloga.
3. “M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank 1982-1992”, Osprey New Vanguard No.2, by S. Zaloga.
4. “US Battle Tanks Today”, Tanks Illustrated No.8, by S. Zaloga & M. Green.
5. “M1-M1IP-M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank”, Warmachines No.6, by F. Verlinden, W. Peters & P. Cooney.
6. “M1 Tank”, MBT of the World 2, Sunday Art.
7. “Abrams Main Battle Tank M1A1 and M1A2”, Museum Ordnance Special No.9, by G. Broman.
8. “M1 Abrams in Action”, Squadron Armor No.26, by J. Mesko.
9. “Tank, Combat, Full-Tracked 105mm Gun, M1 General Abrams”, TM 9-2350-255-10-3.
10. “M1A1 MBT, Exterior Components”, Military Vehicle Workshop Series No.13, by S. Arnold.
11. “M1A1/A2 Abrams”, Concord Mini Color Series No.7502, by W. Böhm.
12. “Thunder Run, The US 3rd Infantry Division’s Drive to Baghdad”, Concord Mini Color Series No.7514, by R. Burik & E. Olson.
13. “Steel Tigers, The 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment”, Assault Vol.9, Concord 7809, by R. Zwilling.
14. “1-1 Cav in FTX Sabre and Commanche Ramp”, Assault Vol.12, Concord 7812, by T. Mätzold, D. Nowak & C. Niesner.
15. “An Eyewitness Report: Operation Iraqi Freedom Road to Baghdad”, Special Ops Vol.26, Concord 5526, by Y. Debay.
16. “An Eyewitness Report: Operation Iraqi Freedom Victory in Baghdad”, Special Ops Vol.27, Concord 5527, by Y. Debay.
17. “Coalition Forces in Iraq 1”, Special Ops Vol.29, Concord 5529, by C. Schulze & Y. Debay.
18. “Coalition Forces in Iraq 2”, Special Ops Vol.30, Concord 5530, by C. Schulze & Y. Debay
19. “Task Force Danger: With The Big Red One in Iraq”, Special Ops Vol.33, Concord 5533, by R. Zwilling.
20. “Task Force Baghdad: With the 1st Cavalry Division First Team in Iraq”, Special Ops Vol.36, Concord 5536, authors unlisted.
Reviewer’s note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to DML. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.
DML kits are available from retail and on-line shops; for details visit their web site at: www.dragonmodelsltd.com.
