3535 - M1A1 AIM

“…this kit is certainly on par with DML’s Pz.Kpfw.IV and Tiger I kits.”

DML 3535: M1A1 AIM
1/35 injection plastic kit with decals, PE, metal barrel, cable and preformed metal

Named after General Creighton Abrams, the M1 series is the main battle tank for the US ground forces being used by both the Army and Marine Corp. The upgraded M1A1 series was in production from 1986 to 1992, and fought in both Gulf Wars. The M1A1 series have the larger M256 120 mm smoothbore tank gun developed by Rheinmetall, nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons (NBC) protection, and improved armour.

This kit has all new tooling and represents a significant improvement over earlier 1/35 Abrams, including previous releases from Dragon. It features Dragon’s new level of tooling with slide-molding, high attention to small detail, Magic Tracks, and multimedia parts including two medium photo etch frets, preformed metal and a turned metal barrel. The decal sheets are particular impressive and a large peel off sticker sheet is also included, along with printed cardboard which can be folded into four MRE boxes.

While labeled as an M1A1 AIM, this kit can also be depicted as either of the other two combat versions of the M1A1, namely the M1A1HC and M1A1D. The M1A1 AIMs (Abrams Integrated Management) are factory-rebuilds, which have been fully updated. The M1A1HC (Heavy Common) had a depleted uranium armor mesh and pressurized NBC system added, while the M1A1-D (Digital) were HCs which had digital communications and interal electronics added to allow them to fight alongside the newer M1A2SEP.

TURRET

A large single piece provides the upper and side shell for the turret, while the under side is another large molding. Much of the kit’s appeal is in the many finely detailed parts added to this turret including the multi-part commander’s cupola with clear plastic vision blocks and the loader’s hatch with its PE detail. Both roof-mounted machine guns are slide-molded and have separate parts for small detail. The larger 12.7mm M2 heavy machine gun has PE for its mount and the ammunition bracket. For the main 120mm gun there is the option of an injection plastic barrel or a turned metal barrel tube.

The rear of the turret has a one-piece slide molded bustle rack rails, photo-etched mesh floor for the bustle rack and a PE for the bustle rack extension. The three jerry cans (choice of 20 litre fuel or water types each with embossed markings) have a PE rack. Some of the other features on the turret include two types of wind sensors which can be built in either the active or stowed position, alternative types of smoke grenades, slide molded smoke discharger, BFT system antenna, turret cable conduits, stowage and grenade storage boxes that can be made open or closed and a GPS-LOS device with transparent parts that reveal its internal electronics.

HULL & ENGINE DECK

The lower hull is formed around a one-piece tub, which has integrated sponsons, final drive and detail around the wheel stations. While an impressively large piece the hull also has fine detail for the weld markings and the eyes on the lower front for the tow clevises. The suspension arms are separate parts with connectors that can be adjusted in small increments to allow the kit to be placed on uneven ground. The road wheels have detail on both sides and there is a choice of two types of outer ring for the drive sprockets, and also alternative mud scrapers. The tow bar is workable and detailed, while there is the option of making the exhaust deflector from photo etch.

The tracks are the T-158 pattern with one part for each link. Each link needs one connector to be removed (easy) and has two injection marks on the inner face. The cleaned up links will click together, but will need glue to be secure. If you want to save time you don’t need to clean up the top run (and could even leave it off) as these links are hidden by the side-skirts. Each side skirts panel is a separate piece that is molded to its own scale thickness. The weather strips on the top of each panel are made from PE and the mounting points are accurately depicted.

The skeleton for the upper hull is a large panel with plenty of fine detail including weld marks, fuel ports, hinges and anti-skid coating. The driver’s hatch is a separate multipart assembly, with clear plastic periscopes, interior detail and choice of hatch profiles. Like with the turret there is no interior detail for the crew seats etc. Both the driver’s hatch and the front fenders can be built open or closed. These fenders have metal cables for their springs. The headlights have clear lenses and patterning on inside.

One real highlight of this Abram’s is realism of the engine deck and hull rear. The panels surrounding the engine, including the air intakes are each separate parts allowing not only for accuracy, but also the ability to add an aftermarket engine block and depict a variety of maintenance and recovery dioramas. The slide-molded exhaust and air intake panels are separate parts with crisp castings and feature the inner baffles. Drop fit photo etch parts are provided for the engine deck grills.

MARKINGS

One new and very large waterslide decal sheet from Cartograf provides markings specific to the nine vehicles. The other waterslide decal sheets have generic markings such as ‘Lift here’ and ammunition box stenciling.

Eight of the Abrams are from the current US deployment in Iran being six M1A1 AIMs, of 1-4 Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, another is an M1A1HC of 1-64 Armored Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, and the eighth an M1A1D of 1-68 Armored Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. The ninth Abrams is an M1A1 AIM of 1-77 Armored Regiment, also with the 1st Infantry Division, but when stationed in Germany during 2003. The instruction sheet has a minimum of 4 views of each Abrams.

RECOMMENDATION

This kit is very impressive and promises to be very rewarding to build over several evenings. I was pleased to see that Dragon has extended their new standards of injection plastic tooling and multimedia accessories to the modern Abrams tank and am sure that this kit will be very popular. Highly recommended.

- Neville Lord

"... Overall this is a most impressive kit, and quite useful as it permits any one of the current M1A1 tanks on active duty to be modeled ..."

<full review here>
- Cookie Sewell