Model Armour

New site, new build!

I've recently got hold of Dragon's "M1 Panther II Mine Detection and Clearing Vehicle":



This vehicle is based on the Abrams M1A1 MBT though without the turret. As such this kit shares many parts with Dragon's M1A1 AIM (which was released after this model) and as a result is quite a detailed kit.

So quickly on to the obligatory sprue shots, starting with the tub and working through frets A to F:









Next, the Dragon 'extras', namely a small PE fret for the skirts, chains and cables for the mine rollers and the bag of MagicTracks:




There are 16 steps in the build, starting with the lower hull and road wheels, then working through the commander's cupola, upper hull details and the mine rollers. The model can be built with the rear doors open or closed, though there is no internal details to speak of suggesting a closed position will be most likely. Four painting and marking options are provided:

* 54th Engineer Battalion, Bamberg, Germany
* 54th Engineer Battalion, OIF 2003
* 9th Engineer Battalion, OIF 2004
* KFOR, Kosovo

I'm not sure which I'll be picking, so it'll be something to ponder while I wait for the PE. Talking of which, I'm not fully sure which AM options are available for this kit -- I think I'm limited in choice to either the Voyager PE35071 of Eduard ED35835 PE sets. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to let me know!

Anyway, that's it for the moment -- more of a taster than any real substance yet! I'll be posting updates as I start figuring out the build and how I want to finish it.

Cheers,
Ian

Interesting vehicle, Ian. It is modern and I like it.

I will be watching.

Martyn

Intereasting Choice buddy,

Good luck il be following this one

Interesting kit dude,,will you make a base for it?

Esoteric choice here That's the kind of kit we rarely see blogged. Should be very interesting to follow. Count me in

Great choice of kit Ian,

I have fancied building this one myself, so I'll definitely be following this one

Christen

Two Abrams being blogged at the same time, cracking!

Looking forward to this Ian, i'm in.

M.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the support! I agree that it is an interesting kit -- I spotted it in my LHS in Reading a few weeks back and after a bit of research I realised that it was a great kit but not one that had been blogged often (if at all on the various sites I visit!). I had promised the wife that I would not buy any more kits until after I'd cleared some of the stash, but this one caught my attention and after a reluctant nod from SWMBO I bought the kit (and a Dragon M270 MLRS kit as well, but that didn't go down too well ) with the intention of making my first blog here. I'm still investigating AM stuff, but it looks like I'll be ordering the Eduard PE frets and maybe a replacement set of tracks, though I'll have to think on that a little further.

Yngve, yup, I'm planning on a base... I have an idea of the vehicle by a "danger - minefield" sign and some razor wire, with the tank commander taking a photo of the driver in front of the vehicle, with the driver clasping his hands over his ears, eyes shut, a grimaced look on his face and one leg raised about to stamp on the ground. The caption would be something like "For the lads back home -- tank gone tech again so it's back to mine detection the old fashioned way"

Well, enough of that In lieu of any real progress, here are a few links you may find useful.

Kit Reviews:
http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=856
http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/modern/dmlm1panther_fdesisto.html
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/dragon/dr3534.htm

Photo Reference:
http://www.primeportal.net/ce/jeff_derosa/panther_ii/
http://www.primeportal.net/apc/russ/iraq_m1_panther2.htm
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=76449
http://www.redstone.army.mil/ugvsjpo/Photos_Videos.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcOdHcupt3M&feature=channel_page
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=m1%20panther&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

M1 Panther II Info:
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-76449.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams
http://www.tankopoly.com/M1_Abrams_Tank_Variants.htm
http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/tank/M1.html
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/panther.htm

Cheers,
Ian

Hey Ian

Check out Vodniks review page on this baby, some useful pointers.........

http://strony.aster.pl/vodnik/pages/DMLPanther/panther.htm

Cheers

M.

Hi Mence,

Thanks for that -- as you say a few useful items in there. I'll be scrutinising the various pictures of the tank over the next few days to see what bits I can add for extra details -- as well as maybe revisiting the cameras, there is certainly some cabling that I'll be able to add.

Cheers,
Ian