[dragon53]

CAVTANKER:

I already saw the upcoming 1/72 M1A2 on FOV's website. At Target, I saw a 1/72 T-72. It looked ok, but it was too small.

Target's 1/32 Abrams-NATO diecast is internet-only ($42). I'll try ToysRUs later to see if they carry it in the store.

[dragon53]

I've been to several Targets and all the FOV 1/18 Abrams have the same problem as the FOV Abrams in the above photos---the equipment rack on the rear of the turret is bent and the 50 cal machine gun barrel is bent.

Is there a way to correct these bent parts?

[Cavtanker]

Originally Posted by dragon53

I've been to several Targets and all the FOV 1/18 Abrams have the same problem as the FOV Abrams in the above photos---the equipment rack on the rear of the turret is bent and the 50 cal machine gun barrel is bent.

Is there a way to correct these bent parts?

The .50 cal will probably depend upon the material it is made of for making the correct shape. However, the bent stowage rack is not uncommon for M1 series tanks. They just get bent due to normal wear and tear.

As a follow up, I'm referring to the bend in the corner and not the entire rack. The bottom of the rack should be level and not angled away.

[dragon53]

CAVTANKER:

Thanks for the info.

I found one FOV Abrams at Target without a bent rack, but there were two 1" strips of no weathering on the side so I skipped that one. Also, Foxhole Toys has a photo of the FOV Abrams in the box and the rack isn't bent. So straight racks are out there somewhere.
I downloaded big, detailed photos of what appears to be FOV's 1/32 Abrams in NATO paint ("Big Hitch") with a bent rack in the exact same place as the FOV 1/18. Apparently FOV has production problems with its Abrams racks.

From what I've read, the machine gun is soft plastic, but I don't know about the rack. I've read that soaking plastic in hot water may work.
Do you have any suggestions on straightening out the machine gun and possibly the rack, too?

[Cavtanker]

Personally, I'd leave the rack as is. Bent stowage racks can happen, just like accidents can happen. Or the rack can be purposefully bent in order to accomodate a piece of equipment. So, to have one part of a rack to become bent on a real Abrams stowage rack is possible.

This 1/18 FOV Abrams is accurate because of the correct track for the vehicle. I cannot emphasize that enough. The older style track began to be phased out during the 1990s. So, to have a OIF Abrams with the old track is inaccurate! (drives me nuts! )

I'm uncertain on the MG as to the means to straighten it out. Where was the no weathering located at?

My 1/32 Big Hitch doesn't have a bent rack. Maybe it was a change in production.

[dragon53]

CAVTANKER:

Thanks again. The two 1" non-weathered strips were prominently located dead center on the side of the tank and were easy to see through the box window. My luck---only one Abrams without a bent rack, but it has a prominent cosmetic flaw.

I went through this before a few weeks ago---I went to several Wal-Marts in search of a 21st Century 1/18 P-51 Mustang without defects. I bought four Mustangs and all four had defects. I kept the fourth one because I could fix most of the defects myself. I don't want to waste my time traveling from one Target to another only to find more bent racks.

I would buy an Abrams if I could correct its defects---I realize the rack may be bent in real life, but it still looks ugly.

[Cavtanker]

Originally Posted by dragon53

CAVTANKER:

Thanks again. The two 1" non-weathered strips were prominently located dead center on the side of the tank and were easy to see through the box window. My luck---only one Abrams without a bent rack, but it has a prominent cosmetic flaw.

I went through this before a few weeks ago---I went to several Wal-Marts in search of a 21st Century 1/18 P-51 Mustang without defects. I bought four Mustangs and all four had defects. I kept the fourth one because I could fix most of the defects myself. I don't want to waste my time traveling from one Target to another only to find more bent racks.

I would buy an Abrams if I could correct its defects---I realize the rack may be bent in real life, but it still looks ugly.

Tanks are never meant to look pretty.

Where those strips located on the turret or hull? Second, were the non-weathered areas intended to represent sand weathering?

[dragon53]

CAVTANKER:

The 2 non-weathered strips were jagged and located on the middle of the left hull right above the wheels. One strip was horizontal and one was vertical. I looked at several other desert Abrams and they had weathering all over the sides--no "clean" areas---including the closeup photos of the in-box Abrams at Foxhole toys, which also shows the unbent rack.

If anyone knows how to straighten bent plastic, I'd like to hear any suggestions.

[dragon53]

CAVTANKER:

I got my Abrams-desert this morning. I had to go a Houston suburb Target to find an Abrams without serious defects. I paid $29.99 before tax (it's $59.95 at Foxhole.com). I like the FOV Abrams a lot, However, I have a few complaints:

1. The soft-plastic rack is slightly bent on the left and right lowest rungs---that's a big improvement over the other Abrams I saw which had all three rungs bent.
2. Non-weathered ("clean") areas include the entire rack, both hatches and a few relatively faint streaks on the right side above the wheels. Maybe I can solve this by smudging a #2 pencil lead on the clean areas.
3. The 50 cal. machine gun barrel is bent slightly downwards. Both machine guns are soft plastic. Maybe I can bend them into shape over time like the rack.
4. There are no crewman or two antenna on the FOV $30 1/18 Abrams, but the $8 FOV 1/72 Abrams has a crewman and both antenna.
5. In order to open one of the hatches, the 7.62 mm machine gun must be removed. I assume this doesn't occur on the real-life Abrams.

Target also has the BBI 1/18 Abrams for $25---$5 less than the FOV version. However, the BBI Abrams is inferior to the FOV in almost every aspect---except price. In the photos above, it can be seen that the FOV has the better paint and far superior detail.

[Cavtanker]

Originally Posted by dragon53

CAVTANKER:

I got my Abrams-desert this morning. I had to go a Houston suburb Target to find an Abrams without serious defects. I paid $29.99 before tax (it's $59.95 at Foxhole.com). I like the FOV Abrams a lot, However, I have a few complaints:

1. The soft-plastic rack is slightly bent on the left and right lowest rungs---that's a big improvement over the other Abrams I saw which had all three rungs bent.
2. Non-weathered ("clean") areas include the entire rack, both hatches and a few relatively faint streaks on the right side above the wheels. Maybe I can solve this by smudging a #2 pencil lead on the clean areas.
3. The 50 cal. machine gun barrel is bent slightly downwards. Both machine guns are soft plastic. Maybe I can bend them into shape over time like the rack.
4. There are no crewman or two antenna on the FOV $30 1/18 Abrams, but the $8 FOV 1/72 Abrams has a crewman and both antenna.
5. In order to open one of the hatches, the 7.62 mm machine gun must be removed. I assume this doesn't occur on the real-life Abrams.

Target also has the BBI 1/18 Abrams for $25---$5 less than the FOV version. However, the BBI Abrams is inferior to the FOV in almost every aspect---except price. In the photos above, it can be seen that the FOV has the better paint and far superior detail.

Usually the highest rungs at the corners are bent. The others are too solidly connected to bend without strong efforts. You can probably fashion some antenna from wire purchased at a home improvement store or hobby store. And yes, you are correct, the loader's MG does not need to be removed for opening the hatch. It can be locked into a position where the hatch can be opened and closed without the MG interfering with operation. HOWEVER, some crews remove the loader's MG so the .50 cal on the CWS can be rotated 360 degrees at low elevations. This is usually performed for urban operations.

Additionally, I believe the 120mm barrel and Coax barrel on the BBI model is too long. The FOV is more accurate in barrel length. The BBI also has the EAPU on the right rear. This was a design that was experimented with, but didn't really become a standard way of mounting the EAPU.