The Yanks Are Coming!

Today, I'm going to take a look at a larger model - 1:24 scale Franklin Mint General Dynamics M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank.

The Franklin Mint US M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank - 4th Platoon, B Troop, 1-11 ACR, Europe, 1980's

Forget dodgy coins, Princess Diana dolls and kitch Elvis memorial plates; for me the Armour Collection is where it's at.

Franklin Mints' Armour Collection are extremely collectable items. Their aircraft are varied and readily available, I currently have more than a dozen. Their ground units are far less common but maintain the quality and attention to detail that make the brand so popular for military collectors.

This Abrams model is a real monster; it's longer in length than a PC keyboard and weighs in at about same as four bags of sugar - in terms of size it's only 1/24th size of the real thing but weighs considerably less due to the lack of need for genuine armour plating.

The Abrams model has a wealth of features for the collector to "play" with. Features include;

Rotating turret.

Positionable barrel which holds in the parabolic position when raised.

Removable engine covers.

Commander and MG hatches which open.

MGs swivel.

Tracks rotate

The M1 Anrams is an American 3rd generation main battle tank produced by the US company General Dynamics.  It is named after Gen. Creighton Abrams, the  former Army Cheif of Staff and Commander of U.S. military forces in Vietman from '68 to '72. 

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The M1 Abrams entered U.S. service in 1980, replacing the M60 Patton main battle tank 

(shown below : Solido model M60 Patton 1:50 scale - Israeli Defense Forces livery)

It served for over a decade alongside the improved M60A3, which had entered service in '78. The M1 remains the main battle tank of the US Army and USMC. The Abrams is licensed for export to the armies of Egypt, Kuwait, The Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia, Australia and Iraq.

Highly mobile, designed for modern armoured ground warfare the M1 is well armed and heavily armored. Features include a powerful multifuel turbine engine (it can run on diesel or petrol), sophisticated composite armour , and separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment for crew safety. Weighing almost 62 tonnes it is one of the heaviest main battle tanks in service

Three main versions of the M1 Abrams have been deployed, the M1, M1A1, and M1A2, incorporating improved armament, protection and electronics. These improvements, as well as periodic upgrades to older tanks, have allowed this long-serving vehicle to remain in front-line service. The M1A3 was under early development as of 2009.

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