1:72 M1A1 Abrams w. mine plough (Dragon kit)

Hauler 1:72 M1A1 Abrams with a mine plow: a photo-etched set

A set of parts in photo-etched metal sheet in 1:72 scale, intended to improve the plastic kit of the M1A1 Abrams tank equipped with a mine plow. It is neither a kit nor a finished model but an aftermarket accessory cut for one specific kit, the Dragon one. Check the exact contents of the package with the manufacturer; it cannot be deduced from the name.

What etch deals with on a vehicle model

Injection-molded plastic has a minimum wall thickness set by the technology, and everything that should be thin sheet on the real vehicle therefore comes out too massive on the model. On armor it strikes the eye most on the grilles over the engine compartment, on the brackets, eyes and clips for tools and on thin covers. Photo-etch replaces these parts with metal of the corresponding thickness, so you can see inside through a grille and the edges stay sharp. On a vehicle with a mine plow the mechanism of the blade is added, where the ratio of thin to thick parts is even more pronounced.

Tips for working with photo-etched parts

Separate the parts with a sharp scalpel against a hard surface, not by twisting. Make the folds in a bending tool or between two blades, otherwise the edge rounds off. They are glued with cyanoacrylate applied with the tip of a wire; cement for plastic will not join metal. Degrease the etch before painting and spray it with primer. With grilles it pays to paint them separately off the model, so that the openings do not fill with paint, and to fit them only after the base coat on the hull has dried.

Who the set is for

• For modelers who build modern armor in 1:72
• For builders who dislike plastic grilles and brackets that are too thick on a model
• For more experienced modelers with experience of bending etch
• For those who already own the corresponding plastic kit

This is an accessory, not a kit. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.