M1A1 Abrams AIM

Simon Nagorsnik
I'd say Dragon has just reworked the old tools a bit.

The lower hull seems to me to be the same as the old one, only the holes in the bottom have disappeared.
The side holes next to the drive wheel are still present.
I mean these come from the possibility of motorizing the kit.

Upper hull- The contours of the details look sharper than the original part.
One or the other panel line is a bit finer than before.
The grills on the engine deck looks much better and the panels are located on the far left and right sight of the engine deck are now at the same height like the mid panel, on the old model they were slightly lowered.

The frontlights are new molded on and also looks better than before, The only problem is that the protective bar above the lamps is massively cast and no longer open at the front.
The side skirts are also firmly attached to the hull.
However, the detailing of the brackets was better executed on the old M1.

A very clear deterioration is the driver's hatch, which is now very simplified and the rain drain gutter is completely missing.
A big minus point is the now omitted anti-slip coating.

The turret has been improved in a few details, but some other small details have been omitted, unfortunately also the welds.
Side storage boxes, tow cables and the blow-out panels are also molded on yet.
Two types of commander cupolas are included, the same as before, without recessed viewing blocks.
Rotable panoramic sight looks top.
Gun barrel and the .50 machine gun unit has better details than before.
The storage baskets at the back of the turnet are now partly open and partly molded, previously, everything was completely solid.

Wheels as before and the vinyl tracks are now colored in brown, however, these offer a very good look.

I haven't compared any dimensions to the old model or the original, I just wanted to give a rough overview of the "new tool".
Some things I found to be better than before, in other things there was a step back.
When I wrote this, I got the old M1 from Dragon and the M1 from T-Model/ Tiger Model to make better comparisons.
The new Dragon M1 comes very close to the T-Model kit, however, with a few drawbacks.
A PE detail set from Hauler or Part are certainly useful here.

Decal sheet= 👍