Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

How to assemble your M1, IPM1, M1A1 and M1A1HC Abrams tanks.

Check out the Abrams Tank Platoon spotlight here...

Scroll down to the bottom half of the page for the IPM1, the M1A1 and M1A1HC Abrams Assembly Guide

Click here to download the Abrams Assembly Sheet PDF...

Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Assembling the M1 Abrams tank
Step 1. Start by gluing the tracks to the lower hull section. The notches on both sides will ensure that you can't put the tracks on the wrong sides. Below: The correctly attached tracks.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The correctly attached tracks. Step 2. Glue the upper hull section to the lower hull.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 3. Glue the rear skirt plates to the side skirts. There are two options for this part. The original M1, such as in Team Yankee, had the solid plate, and had a retaining ring to prevent thrown tracks due to dirt accumulating under the skirt. The notched rear skirt plate is for later variants, which had a cutaway section to prevent dirt build-up.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 4: Glue the side skirt in place. Note the rear plate, with the retaining ring positioned over the drive sprocket. (Repeat for both sides)
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 5. Glue the upper turret to the lower turret. Step 6. Attach the blow-off panel piece, with the three-part side up. This was a safety feature to help protect crew for an ammo explosion. This piece has a clever two-sided design. The other side, with two panels, is for the later redesigned blow-off panels on the M1A1.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The attached blow-off panels. Step 7. Glue the stowage racks to both sides of the turret using the small locating strip. Use the two short rack pieces for the original M1.  A turret-rear stowage rack, along with lengthened side racks, are included for the IPM1 and M1A1.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Below: The correctly attached stowage racks.

Step 8. Glue the crosswind sensor to the mount on the turret rear.
 Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The crosswind sensor in place. This is an important component of a modern tank's fire-control systems. Step 9. Glue the gun mount in place. Note that the co-axial MG is in the right-hand side – but the tabs at the back of the gun mount piece should prevent gluing it the wrong way around, as well as helping with correct positioning.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 10. Glue the 105mm gun into the mount. This is the slimmer of the two guns on the sprue, without a bulge in the centre. The half-circle tab at the top of the gun ensures that you can't get it upside-down. The other gun piece is the 120mm smoothbore gun for the M1A1. It is instantly recognisible by the large bore evacuator in the middle of gun.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 11. Choose either the open or closed commander's cupola, and glue on the .50-cal machine-gun. The small round hole at the front of the cupola, slightly offset to the left, fits the peg on the base of the mounting arm. An extra machine-gun is included on the sprue, so you will have a spare in case of breakages.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Use the open hatch and add one of the resin tank commander figures, to mark a vehicle as a command tank. Then add the .50-cal machine-gun as above. Some people like to paint their commanders separately before glueing them in.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Glue the cupola into the hole on the turret, with the hatch facing forwards. Step 12. Glue the pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine-gun into the hole beside the loader's hatch.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 13. Glue the turret peg into the round recess on the bottom of the turret. Simply place the turret onto the body without gluing, so you can rotate the turret to point at the shooting target.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Alternatively, you may prefer to glue rare earth magnets into the recess in the hull and to the bottom of the turret. Magnets are a quick and secure way of fixing your turrets to the hulls, but they are a small added expense, which is why the turret peg is provided, leaving the choice up to you.

Rare Earth Magnets (XX105) are available through the online store here...

These 1mm x 5mm magnets fit perfectly into the round spaces in the hull and turret.

Rare Earth Magnets (XX105)

Optional Parts. Included are spare parts which you can add to your tanks as you choose, to make each one unique: ammunition and tool boxes, fuel cans and a spare road wheel.

Finally, the bolted round cover plate is only for the M1A1. If you wish to model this later variant, the plate is positioned in front, and slighty to the left of the loader's hatch (where the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer would be mounted on the M1A2)

Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: A completed M1 Abrams tank, including a couple of added fuel cans.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

James recorded this video demonstrating how to assemble the M1 Abrams during our Team Yankee Armageddon launch weekend (it must be reasonably easy, as he hadn't built one before, and only made one or two silly mistakes!)

Assembling the IPM1 Abrams tank
Step 1. Start by gluing the tracks to the lower hull section. The notches on both sides will ensure that you can't put the tracks on the wrong sides. Below: The correctly attached tracks.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The correctly attached tracks. Step 2. Glue the upper hull section to the lower hull.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 3. Glue the rear skirt plates to the side skirts.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 4: Glue the side skirt in place. Note the rear plate. (Repeat for both sides)
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 5. Glue the upper turret to the lower turret. Step 6. Attach the blow-off panel piece, with the three-part side up. This was a safety feature to help protect crew for an ammo explosion. This piece has a clever two-sided design. The other side, with two panels, is for the later redesigned blow-off panels on the M1A1.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The attached blow-off panels. Step 7. Glue the stowage racks to both sides of the turret using the small locating strip. Use the two long rack pieces for the IPM1. 
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Below: The correctly attached stowage racks.

Step 8. Glue the crosswind sensor to the mount on the turret rear.
 Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The crosswind sensor in place. Step 9. Glue in place the IPM1's turret basket.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 9. Glue the gun mount in place. Note that the co-axial MG is in the right-hand side – but the tabs at the back of the gun mount piece should prevent gluing it the wrong way around, as well as helping with correct positioning.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 10. Glue the 105mm gun into the mount. This is the slimmer of the two guns on the sprue, without a bulge in the centre. The half-circle tab at the top of the gun ensures that you can't get it upside-down.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 11. Choose either the open or closed commander's cupola, and glue on the .50-cal machine-gun. The small round hole at the front of the cupola, slightly offset to the left, fits the peg on the base of the mounting arm. An extra machine-gun is included on the sprue, so you will have a spare in case of breakages.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Use the open hatch and add one of the resin tank commander figures, to mark a vehicle as a command tank. Then add the .50-cal machine-gun as above. Some people like to paint their commanders separately before glueing them in.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Glue the cupola into the hole on the turret, with the hatch facing forwards. Step 12. Glue the pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine-gun into the hole beside the loader's hatch.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 13. Glue the turret peg into the round recess on the bottom of the turret. Simply place the turret onto the body without gluing, so you can rotate the turret to point at the shooting target.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Alternatively, you may prefer to glue rare earth magnets into the recess in the hull and to the bottom of the turret. Magnets are a quick and secure way of fixing your turrets to the hulls, but they are a small added expense, which is why the turret peg is provided, leaving the choice up to you.

Rare Earth Magnets (XX105) are available through the online store here...

These 1mm x 5mm magnets fit perfectly into the round spaces in the hull and turret.

Rare Earth Magnets (XX105)
Below: A completed IPM1 Abrams tank.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Assembling the M1A1 and M1A1HC Abrams tank
Step 1. Start by gluing the tracks to the lower hull section. The notches on both sides will ensure that you can't put the tracks on the wrong sides. Below: The correctly attached tracks.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The correctly attached tracks. Step 2. Glue the upper hull section to the lower hull.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 3. Glue the rear skirt plates to the side skirts.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 4: Glue the side skirt in place. Note the rear plate. (Repeat for both sides)
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 5. Glue the upper turret to the lower turret. Step 6. Attach the blow-off panel piece, with the two part panel facing up.

Below: A close up of the M1A1 and M1A1HC panel

Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The attached blow-off panels. Step 7. Glue the stowage racks to both sides of the turret using the small locating strip. Use the two long rack pieces for the IPM1. 
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Below: The correctly attached stowage racks.

Step 8. Glue the crosswind sensor to the mount on the turret rear.
 Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The crosswind sensor in place. Step 9. Glue in place the turret basket.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 9. Glue the gun mount in place. Note that the co-axial MG is in the right-hand side – but the tabs at the back of the gun mount piece should prevent gluing it the wrong way around, as well as helping with correct positioning.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Step 10. Glue the 120mm gun into the mount. This is the larger of the two guns on the sprue, with a bulge in the centre. The half-circle tab at the top of the gun ensures that you can't get it upside-down.

Note that the right-side picture features the 120mm barrel that you should use for an M1A1 and M1A1HC Abrams.

Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 11. Choose either the open or closed commander's cupola, and glue on the .50-cal machine-gun. The small round hole at the front of the cupola, slightly offset to the left, fits the peg on the base of the mounting arm. An extra machine-gun is included on the sprue, so you will have a spare in case of breakages.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Use the open hatch and add one of the resin tank commander figures, to mark a vehicle as a command tank. Then add the .50-cal machine-gun as above. Some people like to paint their commanders separately before glueing them in.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Glue the cupola into the hole on the turret, with the hatch facing forwards. Step 12. Glue the pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine-gun into the hole beside the loader's hatch.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 13. Glue the turret peg into the round recess on the bottom of the turret. Simply place the turret onto the body without gluing, so you can rotate the turret to point at the shooting target.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Alternatively, you may prefer to glue rare earth magnets into the recess in the hull and to the bottom of the turret. Magnets are a quick and secure way of fixing your turrets to the hulls, but they are a small added expense, which is why the turret peg is provided, leaving the choice up to you.

Rare Earth Magnets (XX105) are available through the online store here...

These 1mm x 5mm magnets fit perfectly into the round spaces in the hull and turret.

Rare Earth Magnets (XX105)
Step 14. Attach the left side smoke discharger ammo pouch on the left side of the turret.
Step 15. Next attach the right side smoke discharger ammo pouch to the right side of the turret.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Step 17. Now glue the blank plate to top of the turret on the notch shown below. With this the M1A1 is now complete. Proceed to Step 18. to complete the M1A1HC.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: The completed M1A1 Abrams Tank. 
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)

Step 18. Glue the APU onto the back of the Abrams tank on the right side rear tail light. Note that there is a slot on the resin piece to help you place it.

Important note: You will need to use super glue to attach the resin APU piece to the plastic Abrams hull.

Abrams Assembly (TUBX18) Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)
Below: A completed M1A1HC Abrams tank.
Abrams Assembly (TUBX18)