Tamiya 35269 - 1:35 M1A2 Abrams Operation Iraq Freedom

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the US M1A2 Abrams tank “Operation Iraqi Freedom”

Tamiya 35269 reproduces the M1A2 Abrams – the US main battle tank in its 2003 Iraq invasion configuration. Introduced in 1980, the Abrams was a landmark design: its gas-turbine powerplant, composite armour and modern fire-control system set the direction for Western tank development for decades to come.

The model captures the features of the M1A2 variant, including the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) and a new type of vision block. Thanks to a wealth of parts, the vehicle can also be built as the earlier M1A1HA – the base from which the M1A2 was developed – and in a Marine Corps version, with a Missile Counter Measures Device (MCD), smoke dischargers and float brackets.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues and a clear sprue (lenses, lights)
• M1A2 turret with Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) and new vision blocks
• Parts to build the M1A1HA variant and the Marine Corps version (MCD, smoke dischargers, float brackets)
• Combat Identification Panels (CIP), M2 heavy machine gun and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
• A sprue of additional external stowage
• Vinyl belt tracks and vinyl turret basket mesh
• Two figures: full commander figure and loader torso
• Decal sheet for five marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35269
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 283 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (many accessories, figures)

Note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Thanks to the excellent part fit typical of Tamiya, the model is approachable even for less experienced builders, although the many accessories and variant options call for careful reading of the instructions. It is worth deciding on the variant (M1A2, M1A1HA, Marine Corps version) at the outset, as it affects assembly of the turret and hull parts.

For the Iraq scheme, a uniform CARC sand colour is recommended (e.g. the equivalent of Tamiya XF-57 Buff or XF-59 Desert Yellow), while the Kosovo option was painted in the three-colour NATO camouflage (green, brown, black). The instructions give paint codes for all five schemes. Military vehicles are usually finished with a matt varnish, and the detail benefits from a wash.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Polystyrene cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched and metal parts
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Optionally: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – M1A2 Abrams:

The M1 Abrams entered US Army service in 1980 as a design that broke with previous post-war US tanks. Even the first version stood out for its gas-turbine powerplant and composite armour. The M1A1 variant, introduced in 1984, received a 120 mm smoothbore gun, and the subsequent M1A1HA added armour reinforced with a depleted-uranium layer.

The M1A2 was developed from the M1A1HA, retaining the 120 mm gun and additionally gaining the Intervehicular Information System (IVIS), the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) and a new type of vision block. Both variants – the M1A1HA and the M1A2 – played a significant role during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, used by both land forces and the Marine Corps in the advance on Baghdad.

Original specifications (M1A2 Abrams):

• Length with gun: approx. 9.77 m
• Width: approx. 3.66 m
• Height: approx. 2.44 m
• Combat weight: approx. 63 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun
• Secondary armament: 12.7 mm M2 heavy machine gun and two 7.62 mm machine guns
• Powerplant: AGT-1500 gas turbine, approx. 1500 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 67 km/h (road)
• Range: approx. 425 km
• Armour: composite, with a depleted-uranium layer
• M1A2 variant fielded: from 1992

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The company initially traded in timber, but from the late 1940s it produced wooden models, and in 1960 it launched its first plastic assembly kit. Two years later it introduced its iconic 1:35 scale tank, which set the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is renowned for exceptionally precise injection moulds and excellent part fit, which is why its kits are favoured by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this model belongs, comprises hundreds of items and is considered one of the most comprehensive 1:35 catalogues of military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling supplies: paints, glues, tools and brushes.