Tamiya 35273 - 1:35 US M1A1/A2 Abrams - Photo Etched Parts Set

Tamiya photo-etched parts set for the M1A1/A2 Abrams tank model in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35273 is a dedicated detail-up set for the Tamiya M1 Abrams tank models in 1:35 scale. The set contains photo-etched parts reproducing features that look too thick in injection moulding or as vinyl mesh.

The set covers the engine grille on top of the hull, the machine-gun mount (skate ring) around the loader's hatch and the mesh of the basket at the rear of the turret. With these, the most visible parts of the vehicle gain a finer, more realistic appearance.

What's in the box:

• A photo-etched fret: upper hull engine grille
• Machine-gun mount (skate ring) around the loader's hatch – two options
• Mesh for the basket at the rear of the turret (replaces the kit's vinyl mesh)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Set specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35273
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Dedicated model: Tamiya M1A2 Abrams (35269); also fits M1A1 Abrams (35156) and M1A1 Abrams with Mine Plow (35158)
• Type: photo-etched parts (engine grille, MG mount, turret basket mesh)
• Material: thin metal sheet

Photo-etched parts – thin, delicate detailing components

Photo-etched parts are produced by chemically etching a thin metal sheet, which gives them a thinness and detail sharpness unattainable in injection moulding. They are particularly well suited to reproducing meshes, grilles and openwork features such as engine grilles and stowage baskets.

The parts are bent and shaped according to the instructions and then attached to the model – usually with cyanoacrylate glue. The machine-gun mount is available in two options, allowing the detail to be matched to the configuration being reproduced. The set is intended for specific Tamiya Abrams models, which makes assembly easier.

About the vehicle – M1 Abrams:

The M1 Abrams entered US Army service in 1980 as a design that broke with previous post-war US tanks, standing out for its gas-turbine powerplant and composite armour. The M1A1 variant received a 120 mm smoothbore gun, and the M1A2 that developed from it added advanced electronics, including the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV).

The M1A1HA and M1A2 tanks played a significant role during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. The Abrams remains one of the most frequently modelled modern tanks, and the engine grilles and stowage baskets are among the features most often enhanced with photo-etched parts.

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

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka. The brand is best known for its plastic assembly kits in the Military Miniature Series, but its range also includes dedicated detail-up sets for its own kits – photo-etched parts, turned barrels and detailing accessories. A hallmark of these sets is their precise fit to the specific Tamiya model for which they were designed, which makes assembly easier and allows the level of detail to be raised without modifications. Alongside kits and accessories, Tamiya offers a full range of paints, glues, tools and brushes.