USMC
M1A1HA Abrams in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2)
Decal Sheet No. T35006
Review by Terry Ashley
Echelon Fine Details have released their second sheet of markings for
a
further six
USMA M1A1HA Abrams from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (1 MEF) during Operation
Iraqi
Freedom (OIF).
As with previous sheets this sheet is of excellent quality with
clear well printed markings with good colour register and very thin carrier
film
that
is cropped
close
to the
edge of the printed image that should react well with any decal setting solution.
The sheet has full markings for six vehicles with 2 finished in overall Forest
Green and 4 in NATO 3 colour cam schemes which include the unit chevron
markings, vehicle
registration numbers plus the individual
artwork
applied
to the barrel fume extractor on most vehicles. Also included is a good selection
of stencilling including warning labels for the External Auxiliary Power Unit
(EAPU), Shipping labels, Missile Counter Device ”dazzler” (MCD)
and warning labels for the CIP panels, barrel inspection date markings and
a selection of generic registration stencils for a range of fine stencilling
usually seen only on aircraft decal sheets.
In what is now standard from Echelon the instruction sheet is entirely
in colour with small images of the six vehicles as well as illustrations of
each showing the location of the individual decals and stenciling plus larger
diagrams of the EAPU, MCD and CIP panels showing their stencil data location.
The vehicles included on the sheet are:
- 2nd Platoon,
C Company, 1st Marine Tank Battallion, 1st Marine Division.
Finished in overall Forest Green with the fume extractor painted in desert
sand.
- 1st Platoon, D Company, 1st Marine Tank Battallion, 1st Marine
Division.
Has the vehicle name “Valhalla” on the fume extractor and finished
in NATO 3 colour cam scheme.
- 1st Platoon, A Company, Regimental Combat Team.
Has the vehicle name “Angry American” on the fume extractor
and finished in NATO 3 colour cam scheme.
- 2nd Platoon, B Company, 1st Marine Tank Battallion, 1st Marine Division.
Has the vehicle name “Kuler Blynd” on the fume extractor and
"Lazy-Eye" on the co-ax MG tube and finished in NATO 3 colour cam scheme.
- 1st Platoon, D Company, from unidentified USMC unit, Task Force Tarawa.
Has the vehicle name “Protest This” on the fume extractor and
finished in NATO 3 colour cam scheme. It also is fitted with Snorkel Device
on the rear exhaust panel.
- 2nd Platoon, B
Company, 1st Marine Tank Battallion, 1st Marine Division.
Has the vehicle name “Nightmares Whitness” on the fume extractor
and has the turret almost completely covered in cam netting and is also
fitted with mine plow on the hull front with the vehicle in overall Forest
Green.
Conclusion:
Another excellent sheet with well printed and researched markings that along
with the detailed colour instruction sheet with a good choice of markings that
is earning Echelon a reputation for excellent products.
The sheet will also be available shortly in 1/72nd as sheet T72006.
Highly Recommended.
Thanks to Larry of Echelon
Fine Details for the review sample.
Page created 31 July 2004
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