Academy 1/48 M1A2 Abrams and French Leclerc Tanks By Dave Manter

These are the latest 2 entries in Academy’s 1/48th scale armor series. Both of these kits use the same lower hull and drive train gear. They are motorized and feature a wired remote control unit. The transmissions are pre installed and feature separate motors for each track. The RC unit is also pre-made and will accept either 2 C-cell batteries or 2 AA size batteries with the supplied adapters.

The upper hulls are well detailed and feature a great starting point if you wish to super detail them. The parts are cleanly molded with nice detail and virtually no flash. Another nice thing with these tanks is that they are "snap" together kits. Assembly can be completed in about an hour. The RC unit requires only the attachment of the wires to the motors and you can be off and running. The tracks are molded as one piece and should not give you any problems when running.

These kits are perfect for any one wanting to do a very quick build and feature the extra bonus of being able to be driven! A careful paint job will yield a nice model for display and yet can be driven around the workbench for fun. Build these purely for fun and enjoy every minute of them. A wonderful diversion from hardcore modeling! On a more serious note, these kits would be a wonderful introduction to the world of scale modeling for any youngsters that show an interest in this hobby. They are quick to build and are molded in colored plastic so even painting can be an option. If you need to relax a bit, build one of these!

My thanks to MRC for the review samples.