Panda Hobby PH35030 1/35 M1 Abrams MBT [Model Building Kit]

I was kind of disappointed with the molding lots of flash and a lot of cleanup with a large amount of parts assemblies could have been simpler I will most likely end up kitbashing parts from the original Tamiya M1 Abrams kit with this kit the workible track is a nightmare I have explored several aftermarket options for workible track. I am a former tanker and I have knowledge of the original M1 Tank its details are spot on just disapointed with the quality it's a good kit if you are careful and take your time a lot of cleanup is required. The design for the track is silly for the track is silly one track block a centerguide and two end connectors simple enough but the fit is horrible the end connectors are on the sprue in a way you need to do one at a time, what a pain.

Flash on almost every part. Many parts have the circular molding “bumps” that have to be removed in very difficult places to get a small hobby knife into. Tracks are tedious, but work OK (4 out of 10) if you’re patient. The skirts are a joke. They do not fit and there is no reason they could not have been molded in one piece. The TC 50 cal is also horribly designed. The methods they use for designing the spruce is mystifying - for example attaching the spruce to a very thin fragile part in the forward fuel caps. I could go on (and for sure eliciting a response from the “if you were a REAL modeler crowd…), but the truth is that this kit is a nightmare for the price. I purchased it because I wanted a 105mm M1, and this was all I could get. I’ll never consider another Panda kit.

The parts are easy and straightforward and not hard to put on but the track more than makes up for it, Individual track pads to install with the end conncectors and center guides, many parts so small great care has to be taken in putting it together, very tedious and time consuming and hope you do not loose one of the small pieces if you do the model is over

The sprue for the turret had been replaced with one for what I'm assuming was a merkava or a ZTZ-99. Since there was no option to get a replacement sprue from the manufacturer, I had to return the entire kit.