PERHAPS THE GROUND WAR phase of the war with Iraq was as brief as it was because of the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank. Critics predicted that its high-tech weaponry would break down in the fine desert sand; that its thirst for fuel would make long-range operations difficult; or that losing these extremely expensive weapons would be unacceptably costly. Now we know that the performance of the Abrams was indispensable in the rapid U.N. coalition advance against the Iraqis. The M1A1 version of America's most important tank features an M256 120 mm smooth-bore cannon, an improved rear turret bustle rack, larger turret side stowage bins, a new-style crosswind sensor, revised headlights and guards, a new gunner's sight housing, and omission of the track ring guard on the drive sprockets. All these changes are reflected in Minicraft's excellent kit. Molding quality is above average and assembly is nearly trouble free. There are a few sinkholes to be filled and minor flash on the vinyl tracks is difficult to remove.
