{"product_id":"matchbox-40179-m1-abrams-main-battle-tank-1-72-scale-plastic-model-kit","title":"Matchbox 40179 M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank — 1\/72 Scale Plastic model kit","description":"\u003cp\u003eManufacturer\/brand: Matchbox\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Kit number: 40179\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Barcode: 4009803401799\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Subject: M1 Abrams\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Scale: 1\/72\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Original Matchbox issue: 1993\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Tooling origin: Hasegawa MT33 \/ 31133\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Parts: approximately 50–60, depending on counting method\/release\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Status: Out of production\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an important distinction for collectors: 40179 is not an original Matchbox-designed Abrams mould. The kit was produced by Revell\/Matchbox from the Hasegawa design, with the underlying Hasegawa M1 Abrams tooling dating from 1986.\n\u003cbr\u003eManufacturer and tooling history\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMatchbox's plastic-kit operation originated with Lesney Products, the British company famous for its Matchbox toy vehicles. During the 1970s and 1980s, Matchbox developed a large range of aircraft, armour and vehicle kits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe later Matchbox catalogue was substantially reorganised after the Matchbox plastic-kit business became associated with Revell. The 40179 Abrams belongs to this later period rather than the classic 1970s purple-box Matchbox tooling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 40179 boxing dates from 1993 and used the orange\/black later Matchbox packaging. Specialist records explicitly describe it as a Revell AG production rather than an old Matchbox tooling. It was manufactured in South Korea during the 1993–1998 period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe underlying Hasegawa kit is:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHasegawa MT33 \/ 31133 — M-1 Abrams\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHasegawa's own catalogue history dates MT33 to the 1986 introduction of its M1 Abrams tooling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis makes the Matchbox 40179 an interesting cross-brand kit: Hasegawa tooling → Matchbox\/Revell packaging and distribution.\n\u003cbr\u003eKit contents\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Matchbox kit represents the early M1 Abrams, rather than the later M1A1\/M1A2 configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe documented kit contains the basic injection-moulded plastic tank, turret and running gear together with instructions and decals. Hasegawa's corresponding MT33 is described as including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    rotating turret;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    elevating main gun;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    spare track links;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    rear-view mirrors;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    turret fittings;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    machine gun;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    tools;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    aerial\/antenna fittings;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    headlights;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    hatches;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    decal sheet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere are slightly different parts counts in surviving listings. The Matchbox historical record gives 59 parts, while descriptions of the Hasegawa tooling give figures around 52–68, depending on whether separate track components and small pieces are counted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor catalogue purposes I would therefore record:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eApprox. 59 parts — vintage Hasegawa-derived tooling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit does not include glue or paint; it is a conventional plastic assembly kit requiring construction and painting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model is approximately 135 mm long according to the Hasegawa version's published dimensions.\n\u003cbr\u003eThe real M1 Abrams\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe M1 Abrams is the United States' long-running main battle tank family and was developed as the successor to the M60 series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDevelopment began in the early 1970s under the XM1 programme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe programme followed the troubled multinational MBT-70 project, after which the U.S. Army sought a new main battle tank with improved armour protection, firepower and mobility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1973, Chrysler Corporation and General Motors received contracts to develop competing prototypes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe two prototypes were tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1976. In November 1976, the Chrysler design was selected for full-scale engineering development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe tank was subsequently named after General Creighton Abrams, former U.S. Army Chief of Staff and commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam.\n\u003cbr\u003eEntry into service\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe first production M1 tanks were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1980.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe original M1 used a 105 mm M68A1 rifled gun, a licensed American development of the British L7 gun family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Army initially selected the 105 mm weapon partly because it was already widely used within NATO and because large quantities of ammunition were already available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe original M1 therefore differs substantially from the later M1A1 represented by many modern Abrams model kits.\n\u003cbr\u003eArmour\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most significant innovations of the Abrams was its advanced composite armour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe tank incorporated armour technology derived from the British Chobham armour concept.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRather than relying solely on homogeneous steel, the armour package uses multiple materials and layers designed to provide improved protection against shaped-charge and kinetic-energy weapons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe exact composition of later Abrams armour packages remains classified, but the introduction of composite armour was one of the major features distinguishing the M1 from previous American tanks.\n\u003cbr\u003eEngine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe M1 uses the AGT1500 gas-turbine engine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis was a major departure from the diesel engines used by many contemporary main battle tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe turbine produced approximately 1,500 horsepower and gave the Abrams a distinctive exhaust note and excellent acceleration characteristics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe disadvantage is fuel consumption: the turbine can consume substantial amounts of fuel, particularly when idling or operating under demanding conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis became an important logistical consideration throughout the Abrams' service life.\n\u003cbr\u003eMain armament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe early M1 represented by this kit carries the:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e105 mm M68A1 rifled cannon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe later M1A1 changed to the much larger 120 mm M256 smoothbore cannon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe U.S. Army's historical summary records that production of the M1A1 began in 1985 and that the new version replaced the M1's 105 mm gun with a 120 mm weapon, while also introducing an NBC over-pressure system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is worth mentioning when cataloguing the kit because 40179 should not be described as an M1A1.\n\u003cbr\u003eFire-control system\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Abrams was designed to allow accurate fire while moving.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe stabilised gun system, laser rangefinder, ballistic computer and thermal-imaging equipment gave the tank a major improvement in engagement capability compared with earlier U.S. tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Hasegawa-derived kit simplifies much of this equipment because of its age and relatively low parts count.\n\u003cbr\u003eProduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe original M1 entered production in 1979\/1980.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to the U.S. Army historical record, 3,017 Abrams tanks had been produced by 30 September 1985, with total production expected to approach 8,000 by the early 1990s as the M1A1 replaced the original version.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Congressional Research Service records 2,374 M1 tanks produced for the Army through February 1985, after which production shifted to the Improved M1\/IPM1.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe later M1A1 programme produced thousands more tanks.\n\u003cbr\u003eM1A1 development\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe principal improvement was the change from the 105 mm cannon to the 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe M1A1 also received:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    improved armour;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    NBC protection;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    revised ammunition arrangements;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    improved transmission\/drivetrain components;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    external stowage changes;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    other detail improvements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe U.S. Army's current technical reference records M1A1 production from 1985 to 1992 and identifies the M256 120 mm smoothbore gun as its principal distinguishing armament.\n\u003cbr\u003eM1A2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe next major generation was the M1A2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDevelopment work began in the late 1980s, with General Dynamics receiving a full-scale development contract in 1988.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe M1A2 incorporated major improvements to the commander's sighting system, navigation and fire-control architecture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Abrams family subsequently underwent numerous upgrade programmes, so modern Abrams tanks are substantially different from the early M1 represented by this 1993 Matchbox kit.\n\u003cbr\u003eGulf War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Abrams became internationally famous during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy then, U.S. forces were operating large numbers of M1 and M1A1 tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe desert environment provided the Abrams with considerable operational room to exploit its combination of long-range firepower, mobility, thermal sights and armour protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Gulf War also cemented the Abrams' position in popular military history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt subsequently became one of the most recognisable modern tanks in the world.\n\u003cbr\u003eExport users\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Abrams has been exported to a number of countries, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Australia;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Egypt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Iraq;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Kuwait;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Saudi Arabia;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Morocco;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Poland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe exact configuration varies considerably between operators because export Abrams have different equipment, armour and upgrade standards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is another reason to distinguish the early M1 from later M1A1 and M1A2 variants when identifying photographs or model kits.\n\u003cbr\u003eFull-size vehicle pricing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe historical procurement cost of the Abrams has varied considerably depending upon year, configuration and whether the figure includes associated equipment, spares, support and programme costs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA commonly cited historical figure places the production cost of the M1\/M1A1 programme at approximately $4.3 million per tank in the relevant historical dollars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no single meaningful current 2026 price for an original M1 Abrams, because the U.S. military generally deals in new-build\/refurbishment and upgrade contracts rather than ordinary commercial sales of operational tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor catalogue purposes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHistorical approximate unit cost: US$4.3 million\n\u003cbr\u003eCurrent full-size M1: specialist military\/heritage asset; no dependable ordinary open-market selling price.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Matchbox","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57512972714364,"sku":"Matchbox-40179","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0432\/8584\/0033\/files\/50449AB3-954A-4FC3-8BE9-F1ACC894E711.jpg?v=1790661016","url":"https:\/\/sussex-model-centre.co.uk\/products\/matchbox-40179-m1-abrams-main-battle-tank-1-72-scale-plastic-model-kit","provider":"Sussex Model Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}