consensus: which Abrams is better BBI or Bravo Team?

[aferguson]

which Abrams is better BBI or Bravo Team?

I believe both are correctly coloured, one is army and one marines? (correct me if i'm wrong). How are they for accuracy/detail?

[Jesse James]

I have the BBI, and have always loved it. I've thought of selling it though because I'm pondering selling all modern stuff off just because.

Loved teh Abrams though, and was always happy with it in my collection. It's a real behemoth.

[coreystinson]

When the FoV version was released there was a long thread about this with pictures. Maybe it is still in the archive? I think the consensus in the end is that both were very similar, with each having a few minor improvements over the other. I decided to keep the BBI tan version and an olive drab FoV version.

[AMERICAN_GRENADIER]

i feel both are well done a toss up

[pcoughran]

I like the coloring of the FOV one better personally. If you have a FOV bradley they are a perfect match. It also matches the 21st HUMVEE better. Of course, if you have the BBI Hummer then the BBI tank would match it. Really just a matter of preference but I think the FOV color looks closer to most pictures and real tanks I've seen with the desert coloring.

[aferguson]

the colour on the bbi abrams is fine. I've seen plenty of pics of abrams that looks just like that. I've also seen plenty of pics that look like the FOV abrams too. I assumed the difference was due to them being in different armies or one being army the other being marines etc.

In any case, i just had my bbi abrams out looking at it and it's quite neat. I never really cared for it much, for some reason, so it was way at the back of a shelf. But now i quite like it and it's at the front.

Time has given it a nice layer of dust that looks good on it. I'd forgotten what a monster it is. I still would like to get the fov abrams though i think. I prefer the light sand colour to the orangey sand colour and with the lack of new 1/18 armour i've got room for 2 abrams. I may even get the woodlands version too someday. Glad to hear the FOV is good to get...i never really paid any attention to it when it was first released and reviewed.

[Dauntless]

I have seen plenty of the FOV Abrams at Target lately, though every one I've seen is desert tan. I have yet to see any woodland A1's or Bradley's in this recent restocking at Target.

I got one the last go around when they were on sale, but have yet to see any green ones this time.
Do they even offer the Abrams or the Bradley in woodland camo anymore?

[tmanthegreat]

which Abrams is better BBI or Bravo Team?

I believe both are correctly coloured, one is army and one marines? (correct me if i'm wrong). How are they for accuracy/detail?

The FOV version replicates a later M1A2 from "Operation Iraqi Freedom" while the BBI version is an earlier M1A1 in "Operation Desert Storm" livery. Both are in US Army markings. There are subtle differences between the toolings that show the distinctions between the two Abrams variants, particularly if you look at the main gun and the covers over the ammo magazine at the rear of the turret. The BBI tank also has the APU box (I think thats what it is) that goes on the rear fender, just like many of the tanks had in 1991. Both tanks are correctly colored for their respective time periods. The cammo FOV tank is also in US Army markings, but could pass for a USMC tank...

I have both the BBI and FOV Abrams and both are very similar in terms of details and functions. On both tanks, only the driver and loader's hatches open, gun elevates, turret rotates, turret mg rotates, and the treads work. However, there are enough similarities between the two toolings to make them the same and enough differences to make the different...

The BBI tank comes with more stowage, including storage boxes on the turret bustle, some sort of cylindrical tubes, a spare wheel, and the APU. It also has the commander figure. The guns look correct and the periscopes are painted. Crew figures are a tight fit in the hatches and actually have to sit as BBI did not make the interior very deep. The tank has antennas and handles, etc moulded seperately. There is subtle weathering on the tank, but the scheme is overall a little bland. The panel lines and weld seams are not very well defined, however. The infrared sensor is does not have much detail.

The FOV tank comes with the two machine guns and no other accessories. The guns are rubbery and the .50 cal tends to bend or sag. The turret hatches are deep and a figure stands up in them. The hatch interior is painted white and there is a rudimentary "seat" sculpted at the bottom, similar to what you would see inside the FOV 1:32 scale Abrams. The FOV tank is nicely weathered and the weathering is more pronounced than on the BBI tank. It has more tactical markings and does not look quite as bland as the BBI tank. The periscopes are not painted on the FOV tank. Weld markings, panel lines, etc are more pronounced, though handles, etc are not as nicely sculpted. There are no antennas. The biggest problem with the FOV Abrams is the soft plastic used for the turret bustle. The bustle tends to sag severely and is tough to fix.

My personal preference is for the FOV tank because with a little custom work, it can really turn into a great looking tank. Addiing CID panels, Pickelhaube's APU accessory, and stowage as well as fixing the sag on the turret bustle really improves the look of the tank without having to do a complete paint or tooling overhaul. There is just something about the way the FOV tank looks with the weathering, etc. that catches my eye more than the BBI version.

I've recently done some custom work on my FOV Abrams, adding the APU, a lot of stowage and antennas. I'll post some pictures later on tonight

[tmanthegreat]

Hate to double post, however, here are a couple shots of my customized FOV M1A2 alongside my BBI M1A1:

Comparison Shots:




The chevron marking on the BBI tank's turret glacis was added by me, but the paint remains untouched. The various items in the turret bustle are also my additions, save for the hanging containers and cylinders which come attached with the tank in its stock form. The FOv tank is unpainted except for the CID panels, APU, container, and commander hatch periscopes.

...and a closeup of my customized FOV M1A2:


Hope all this helps

[aferguson]

looks great.......thanks for the detaled info Tman..