M1 Abrams: America's Main Battle Tank

The Abrams is synonymous with American military power and images of the 68-ton tanks rumbling across Iraqi and Afghan landscapes have been a feature of news footage for three decades. Designed in the 1970s, the M1 entered U.S. Army and Marine Corps service in the early 1980. Constant modernization has seen updates to the armament, armor, and electronics to keep the tank up to date on today's battlefields.

With more than 10,000 built and an extensive combat record, the Abrams is popular with modelers. Whether you are thinking of building just one or a battalion, check out M1 Abrams: America's Main Battle Tank by Christian M. DeJohn.

This 112-page hardcover volume from Schiffer's Legend of Warfare series details the tank's development and construction before devoting 50 pages to beautifully reproduced photos of the Abrams in operation with comprehensive captions. The final chapter shows detailed photos of M1 parts and equipment.

All of this is gold to a modeler, and it comes on a terrific package you'll be proud to have on your reference shelf.