Which company's M60 is the better model? I have built Tamyia before and know that they are good quality, but was wandering if the Academy M60 was better.

Thanks
Todd

Hi,

Hmmm, actually, they are about the "same". While I have never built the Tamiya M60 as an adult (did one as a kid), I DO currently have the Academy M60. Let me tell you this, I think they are the SAME! It is true that some of Academy's early efforts were copies of Tamiya stuff. I bought the Academy M60 because it is waaay cheaper than Tamiya's.

Note: Both Academy and Tamiya's M60 are old. If you want the BEST M60 around, try the ESCI/Italeri offerings (M60 Blazer and M60), they are really good!

Hi,

I almost forgot, Missing-Lynx has one of the best M60 comparison articles around:

http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/modern/jcm60/jcm60.htm

Enjoy!!!

Thanks for your help, I think I will go with the Academy version.

Thanks
Todd

from what a few experienced modelers said, the best M60 model is... the ITALERI one !

I've got all three of them (Tamiya, Academy, Esci/Italeri) and the one I prefer is the Esci/Italeri. On top of that is the only one you can do with Italian markings almost OOB.
Ciao

Are there any M-60 round turrets out there? I know there are a bunch of the A-1 style whether they call them Blazers , or Marines or A-3's. I guess they are still making the A-2 kit as well as I still can find those easily enough. What about conversion kits? They had a dozer and AVLB and the Engineer (CEV) versions.

Hi,

Yes, the Academy M60A5 kit and the AFV Club CM11 (Taiwanese modified M60) kits are both the round turret version. I got them from Greatmodels but they are really hard to find! Took weeks to order one!

Oops!!!

The Academy version is a M48A5! That makes AFV Club's CM11 the only round turret M60 kit there is!!!

AEF Designs makes a slick 60 turret.

Problem with Tamiya's late T-142 M60 tracks (first issued with their M247 Sgt. York) is that they put the center guide in the middle of the track pad instead of straddling two adjacent pads. It is an annoying inaccuracy that has plagued their M60/M48/M1 series tank tracks for 30 years now. Their original M60A1, M60A2, M48A3, M1, M1A1, M247, USMC M60A1, and M60A3 tracks all suffer from the same problem. Three different sets of track (M60A1/M60A2/M48A3), (USMC M60A1/M60A3/M247), (M1/M1A1) all are incorrect. You'd think they'd get it right once.

Lo Models was the first ones to get the T-142 tracks right. Then Esci (now Italeri) did it right. They (Esci) even include 6 track blocks that are missing the track pads, a common occurance for anyone who has road marched tanks long distances.

Academy's M1A1 is a copy of Tamiya's, right down to the bad tracks. Academy's M48A5/K has correctly done tracks but are the early chevron pattern though. I have an Academy M60A1 (#1390) and it has T-142 tracks with the inaccuracy as well. It looks to be heavily based on the Tamiya updated USMC M60A1 and M60A3. It does have a very nice M9 dozer blade though.

I also have the Trumpter M60A1/A3, it is a very poor copy of a cross between the Tamiya and Academy M60 series kits. Even the directions are a copy of Tamiya's, pointing out parts to be installed that aren't even included. This kit's tracks are a direct copy of Academy's M60A1 series tracks.

If there's a company that makes an M48, M60, or M1 series kit in 1/35 scale, I've got at least one of each. Here's my list of the M60 series kits I have on hand:
Tamiya:
MT-128A M60A1
3038 M60A2 (motorized)
89542 M60A2
35140 M60A3 (two each, was going to build one as the optional M60A1 RISE/Passive)
35157 USMC M60A1 w/Reactive Armor (Tamiya replaced the finned aluminum road wheels with steel road wheels)
Esci:
5040 M60A3TTS (the best late US Army M60 series kit available)
AMT/Ertl (reboxed Esci):
8864 M60A1 'Blazer' (these used to be dirt cheap, couldn't give them away. I bought it to use the hull to build a good M60A2)
Academy:
1390 M60A1 RISE with M9 Dozer Blade
Wasan (Trumpeter):
MM-00330 M60A1/A3 (avoid at all costs, absolutely no value except as an airbrush testor)

Yeah Sabot, I would say you are the definative source forhte M60 around here...do you have any ratings on the best kits (in your own opinion) and the various aftermarket sets for the M60...ie, the engine setups, PE sets, and other goodies?

Back in the day when Tamiya's original M60A1 and M60A2 were the only kits around, Verlinden did an outstanding resin/photoetch M60/48 update set. I haven't seen it in a long while. Lo Models also made a decent M60/48 update set in the 80s (very crude by today's standards) that allowed you to build a West German M48A2GA2, the only way to get one in 1/35 scale. Lo Models also did the first set of individual track links for an M60 that were well received since they were the only game in town. Again, they've been surpassed by more recent offerings and are more of a collector's item (I still have a set). Verlinden also does a Blazer armor set (I have) and a USMC Desert Storm ERA set.

I haven't tried most of the recent AM stuff. I've picked up a few of the Barrel Depot barrels so I can build an improved batch of M60s when the mood hits me again. I believe I have one M60A3 barrel with thermal shroud and one M60A1 without. I've got a pair of old Eduard PE sets (#35073) made for the Tamiya M60A3 tank that look like they would work with any of the M60 series kits on the market.

I do have the AFV Club individual track links for the M48/60/88 (original chevron pattern) that are leaps and bounds beyond the Tamiya/Academy/Trumpeter kit vinyl tracks and the old Lo Model tracks as well. I would be buying the AFV Club T-142 tracks, but it seems a few users from this forum wanted the Tamiya kit tracks in exchange for the Esci/Italeri link & length tracks.

I've seen several engine compartments for the M48 and M60 by Legend as well as add on equipment. Very nice looking stuff, but I've yet to be inclined to pop $50 down to do an engine compartment. I'd spent the money if it included a full vehicle interior though.

I also believe that Model Point makes gun tubes, and I would venture a guess that they are superior to Barrel Depot's.

Tamiya's Modern US Accessories has nice items to hang off an M60 series tank like track blocks (both type), track pads (we stuck these things everywhere), road wheels, etc. and isn't too much money. I don't know if it is still available, but they may still be sitting on shelves at a local shop somewhere.

As far as rating the M60A1/A3 kits out there I would put them in the following order:
Esci M60A3TTS (can build an M60A1 with it)
Esci M60A1
Esci M60A1 'Blazer' (original boxing allowed you to make a normal M60A1)
Tamiya USMC M60A1
Academy M60A1 w/M9 dozer (I don't like their rubber rimmed road wheels)
Tamiya M60A3
Italeri M60 "Blazer" (even though it is the same kit as the Esci one, Italeri deleted some "extra" pieces included in the original Esci/AMT/Ertl boxing that allowed a standard M60A1 to be built so you're stuck to an IDF tank) Regular cupola and plain gun tube come to mind.
old Tamiya M60A1, again, more of a collector's item
Trumpeter M60A1/A3

Now I've seen the Italeri M60A1 in the shop, but have not seen it out of the box so I don't know what they may have removed. I will most likely grab the M60A3 when I see it. I think Revell of Germany will box it.