Well I am finally building the kit and have a few questions:

1. From what time frame was the M60 with blazer armour in the IDF ? Was it concurrent with a Merk 2 ( my other kit)

2. In the kit there are 2 gun barrels, one with a relatively smooth barrel and the other with bands. Which is more realitic for the time the tank was in use by the IDF?

3. The kit also has 2 options for commander's hatch in the turret. One that is relativley flush to the top of the turret and the other that is raised. Were there 2 models of hatch? wWhich is more realistic for the time frame ?

4. There is a stretcher that is placed over the front side. What colour would it be in real life ?

5. Any paint colour suggestions for the tank ? The kit suggests a khaki colour for most of it.

I can answer three of your questions about the kit.

#2 The blazer version would have the thermal wrapped gun tube.

#3 The Israelis removed the US cupola and replaced it with a lower silouetted cupola. so use the lower one.

#5 I used Testors Model Master's #1706 FS33531 SAND for the M50 and M51 I built.

PH

VICBC,
I can do all 5 ?
#1 The IDF feilded the M60 Blazer just prior to 1982 Lebanon conflict. and they run concurrent w/ present IDF armor units next to the Merkava.
#2 The smooth barrel is the L7A2 105mm non thermal sleeve, which was the first mod, then came the jacketed one hence thermal sleeve, which is now the current type on late mod M60's, w/ all the bells and whistles ie: blaxer armor, side loading air filters, dual .50's above the main gun, FN FAL loader and comm. weapons, updated night sights , Merkava type wheels and tracks NOTE (check referances for the actual fit )
#3 The lower cupula is the IDF Urdan type. correct for all.
#4 The strectcher is aluminum frame w/ green or khaki nylon.
#5 IDFmodeling,com gives paint cross referance for all shades and time periods.

Hope this helps Todd

Thanks all for the great answers..

VIC,
Your welcome. There are a lot of different ways to do the mods your looking for, and I dont think the Italeri kit has all of what you need to do it. BUT I could be wrong.
The concord books on the IDF and the Osprey books on the IDF m have some great photos. And you can check out IDF.com web for all kinds of pics and models.
GOOD LUCK and just ask if you need more.

Hi Vicbc, checkout my site there is a M60 reference page and an article to build one of the last BLazer tanks.

www.homestead.copm/shiryon/index.html
Joshua Weingarten
IDF armour group JAnitor