While checking Missing Lynx our fellow armor site I found out that the afv M60 is not an accurate Marine tank. Read Mike's post link below. It is too early a model the Marines got their 60s 15 years into the production run. It will make a fine US Army tank in OD or 7th Army cammo (my plan).

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47209/message/1422468701/Spoiler+alert+for+Jarheadphiles%2C+non-USMC+features.

Tom

PS sorry for the mis-spelling been up all night at work time to crash.

Bump.

I think there will be a few aftermarket companies jumping on the USMC M60A1 specific details to get the kit squared away.

The MASSTER camouflage will be great to paint...on my to do list for sure.

Lawrence Goh from Echelon Fine Details would be a great source to pitch for some accurate M60A1 decals for OD and MASSTER paint schemes.

I don't have my Hunnicut book available but wondering about timing/era on a few things....

The pressure gauge on the air cleaner.

And the various time frames for the transition to top loading air cleaners and then armored air cleaners.

Octagonal tracks.

When did the drivers periscope/hatch change to the newer version.

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This issue reminded me why I joined the Army in the first place. I had been looking into the Marines and while in the recruiters office glanced at Leatherneck magazine and saw the Marines were getting M60A1s, this was late 76. So I figured If I want to be a tanker I should join the service that gets the newest tanks first. The rest is history as they say.

When My Sheridan was replaced by a new M60 in mid 1978 it had the new drivers hatch and the passive drivers periscope. My guess would be the new hatches came out on RISE passives late some time in 77. I was in the 11th ACR and we had priority for new equipment. The older drivers hatches with the rotating mount could not fit the passive scope. On rebuilt M60A3s they were replaced with a welded plug with the new mount.

Something I observed when relacing a mantle cover was the cheek pieces were no more the 1/2 inch thick they were mostly there to make fitting the cover easier.

Oh and my tank had armored air cleaners with out the dirty filter indicators. It also had blower motors which were deleted on the A3s. Blower motors acted as a pre-cleaner to remove large particles before they reached the filters. The tank was deadlined if one side had both motors out. Just some dino rider tidbits.

I posted some pictures in the other M60 Thread

Tom