Hi guys,

i am interested to buy 1/35 M60A1. Found out that both Academy and Tamiya have their own versions.

Can I have some feel on which is better?

Actually if you want good M60A1, get Italeri kit. Academy is just modified and improved version of Tamiya kit and this kit, while not bad, has some accuracy problems.

The best M60A1 kit accuracy-wise was old ESCI kit and this is what is now sold in Italeri box. There are just two potential issues with ESCI/Italeri kits. One is that driver's hatch is molded integrally with the hull, so major surgery and some scratchbuilding is needed if you want to have the hatch open in your model. The other problem is that some or road wheels in Italeri kit have sink holes on them, at least my two kits had them. Nothing that a bit of mud weathering couldn't hide!

EDIT: But maybe you are looking for USMC version with reactive armor?...

Pawel

Yes, I am looking for a USMC with reactive armor and that's how i spotted the Tamiya's.

However, 2 experiences b4 make me consider putting this topic up:

M113 academy definitely better than Tamiya's

M2 Bradley (old, old version..) actually contains a interior while the later desert version give none at all (which is quite silly, since the nice bit about building IFV/APC is to allow peek into the interior)

So, any advice on the M60?

In such case choose Academy. As I wrote before the tank itself is modified and improved copy of Tamiya, but armor parts are genuine Academy and not the same as Tamiya ones. I believe I heard some opinions that Academy armor parts are better, but I have never compared them.

ESCI/Italeri never released a kit with US reactive armor, but I personally plan to combine tank parts from Italeri with armor parts from Tamiya to get more accurate model.

Pawel

Yes, given the choice between the Tamiya USMC M60A1 (35157), Academy USMC M60A1 (1349) and Academy USMC M60A1 w/M9 dozer blade (1390), I'd chose the one with the dozer blade. The Academy ones are the same kit and roughly the same price. Tamiya's is usually a little more.

Gunze Sanyo makes a multimedia USMC M60A1 but it is expensive and OOP. They also sold the armor as an add on white metal upgrade kit. Both are more collector's items now and you'd end up paying premium prices for the kit.

Trumpeter did a poor copy of the USMC M60A1. Very bad kit, avoid it at all costs. It has been found in Wasan boxes as well.

Hi Dan

I just finished building the academi m60a1 with blazor armour. I found this a great kit to build, comes with a lot of extra's like two extra machine guns, 2 extra ammo belts for the guns, two big ammo boxes, about 5 jerrycans, two different commander hatches, choise of barrel, a lot of machine guns and options how to place them...
The tracks are in one piece, but they look just fine once painted. I had no difficulties and all parts fitted well. Kit comes with two figures, the commander which looks great and a driver or loader, which looks less detailed.

I'm not a rivet counter, it looks like an m60 so I'm happy , and with all the armour, machineguns and extra's attached she's one impressive beast!!!

I can recommend this one!
Will put some pics online tonight, check my gallery a bit later!

Yes, but he's looking for a US Marine M60A1 and the kit you have is the Israeli M60A1. Slight difference in fittings, base kit will be about 80% the same though.

I am currently buildig the ERTL/AMT m60a1 Blazer kit. It has kit parts to build an old M60a1 (my choice) and a separate sprue for all the Israeli "Blazer" stuff. I also have the Academy dozer M60a1. Either of those kits are quite good with lots of optional parts to do different versions......sort of a early 3 in 1 kit :-)

Hi Dan,

Below is the link related to your question;
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/44258&page=1

Hope this helps, BTW, I bought the Academy version...

Thanks guys! Definitely useful analysis!

Warvos, looking forward to your pics!

Cheers to all!