Anyone know if the Ertl or Ertl/Esci kit is the same asthe actual Esci one?? I know the Esci one is now done by Italeri..........

The Ertl kits are the same molds as the Esci ones. There maybe different decal options but that's about it.

Chris "toadman" Hughes
Toadman's Tank Pictures

Yup, same kit. As you probably know, they are the most accurate of the lot of M60 kits out there. Great kits.

best place to pick them up is on Ebay as I don't think they are in production anymore. Sabot and I have managed to pick them up for a while most of the time for under $10

As already confirmed ,they are one in the same. Esci to Ertl/Esci, to Italeri. Italeri now has the M60 in 3 different config. M60A1, M60 Blazer, & M60A3 TTS. They are all origonally kitted by Esci, and still the most accurate starting point to model a Patton.

Italeri only reboxes the M60 Blazer and M60A1. Revell of Germany reboxes the old Esci M60A3TTS and charges twice as much for it.

I bought most of my M60 Blazer kits at a Big Lots store that clearanced them out at $4.99 back in the late 1990s. The Blazer kit is the same kit as the M60A1 but includes an additional sprue that adds the IDF armor, gun tube and Urdan cupola parts.

The M60A3TTS kit has quite a few detail differences from the M60A1 kit (gun tube, LRF, doghouse, smoke grenade launchers). Too bad those differences weren't included on a separate sprue as well.

and what about academy´s ones?

What combo does one need to get a Marine m60a1 from Desert Storm built? Can it be done from a Blazer kit, or what?

From what I have read so far, Esci is the way to go for at least the best, most correct lower hull. Single piece lower hull with much better details and fit, versus everyone else with their mega piece lower hulls.
Academy is a copy of Tamiya so both will be the same.

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

Academy's is a slightly improved Tamiya copy. Same poor hull and and fit problems.

You can not get a USMC M60A1 from the Blazer model. The Blazer is an Israeli version and the ERA blocks are different from the USMC ones. To get a USMC M60A1w/ERA , you would have to add the ERA blocks from either Tamiya or Academy to the Esci/Italeri M60A1 model.

Here is a comparison of M60 model kits .

Nice Timing Gino!!!!

Thnx Gino, now I know what I need to be looking for.

As stated, the armor packages are completely different. Unfortunately, you can't make a USMC Desert Storm (minus ERA) with either the Revell/Esci M60A3TTS or Italeri/Esci M60A1 or Blazer straight from the box.

You need the plain barrel from the M60A1 or Blazer kit, the late style air cleaners and smoke grenade launchers from the M60A3TTS kit. Then you need the armor package from either the Tamiya USMC M60A1 or Academy USMC M60A1.

You can also use the late fittings and armor from the Academy or Tamiya kits to add to the Blazer kit to get an accurate ODS USMC M60A1. This is probably the optimal (cheapest) solution.

Additionally, you can start with the Revell/Esci M60A3TTS, and add the barrel and armor from the Tamiya or Academy kits (or an aluminum barrel) to make the USMC M60A1.

Guess great minds think alike!!

Gotta love when you have a bunch of guys all posting the same thing at the same time.

You might have a point !
very interesting, thanks.

Thanks for the info, both Gino and Robin!
Let me make sure I'm on the same page with you guys....
I think the easiest way for me, is to get the Academy 1349 kit and watch for an Esci kit on ebay , use it's lower hull and I will be set...Correct???

No, use the entire Esci/Italeri kit and just use the detail parts from the Academy kit like the armor, grenade launchers, air cleaners and road wheels.

Thanks!!!

A bit off topic question, or not...
Was the M60 used by any country outside NATO, some bad guys?

Pedro

M60 series tanks have been used by many countries around the world. Don't think any have been deliberately sold to any of our enemies though. Some may have fallen into their hands as a result of battle though. The biggest users are Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. A bunch of other NATO countries use/used them as well.

Check Patton-Mania for more info.

An Iranian officer defected to Russia with a brand new (at the time) M60A1.

Thanks for instant answers Gino and Sabot !
I wonder if the russians repainted the accuired Patton in russian green

Cheers
Pedro