I’ve been searching and digging to find out what is the best starting point for a project. The USMC M60A1 of 78-79 is the subject.
Rob G. said a couple years ago, “The best M60A1 is the Ertl/Esci M60A1(5039). The main problem with this kit if you use it for a Desert Storm tank is the lack of USMC ERA, the road wheels are the older “finned” aluminum road wheels, the aircleaners are the older side-loading style and the kit does not include smoke grenade launchers or storage boxes. This kit was recently reissued by Italeri as kit number 6397. If you pick up the Tamiya or Academy kit for the ERA, you can also borrow the proper road wheels, grenade equipment and air cleaners.”
Will the Italeri kit build what I looking for? What might the problems with this kit be?
The Italeri kit builds into a mid M60A1. The M60A1 has the greatest width of variations out of all of the M6o-series tanks. Late 70s to early 80s would be appropriate for this kit. I hesitate to say it would be an early M60A1 because the tracks are the later style.
Thanks, Rob. It is to be shown as used in amph mnvrs in the Med, so it’s probably the correct form?? I believe the RISE Passive would have been employed by this point.
How about the late 80’s Tamiya issue of the M-60A1/M-60A3 kit? Pre reactive armor and with parts for either variant, main gun tube, sights, range finder, etc… It does come with the later style tracks and if I recall right the snorkel for wading too.
That kit is good for an M60A1 RISE/Passive or M60A3TTS used right into the 1990s with one exception. The road wheels represent the early finned style aluminum wheels. While the A3 was originally delivered with aluminum wheels, the smooth steel wheels were intermixed as the old style wore out. The late style tracks keep this as a late M60A1 even though it also includes the earlier style aircleaners.
The USMC M60A1 w/ERA is virtually the same kit as the M60A3/A1, but they replace the aluminum road wheels with steel road wheels and add the ERA and new figures. Out of box it won’t build into an early M60A1, but will still build into an M60A3TTS. It’s a better value than the original M60A3 kit.
One more thing to bother you with Rob, then I’m done. The Interweb is telling me that RISE/Passive is an armor upgrade. I thought Reliability Improvement of Selected Equipment/Passive IR scopes had nothing to do with the Explosive Reactive Armor that was added later. Passive eliminated the box near the gun correct?
RISE/Passive improved the engine, fire control and added passive night sights. It had nothing to do with the reactive armor. The box near the main gun is the searchlight. It was still in use with the passive sights and is normally a quick visual aid to identify the late M60A1 RISE/Passive from the M60A3TTS.
My experiences on the M60 series was over in 1989 but include time on the M60 AVLB, M48 AVLB, CEV, and M60A3TTS. I have some limited experience on an M60A1 RISE/Passive, but nothing memorable.
I was reading that sight and some others, as well as some things other people had to say. I got a little confused by all the misinformation the interweb is filled with. Thanks again Rob.
I am building a Desert Storm M60A1 and started with the Eshi M60A1 because everyone said their kit was the most accurate. I then bought the Tamiya M60A1with ERA for the armor and the roadwheels. I found out by compairing the two kits that the Eshi hull was indeed more accurate. However the Tamiya turret was as accurate and was better molded and the detail was crisper. The gun tube for the Eshi kit is incorrect. The area between the bore evacuator and the gun shield is wrong, not even close. The only parts I used from the Eshi turret was the lifting rings on the cupula. I would highly recommend using the Tamiya M60A3 or the ERA version for the turret if you are serious about accuracy and detail. Greg
Tamiya first came out with the M60A1 a zilloin years ago and the quality is not up to todays standards. Later they updated the kit when they did the M60A3. They redid the turret and the new turret was the best of any of the M60 kits available-my opinion. It is not perfect(missing the cupula lifting rings) but none of the M 60 kits are. Between the Eshi kit and the Marines M60A1 with ERA I believe you can make an M60A1 rise passive. Use the Eshi roadwheels for the early M60A1 rise passive. Years later they changed to steal roadwheels that come in the Tamiya kit. Use the Tamiya aircleaners. Other parts that I thought were best were the Tamiya headlights, tow pendel mounts, phone box, gun tube travel lock, and inspection plates on the rear under the grill doors. Greg
Good info. I’ll get some images, maybe, here so you can see what exactly it is that I am trying to do. The pictures are in slide form so I don’t know if I will be able to show you.