/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6Bbox.JPG
Academy has been releasing many IDF kits for a long time. This update of the M-60 Patton always grabbed my attention as it seemed to be the love child of the Patton and Merkava IV. Upon opening the box, we see a mixture of sprues, some ancient, some old, and some spanking new using slide molds.
------------------------------------
Aside from the sprues, which come very well packages in their own cellophane bags, there is the instruction sheet, a separate painting and decal guide, vinyl tracks, a sprue of poly caps, some string, decals, and several warning pamphlets.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueAfront.JPGAbove and below, both sides of Sprue A marked 1998 from the M48A5K release. This provides the correct M-48 type wheels.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueArear.JPG
The real vehicle is an evolution of armor upgrading by the Israelis to meet their needs. Modular armor has been added and Merkava tracks used to deal with the rocky terrain.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueBfront.JPGAbove and below, Sprue B from the 1990 M60 release. Note the motorizations slots!
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueBrear.JPG
Surprisingly, the kit offers a very old hull with motorization holes, slots, and battery cradle within. While three new sprues are included, none address filling in the slots or replacing the differentials.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueCfront.JPGAbove and below, Sprue C also from the 1990 M-60 release.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueCrear.JPG
The fit on the older items is not very good and filling will be required.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueEfront.JPGAbove and below, Sprue C from the 1998 M60A1 with Blazer release.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueErear.JPG
The newly tooled items do fit better and the increased sharpness of the moldings is evident when placed near the older sprues.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueHfront.JPGAbove and below, Sprue H from the 1998 M60A1 with Blazer release.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueHrear.JPG
Several options are provided as well as crew members and position-able hatches.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueKfront.JPGAbove and below, the newly tooled Sprue K. Note the slide molding along the top edge.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueKrear.JPG
Several types of weapons are in the kit and a lots of items are marked “not for use.”
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueLfront.JPGAbove and below, newly tooled Sprue L. Again, slide molding is evident along the top edge.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueLrear.JPG
As for aftermarket, one can replace the weapons, tracks, differentials, idlers, and a myriad of items but they simply add to the cost.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueMfront.JPGAbove and below, newly tooled Sprue M with slide molding along the top and one side (for the tow cable eyes).
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueMrear.JPG
The tracks need to be joined by the hot screwdriver method to melt the pins.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueTracks1.JPGMerkava type vinyl tracks are included./gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueTracks2.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueXtra.JPGSome string is included for tow cable.
Below are the decals and poly caps.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSpruexTras.JPG
Lower hull.../gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxLowerHull1.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxLowerHull2.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxLowerHull3.JPG
Upper hull...
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxUpperHull1.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxUpperHull2.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxUpperHull3.JPG
The following are detail images of the parts:
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail01.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail02.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail03.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail04.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail05.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail06.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail07.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail08.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail09.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail10.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail11.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail12.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail13.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail14.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail15.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail16.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail17.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail18.JPG
Above and below, note that the oval plug is much shorter than the hole it is intended to fill. The rectangular one should not be used as the belly armor using it as a locating guide.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail19.JPG
In conclusion, the nicely done new sprues are let down by the ancient hull. I get the feeling that I should save the parts for when AFV Club finally releases their M60.
Academy has been releasing many IDF kits for a long time. This update of the M-60 Patton always grabbed my attention as it seemed to be the love child of the Patton and Merkava IV. Upon opening the box, we see a mixture of sprues, some ancient, some old, and some spanking new using slide molds.
------------------------------------
Aside from the sprues, which come very well packages in their own cellophane bags, there is the instruction sheet, a separate painting and decal guide, vinyl tracks, a sprue of poly caps, some string, decals, and several warning pamphlets.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueAfront.JPGAbove and below, both sides of Sprue A marked 1998 from the M48A5K release. This provides the correct M-48 type wheels.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueArear.JPG
The real vehicle is an evolution of armor upgrading by the Israelis to meet their needs. Modular armor has been added and Merkava tracks used to deal with the rocky terrain.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueBfront.JPGAbove and below, Sprue B from the 1990 M60 release. Note the motorizations slots!
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueBrear.JPG
Surprisingly, the kit offers a very old hull with motorization holes, slots, and battery cradle within. While three new sprues are included, none address filling in the slots or replacing the differentials.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueCfront.JPGAbove and below, Sprue C also from the 1990 M-60 release.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueCrear.JPG
The fit on the older items is not very good and filling will be required.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueEfront.JPGAbove and below, Sprue C from the 1998 M60A1 with Blazer release.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueErear.JPG
The newly tooled items do fit better and the increased sharpness of the moldings is evident when placed near the older sprues.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueHfront.JPGAbove and below, Sprue H from the 1998 M60A1 with Blazer release.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueHrear.JPG
Several options are provided as well as crew members and position-able hatches.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueKfront.JPGAbove and below, the newly tooled Sprue K. Note the slide molding along the top edge.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueKrear.JPG
Several types of weapons are in the kit and a lots of items are marked “not for use.”
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueLfront.JPGAbove and below, newly tooled Sprue L. Again, slide molding is evident along the top edge.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueLrear.JPG
As for aftermarket, one can replace the weapons, tracks, differentials, idlers, and a myriad of items but they simply add to the cost.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueMfront.JPGAbove and below, newly tooled Sprue M with slide molding along the top and one side (for the tow cable eyes).
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueMrear.JPG
The tracks need to be joined by the hot screwdriver method to melt the pins.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueTracks1.JPGMerkava type vinyl tracks are included./gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueTracks2.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSprueXtra.JPGSome string is included for tow cable.
Below are the decals and poly caps.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BSpruexTras.JPG
Lower hull.../gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxLowerHull1.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxLowerHull2.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxLowerHull3.JPG
Upper hull...
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxUpperHull1.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxUpperHull2.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxUpperHull3.JPG
The following are detail images of the parts:
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail01.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail02.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail03.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail04.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail05.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail06.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail07.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail08.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail09.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail10.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail11.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail12.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail13.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail14.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail15.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail16.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail17.JPG
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail18.JPG
Above and below, note that the oval plug is much shorter than the hole it is intended to fill. The rectangular one should not be used as the belly armor using it as a locating guide.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/AcademyMagach6BxxDetail19.JPG
In conclusion, the nicely done new sprues are let down by the ancient hull. I get the feeling that I should save the parts for when AFV Club finally releases their M60.