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ESCI/Ertl | |||
|
ESCI/Ertl | |||
| The most complete
release of the ESCI kits was by the Ertl company under
the name ESCI/Ertl. Over 75 kits were released in this
lineup, with only about a dozen earlier releases not
included. As shown in the following descriptions, I ended
up repeating myself with the praise of many of the kits.
Until recently, ESCI set the standard for quality 1/72nd
scale armor kits. The ESCI/Ertl line of kits saw the
introduction of hard plastic, link and length style
tracks. Many of the ESCI kits are unique. A few are not,
and for those kits, I have tried to add a statement
comparing them to the alternative(s). The first 14 kits
on the list were never released by ESCI/Ertl, but I
include their reviews here for convenience.
Beneath the first table is a second one that list the vehicle-troops combination sets. Note that most of the kits have been re-released by Italeri, and thus some of the reviews found there are applicable to the kits in the list below. |
| Kit Number | Kit Name | Comments | In-Box Previews | Construction Reviews | Articles |
| Fiat Ansaldo 75/18 | One of ESCI's best kits. Superb detail and accuracy. Unfortunately, it is only available with vinyl tracks. | Preview | |||
| Fiat-Ansaldo M13/40 | One of ESCI's best kits. Superb detail and accuracy. Unfortunately, it is only available with vinyl tracks. Gives option to build standard M13/40, or command version of vehicle. | Preview | |||
| KV-1c | Excellent kit. Surface detail is one of ESCI's best. Represents mid-series KV-1 with cast metal turret, and early-style rear hull. | Dave Showell | |||
| M1A1 Abrams | See Abrams Comparison Article. | Doug Chaltry | |||
| M4A3 Sherman | 75mm turret. Late style, 47 degree, wet-stowage hull. | Preview | Albert Boone | ||
| Matilda Mk. II | Exquisitely detailed model. The chassis alone is a kit all of itself. | 172shermans.com | |||
| Panzer 35(t) Skoda | A superb kit. Only available with vinyl tracks, which are quite poor. | Stephen Brezinski | |||
| Panzer II | Represents an Ausf. F. The detail on this kit is abundant. Comes with vinyl tracks, and an Afrika Corps commander figure. | ||||
| Wespe | Based on the Panzer II hull, this kit is also very well detailed. | ||||
| 8300 | Leopard 1 | Dutch version. Rare kit. | |||
| 8301 | Leopard 1 A2 (OTO Leopard) | Overall level of detail is great, but plagued with many sinkholes. Each pair of bogie wheels is represented by a single, double-wide wheel. See Leopard Review Article. | Doug Chaltry | ||
| 8302 | Leopard 1 A3/A4 | Same kit as Leopard 1 A2 (#8301), but with new style turret and side skirts. See Leopard Review Article. | Doug Chaltry | ||
| 8303 | Leopard 1 A1A1 (LEO Turmverkleidung) | Same kit as Leopard 1 A2 (#8301), but with applique armor for the turret, a new gun mantle, and side skirts. See Leopard Review Article. | Doug Chaltry | ||
| 8304 | M163 AAV | M113 with a Vulcan AA gun on the roof. Same comments as below for the vehicle; the Vulcan is fairly basic. It has the right shape, but needs extra detail added to it. | |||
| 8305 | M113 A1 APC | Superb kit. Exterior detail is great. Limited interior detail (walls and floor). Each pair of bogie wheels is represented by a single, double-wide wheel, but with the side skirts on, it is barely noticeable. | Stephen Brezinski | ||
| 8306 | M901 Hammer Head | M113 with a TOW launcher on the roof. Same comments as above for the vehicle; the TOW launcher is fairly basic. It has the right shape, but needs extra detail added to it. | |||
| 8307 | M1 Abrams | Basically a good kit. Better than the Revell and Hasegawa kits in some areas, not as good in others. Each pair of bogie wheels is represented by a single, double-wide wheel. See Abrams Comparison Article. | Doug Chaltry | ||
| 8308 | M4A1 Sherman | A major disappointment. As far as engineering and detail, this is one of ESCI's finest kits. Despite persistent rumors, its scale is mostly accurate to 1/72nd. However, the vehicle represented by this kit never existed. See Article. | Preview | ||
| 8309 | Panzer IV G | The overall level of detail on this kit is pretty good, but I have to score it low on its accuracy. It seems to be a conglomerate of different versions of the Panzer IV. With the exception of the nice chassis on this kit, the Hasegawa Pz IV G is the superior kit. See ESCI Pz. IV Article. | Preview | ||
| 8310 | Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind | Good model, though not as fine as the Hasegawa Wirbelwind. Turret interior has a fair amount of detail, although it could use more. | Preview | ||
| 8311 | Brummbar Sturmpanzer IV | Completely new upper hull on the Pz IV chassis. Excellent kit. Surface detail is top notch, but schurzen are a little heavy. | Preview | Doug Chaltry | |
| 8312 | Jagdpanther | Very good level of detail. The Revell Jagdpanther is molded more cleanly, and has more optional parts, but it has scale issues. Better than Dragon Jagdpanther. | Preview | Rob Haelterman & Rob Pye | |
| 8313 | M4 Sherman Calliope | M4A1 kit (#8308) with the Calliope rocket launcher attached. See the hull problem described above. | Preview | ||
| 8314 | Hummel | ESCI's poorest kit. The overall dimensions of the kit are accurate, but the level of detail is low. A scratchbuilders dream kit. | Preview | ||
| 8315 | M60 A1 | Fair kit of early version M60, with the commander's MG turret. Detail is abundant, but is a little soft. Each pair of bogie wheels is represented by a single, double-wide wheel. | Preview | ||
| 8316 | M60 A2 Starship | Same kit as M60A1 (#8315), but with the A2 turret for the Shellilagh AT missile. | Preview | ||
| 8317 | M60 A3 | Same kit as M60A1 (#8315), but with a new gun barrel. | Preview | Stephen Brezinski | |
| 8318 | M60 Blazer | Same kit as M60A1 (#8315), but with the reactive armor blocks and altered commander's cupola for the Israeli version. | Preview | ||
| 8319 | Jagdpanzer IV | This is the Panzer IV/70 (V) version, with the long cannon. Detail is very good. Comes with ESCI's standard two tank crew figures, one standing and one seated. See Article. | Till Huber | ||
| 8320 | Panzerjager IV Sdkfz 162 | This is the early L/48 version. Basically the same kit as #8319, but with short cannon and side skirts included. See Article. | Doug Chaltry | ||
| 8321 | British Quad Gun Tractor | Excellent kit. Superb overall detail, detailed undercarriage and interior. Driver figure included (in shorts). No clear parts for the multitude of windows. | Preview | ||
| 8322 | M48 A2 | Very good kit of an early version M48A2, with the tension idler wheel between the last road wheel and the drive sprocket. Detail is abundant, and sharper than the M60 kits. Each pair of bogie wheels is represented by a single, double-wide wheel. The instructions do not show it, but provision has been made for the extra return rollers for the Marine version of this vehicle (five vs. three). | |||
| 8323 | Merkava | Very detailed and accurate model. Excellent .50cal MG. Each pair of bogie wheels is represented by a single, double-wide wheel. Better than the Galaxy kit. | Doug Chaltry | ||
| 8324 | Panzer III M | A fairly decent kit, about on par with the Panzer II/Wespe. The detail is abundant, but fairly soft. Not as nice as the Revell kit. See Comparison Article. | Preview | Till Huber | |
| 8325 | Panzer III M/N | Same kit as Pz III M (#8324), but with schurzen plates, and the short-barrelled gun for the Ausf. N. | Preview | ||
| 8326 | M48 A3 | Same M48 kit as all the others, but with a new cupola extension, extra return rollers, and air filter boxes for placement on the rear fenders. | |||
| 8327 | Panzer III Flampanzer | Same kit as Pz III M (#8324), but with a fatter, shorter barrel for the flamethrower. | Preview | ||
| 8328 | Sturmgeschütz III G | Very accurate kit, but the detail is soft. Allows the construction of either the standard StuG III G, or the StuH 42 with the 105mm howitzer. | Preview | Marko Mäkinen | Stephen Brezinski |
| 8329 | M48 A2 GA2 | German version of the A2 version with a 105mm main gun and different turret details. Same comments as M48 A2C (#8336). | Preview | ||
| 8330 | King Tiger | Very good kit. Skimped on the bogie wheels some, but with the side skirts on, it's not noticeable. One full and two half figures are included. Poor tracks. --------------------------------------- If you build the kit OOTB, you will get misaligned drive sprocket teeth. The left and right halves of the drive sprocket (on any given side of the tank) will not line up. - Y.C. Wang |
Preview | Stephen Brezinski | Doug Chaltry |
| 8331 | Jagdtiger | Does not have the proper lengthened hull. Otherwise, same comments as the King Tiger. | Preview | Stephen Brezinski | |
| 8332 | Churchill Mk. IV | Another well made kit. Very detailed; about on par with the Hasegawa kit. Unfortunately, it is a Mk. III, not IV. | Preview | ||
| 8333 | M48 A5 | Late (low profile) version of the A5, with the Urdan cupola and M60 MG. Same kit as previous M48's, with same comments, and a new 105mm main gun. | Preview | ||
| 8334 | T-34/76 1942 | Very good kit at the time of release. Fair detail overall. Early style solid disk wheels. The tracks van be either vinyl or L&L and are very poor. Hull and turret dimensions are mostly accurate but perhaps slightly overscale (1/71?). - B. Probst See Article. |
Preview | ||
| 8335 | T-34/76 1943 | Very good kit at the time of release. |
Preview | ||
| 8336 | M48 A2C | Same kit as M48 A2 (#8322), but with different markings (Israeli). | |||
| 8337 | M106 Mortar Carrier | M113 with a 120mm mortar inside and an optional open or closed roof. Same comments as above for the vehicle; the interior is spruced up a bit with the mortar. The mortar is very well done, and includes all the parts hanging on the vehicle's exterior. | |||
| 8338 | Merkava II | Same kit as #8323 - Merkava, but with add-on armor for the the turret. Same comments as above; the add-on armor is very good. | |||
| 8339 | Churchill AMRCR | The excellent Churchill kit (#8332) with a very good mineroller on front. | Preview | ||
| 8340 | T-62 MBT | Nicely detailed kit, but overscale. The wheels are the major weak spot of this kit. They are the double-wide type, instead of pairs of wheels. | Preview | ||
| 8341 | T-62M MBT | Same kit as #8340, with additional parts (side skirts, etc.) and Middle East markings. | |||
| 8342 | Opel Blitz 3, 6 Ambulance | Same cab and chassis as the standard Opel Blitz truck, with ambulance body. There is no interior to the ambulance body. The exterior detail on the body is simplified. | Preview | ||
| 8343 | Sd.Kfz. 251/7 Pioneer Vehicle | Same comments as kit #8359 - Sd.Kfz.251/1. This version contains the bridging equipment for the engineer version of the vehicle. Bridging parts are well done, but the mounting brackets seem over-simplified. | Preview | ||
| 8344 | Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Rocket Launcher | Same comments as kit #8359 - Sd.Kfz.251/1. This version contains the rocket equipment for the nebelwerfer version of the vehicle. Rockets are not very accurate in shape. | Preview | ||
| 8345 | Sd.Kfz. 251/10 | The "door knocker" version of the 251. Standard 251 hull, with a 37mm AT gun mounted at the front. Same comments as kit #8359 - Sd.Kfz.251/1. | |||
| 8346 | Sd.Kfz. 251/16 Flamethrower | Same comments as kit #8359 - Sd.Kfz.251/1. This version contains the launchers and interior equipment for the flamethrower version of the vehicle. The flamethrower parts are well made, but could use a little more detail. | Stephen Brezinski | ||
| 8347 | Sd.Kfz. 251/8 Armored Ambulance | Same comments as kit #8359 - Sd.Kfz.251/1. This version contains the interior equipment for the ambulance version of the vehicle. Adds a little bit of detail to the interior, but it is still a little sparse. | Preview | ||
| 8348 | Sd.Kfz. 11 3-ton Halftrack | The kit is shaped well, and accurate, but the detail is a little heavy. Interior detail is sparse, but chassis detail is very good. Includes Afrika Corps driver figure. | |||
| 8349 | Sd.Kfz. 11 3-ton Halftrack & Pak 40 | Same vehicle as above (#8348) with the PAK 40 75mm AT gun from the Weapons Set (#8350). | |||
| 8350 | German Weapons Set | Pak 35 (37mm -- labelled as Pak36/37, which does not exist) and Pak 40 (75mm) AT guns are very nice, but the PaK 40 is in full recoil. FLAK 38 (quad 20mm) AA gun could use some more, and finer, details. Crew figures are pretty good. Includes a prone MG 34 gunner and spotter. | |||
| 8351 | Nebelwerfer 41 w/crew | Average kit for detail. Package contains two rocket launchers and two full crews. Crews are dressed in winter parkas. | Al Magnus | ||
| 8352 | Diorama Acc. WWII | A collection of sign posts, power poles, sand bags, barrels, boxes and Normandy beach obstacles. | |||
| 8353 | Iwo Jima | A representation of the flag-raising event on Mount Suribachi. Hard plastic figures. | |||
| 8354 | British 25 Pdr gun & crew | Excellent kit. Outstanding detail. Crew figures are good, and are dressed for the desert. | Doug Chaltry | ||
| 8355 | Opel Blitz | This kit is just a little plain. The cab interior is very bare, and the chassis detail is sparse. Shape and construction are good. | Preview | Danilo Carli | |
| 8356 | US Recce M3 French/Soviet | The White M3A1 Scout Car. Excellent kit. Detail is great, both interior and exterior. Good machineguns, mediocre figures. Walls are a little thick. | Preview | Stephen Brezinski | |
| 8357 | U.S. Light Truck WC 51 3/4 ton | Very good kit. The level of detail is splendid; the undercarriage and chassis are fully detailed, but jacked too high. | Danilo Carli | ||
| 8358 | 37mm GMC M6 | This kit is the same as #8357 but with a 37mm AT gun mounted on the cargo bed. Same comments as above for the truck; the gun is fairly nice, but the shield is very thick. | Doug Chaltry Al Magnus |
||
| 8359 | Sd.Kfz. 251/1 | Kit represents an Ausf. C. It is very accurate in shape, and the exterior detail is very well done. Interior is unfortunately sparse. | Preview | ||
| 8360 | Elefant | Overall level of detail is nice, but there are a couple of minor inaccuracies, and the bogie wheels are represented with single, double-wide wheels. Both Dragon and Trumpeter kits are superior. | Preview | ||
| 8361 | Valentine Mk. II | Superbly detailed kit. The chassis is very well done, but the hard plastic tracks do not fit under the fenders without some sanding and grinding. | Doug Chaltry | ||
| 8362 | M12 155mm SP | Another one of ESCI's finest kits. Detail is without compare. Full gun compartment detail, and an excellent early-style transmission housing. | Preview | Stephen Brezinski | |
| 8363 | Panther A | Good kit. It is better than the Revell kit in some ways, not as good in others. It has excellent surface detail, but the tracks (both vinyl and hard plastic) are poor. Minor scale problems. | Doug Chaltry | ||
| 8364 | Panzer IV H | This is the same kit as #8309 - Panzer IV G. It is not an accurate Ausf. H, just as it is not an accurate Ausf. G either. See ESCI Pz. IV Article. | Preview | ||
| 8365 | Bishop Mk.I | Same comments as the Valentine for the chassis and hull; the box-like turret is excellent, but some of the detail on the gun mantle is a little heavy. | Preview | ||
| 8366 | Opel Blitz w/Flak 38 AA | This is the standard Opel Blitz truck with the quad 20mm mounted in the cargo bed. The AA gun is the same as from the Weapons Set. | Preview | ||
| 8367 | Modern War Accessories | ||||
| 8368 | Panzer IB | The chassis
has a serious issues: the rear engine deck is far too short -- about
5mm (on the model). ESCI must have used the dimensions of a Pz.IA,
not a Pz.IB. However the overall length of the vehicle is correct,
so to make the too-short engine deck "fit" they have introduced
completely spurious upper hull shapes that need to be removed. |
Preview | ||
| 8369 | Sd.Kfz. 250/3 | It represents the 250 Alte. The 250/3 is the command
version with the antenna frame. Although the exterior detail is well-done,
the interior is pretty sparse, but it does include a good radio. The
floor is molded too high, though. The front wheels are incorrect and can be replaced with wheels from ESCI's Nebelwerfer. They were identical to those and to the Pak37 wheels as well. |
|||
| 8370 | Sd.Kfz 265 Panzerbefehlswagen I | The
chassis has a serious issues: the rear engine deck is far too short
-- about 5mm (on the model). ESCI must have used the dimensions of a
Pz.IA, not a Pz.IB. However the overall length of the vehicle is correct,
so to make the too-short engine deck "fit" they have introduced
completely spurious upper hull shapes that need to be removed. The chassis feature the "tropical" modifications used on the vehicles that served in North Africa. The kits do not provide any tools or other "extras" found on the Pz.I -- no jack, no jack block, no crowbars, hooks, or fire extinguisher. The single shovel that is supplied is grossly out-of-scale, and shaped quite oddly for a standard German item. The supplied (hard plastic) tow cable does not really fit where it's supposed to go, which is odd considering how specific its shape is. None of the wartime modifications are supplied -- no Notek headlight, no convoy lights, no rear smoke discharger rack. The prominent antenna rest is incorrectly shaped, with the wrong number of "legs". - B. Probst |
Preview | ||
| 8371 | Sd.Kfz. 250/9 | Comes with enclosed cabin, and 20mm turret. The
turret is very much underscale, and the anti-grenade screen is necessarily
cast as solid pieces with a mesh pattern. The front wheels are incorrect and can be replaced with wheels from ESCI's Nebelwerfer. They were identical to those and to the Pak37 wheels as well. |
|||
| 8372 | Panzerjäger I Pak L/43 | The
chassis has a serious issues: the rear engine deck is far too short
-- about 5mm (on the model). ESCI must have used the dimensions of
a Pz.IA, not a Pz.IB. However the overall length of the vehicle is
correct, so to make the too-short engine deck "fit" they
have introduced completely spurious upper hull shapes that need to
be removed. |
Preview | ||
| 8373 | Sd.Kfz. 250/10 Anti-Tank | The "door knocker" version of the 250.
Standard 250 hull, with a 37mm AT gun mounted at the front. Gun is good,
but interior is still sparse and the floor level is too high. The front wheels are incorrect and can be replaced with wheels from ESCI's Nebelwerfer. They were identical to those and to the Pak37 wheels as well. |
Preview | ||
| 8374 | Marder III | Beautiful kit. Note that the box art on the ESCI/Ertl box shows an early Marder, with a Soviet 76mm gun, but the kit is actually an Ausf. H, as shown on the ESCI box. | Stephen Brezinski | ||
| 8375 | Jagdpanzer Hetzer | The
level of detail represents some of ESCI's best work, including open
hatches (but no interior). Unfortunately it shares the width of the Marder III kit. Whereas the Marder III was based on a PzKpfw 38(t) hull, the hull of the Hetzer was wider. A poor commander figure is included. The wooden block for the jack stands too proud of the fender if not modified. The kit represents a vehicle of the October 1944 production batch: high mounted muffler; late type gun mantlet; no holes in the outer rim of the drive sprocket; late type towing eyes; idler with six holes (which need to be drilled out a bit more); 16-bolt road wheels; bent Schürzen; flush driver's periscope with guard; Pilzen on the roof; extra hatches for the commander and the engine. - R. Haelterman |
Rob Haelterman (Gallery entry; used for conversion) |
Stephen Brezinski |
| The following kits consist of ESCI vehicles from the above table, paired with the ESCI soft vinyl figure sets. The ESCI figures tend to be very well detailed, but with fairly flat poses. |
| Kit Number | Kit Name |
| 8601 | M113 ACAV w/US Special Forces |
| 8602 | M1A1 Abrams w/US Infantry |
| 8603 | Panther A w/Panzergrenadiers |
| 8604 | M4A3 Sherman w/US Paratroopers |
| 8605 | M12 155mm SP w/US Soldiers |
| 8606 | Panzer IV w/Afrika Corps |
| 8607 | M60 A3 w/Modern US Soldiers |
| 8608 | M48 A3 w/US Special Forces |
| 8609 | 3/4-Ton Truck w/WWII US Paratroops |
| 8610 | GMC M6 Truck w/US Infantry |
| 8611 | Opel Blitz w/Afrika Corps |
| 8612 | Opel Blitz w/Flak 38 AA w/German Infantry |
| 8613 | M3A1 Scout Car w/Russian Infantry |
| 8614 | British 25 Pdr w/Tractor & Eighth Army |
| 8615 | T-62 w/Russian Spetsnaz |
| 8616 | T-62 w/Warsaw Pact Soldiers |
| 8617 | Sd.Kfz. 251 w/German Infantry |
| 8618 | Leopard 1A1A1 w/NATO Soldiers |
| 8619 | Bishop Mk.I w/British Soldiers |
| 8620 | Valentine w/Desert Rats |
| 8621 | Elefant w/German Infantry |
| 8622 | Sd.Kfz. 251/1 w/German Paratroopers |
| 8623 | Sd.Kfz. 251 Rocket Launcher w/Paratroops |
| 8624 | Sd.Kfz. 11 w/German Paratroopers |
| 8625 | Churchill Mk IV w/Commandos |
| 8626 | T-34/76 1943 w/Russian Assault Troops |
| 8627 | M113 ACAV w/NATO Troops |
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