Takom 1/72 M60's Double your pleasure, double your fun....

[RichB]

The lower hull assembly for the M60A1. The tracks and wheels can be removed for painting.

The underside with the gaps and joint between the upper and lower hulls filled with Tamiya putty and smoothed using pointed cotton swabs and nail polish remover.

Before joining the hull halves, I built the tracks and wheels up as one piece so they can be removed for painting. With the wheels set in place on the lower hull, the link and length tracks were glued to the wheels as the track was assembled. Left to dry overnight, they were removed to assemble the hull.

Now to do the same for the M60A3.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[moon puppy]

 

[razordws]

 

[RichB]

Primed and ready for paint. Both have some stowage in the turret basket. The Italian M60A1 RISE will be overall green. The M60A3 will be in the Greek interpretation of MERDC. It also has the ID panels added to the front right side of the turret, the left rear of the turret basket and air ID panel on the aft turret roof. For exercises, panels with orange or magenta circles, triangles or squares wereattached to to identify units, formations, friend or foe.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[Rhino]

It isn't easy to tell they are 1/72. Very detailed little Pattons!

 

[RichB]

I think we can call these done.

Hellinic Army M60A3 TTS
In 1992-93 Greece received 358 M60A1s and 312 M60A3s from surplus US stocks due to CFE Treaty constraints and introduction of the M1A1. Most arrived in the MERDC Winter Verdant scheme, some very faded and worn, with most still sporting thier US markings. A small numer were received in the overall CARC Green scheme. The US markings were over painted with the darker Greek colours resulting in a very patchy look. Eventually they were all repainted in the Greek colours as they went thru overhaul. The M60s were retired in 2015.

Italian Army M60A1 RISE/Passive
In the late 1970s to mid 1980s Italy license built 200 M60A1s and received an additional 100 surplus vehicles from the US. In December 1992 Italy deployed troops to Somalia (ITALFOR IBIS 1 & 2) as part of UNITAF including armoured patrol and personnel carriers and 10 M60A1s. As the situation deteriorated in early 1993 and the ambush of Italian units at the Battle of the Pasta Factory in July, the decision was made to improve the armoured protection of vehicles from close range RPGs with passive armour. Italy had programs to upgrade their light amoured vehicles underway and were accelerated. At the time only the IDF Blazer and US ERA upgrades were available for the M60. Due to time constraints the decision was taken to lease 10 M60A1 RISE/Passive vehicles from USMC stocks in the Quantico Depot. Following an inspection by an Italian representative, they were painted in the overall CARC Green. When they arrived in Somalia in late 1993 it was noticed the US serial numbers had been reapplied. The crews quickly overpainted the numbers to ensure they wouldn't be identified as US troops. When ITALFOR withdrew in March 1994 they were returned to US forces in Somalia.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[moon puppy]

Holy Cow Rich! Wonderful finish on both!

 

[Rhino]

Nicely done, Indeed sir.

 

[helios]

Cool little buggers.

 

[razordws]

Nicely done Rich!!!