I really enjoy building ESCI models, especially their 1/72nd line of aircraft kits (their F-16 kits are my favorite). It's good to see that Italeri is keeping their better molds in production.
@d.pierce.68204 жыл бұрын
I built many of the tanks for my son in the '80s, but the ESCI product he really liked were the boxes of soldiers-he had all the major combatants of WW2, and we would set up massive battles that spread across the floor. All those soldiers, and the tanks and planes are waiting down in the basement for his son to get old enough to play with them....
@bocagoodtimes14603 жыл бұрын
That's great! Saving them for the next generation to play with!
@KuvDabGib2 жыл бұрын
My first ESCI was F-14A, (1:72) omg .. i was blown away, i still remember how many days i have spent gathering all paints, tools, planning how to do it.. one of the happiest periods of my childhood for sure!
@akaneko21654 жыл бұрын
I did alot of tabletop gaming in the early 80's and the ESCI 1-72 armor and figures were huge. I built many of their tanks along with Matchbox.
@bocagoodtimes14603 жыл бұрын
I had so many Matchbox tanks plus Hot Wheels! and they were perfect for the battlefield!
back in my days i collected several 1/72 armor kits, now i have a ketenkrad, kubelwagen the bmw and the zundapp solo and with side car, love those big bikes
@mbryson28994 жыл бұрын
The Squadron Shop in Chicagoland (83 & North Avenue flooded a couple of times in the late 70s. I bought TONS of 1/72 armor, vehicles, and infantry...mostly ESCI...at a flood damage discount. Good times for me. (And great music, as usual!)
@maxsmodels4 жыл бұрын
I went to the one in Maryland near DC. I loved that place.
@bibia666Ай бұрын
Flood damage kits sounds like a good deal (shame for the shop owner 😢... But for the consumer it can be advantageous 😉... My old house burned down when I was 10, mom&dad had a shop in front, luckily no one got injured and insurance was good..., so no biggie 😉). The plastic can handle water and if one (and who doesn't 😅) has saved decals there is a good deal to be made 😊 Greetings bibia
@ualuuanie4 жыл бұрын
I got a few ESCI kits but the 1 that make me always remember ESCI a was a Diaroma with 2 tanks and 2 units of soldiers in 72nd scale that my mom bought for me on my 20th birthday during the 70s.
@farpointgamingdirect4 жыл бұрын
I built the 1/12 scale F-16 cockpit model, but mine was branded AMT. I must've spent an entire month studying the drawings trying to figure out how to assemble this model and paint it. In the end, I threw the instructions out and used books, technical drawings, and aviation magazines to build it. Took me two years, but in the end, I had a model I was extremely proud of.
@tsfullerton4 жыл бұрын
I remember those separate track links were going to drive me nuts.
@16Tango4 жыл бұрын
When my father was stationed in Germany in the mid 80's I built quite a few ESCI 1/72 scale tank kits to go along with my 1/72 scale soldiers, I have the "82nd Screaming Eagles" box still. I never thought too much about how they went together, I just needed support for my troops.
@vincentrathbone264 жыл бұрын
ESCI kits were ( are ) absolutely brilliant, their 1/72 scale armor is outstanding and 1/35 scale figures are awsome.
@97SEMTEX4 жыл бұрын
I'm not really massively into model making, but I find your video's endlessly fascinating, please keep them coming.
@maxsmodels4 жыл бұрын
thanks
@ant48124 жыл бұрын
I built loads of ESCI stuff back in the day. Their aircraft models were great, some of their 1/35 vehicles less so. Now I know why some of their kits were so different in style. Cheers Max!
@michaelemberley27674 жыл бұрын
ESCI was a real ray of sunshine for braille scale armour modellers. Such a wonderful variety of lesser known vehicles as well as the old favourites. Pretty decent on the accuracy although they did tend to simplify suspensions, especially on their modern tanks. I was pretty sad when I noticed them disappearing from the hobby shops.
@bocagoodtimes14603 жыл бұрын
I loved their 1/72 Troops..I had so many sets! Thousands of troops fought on my battlefields ....on my tables of sand! I still have many of them. I collected several Vietnam boxes..those and the Afrika Corp were my favorites.
@billmurray21534 жыл бұрын
Hi Max. Love your channel. Yes, I am Fred's son and loved Chris.
@CAPNMAC824 жыл бұрын
Wow, so many memories of ESCI kits. Particularly the oddballs like the 1 ton semi-track with 75mm feldhaubitz.
@13bravo724 жыл бұрын
Nice video as usual. Always wondered what happened to Esci. Built a 1/35th Esci T72, while I was stationed in Germany from 88 to 91. Bought it athe a local hobby shop off post in Bamberg. I think I got the kit in 89. Pretty easy build, if I remember correctly, except for the tracks.. I used a USAEUR vehicle recognition book on Russian Armor they gave us, (it had tons of pics of T72's) as guide on some of the details. Although it was painted in a Russian flat green, one of the officers in my Battery used it in a class on vehicle recognition prior to us deploying to Desert Shield. I bought another Esci T72, with the thought of building a diorama of an abandoned Iraqi T72, but it never materialized. Sold it to another model builder in my unit before PCSing stateside to Fort Ord, CA. Interestingly enough the assembled one did make it stateside in one piece. I packed up my models real well. They all made it to my former home in Pennsylvania😄 Sadly their all gone.
@MJKToys4 жыл бұрын
I LOVED the ERTL ESCI F-4 B/J Phantom from VF-111. It may not have been super accurate or complex but it went together well.
@musmo4 жыл бұрын
Grazie, Max! It’s nice to revive a little of good the old Italy ☺️
@tomdynia99514 жыл бұрын
I built a bunch of their 1/72 armor also their 1/72 WW1 aircraft (still have a few of those in the stash). And I was a big, big fan of their aftermarket decals. As I recall, sometimes their was a theme for that, sometimes a random assortment of aircraft whose markings just happened to fit together on a sheet of paper. And yes, sometimes I would buy and build a kit just because I had found some decals that matched a scheme I had seen in a Profile and had wanted to have for years.
@richardkappes61124 жыл бұрын
Always loved there kits, Had some nice stuff produced by anyone else love 1/72 armor series
@williamreynolds94144 жыл бұрын
So here I am in Canada, stay at home, staying safe and just loving your videos. So informative. I run down to the basement and just have to touch all the ESCI boxes (still unopened) and the Italeri and so many more. I thought I was weird because I have 20 to 300 unopened models, but apparently that is normal for old plastic model makers. May I post some manufacturers that I have, but are either rare or never heard of.
@MartintheTinman4 жыл бұрын
Yes, I made their Aermacchi MB326H. I would have made their Mirage IIIO but didn't know of it's existence back in the day There weren't many OOB R.A.A.F. aircraft kits back in the day I have even sat in a Macchi when I was in the Air Training Corp. Being 186cm (just shy of six two) it wasn't very easy
@mrains1004 жыл бұрын
Once again, another great video. Thank you!
@fredhettesheimer4044 жыл бұрын
I built a few of their 1/72 diorama kits back in the '70's. My friends and I would table top war games with them. Your videos bring back a lot of good memories thanks Max another Great job
@DickieDelouise4 жыл бұрын
Fantastic 🙂 I've always like Esci kits. Always nice to build, and good, useful details🙂
@panzer-head4 жыл бұрын
I loved the ESCI M-113 Hammerhead I built during Desert Storm. I even added a long antenna, and Coalition Forces Chevron. I've got an ESCI T-55 somewhere. These were great models at very reasonable prices. Miss those days!
@guillermopelaez58594 жыл бұрын
I still have the Viggen in 1/48... Y even bought a resin ejection seat and a set of aftermarket decals for it in preparation... one day I will get brave enough to tackle that camo... one day... Great to hear the story, yet another from the past... Thanks a lot!
@rubensandri7404 жыл бұрын
Beautiful, thanks so much.
@larrydee88594 жыл бұрын
Nice video! I remember building a few 1/72nd scale armor, as well as Japanese ordenince. Thanks for sharing.
@moosay46064 жыл бұрын
Another marvelous, entertaining and extremely informative video. Good on you, man
@maxsmodels4 жыл бұрын
thanks
@kruaxiilferengi3 жыл бұрын
Thanks from Italy: your historic lessons are amazing.
@JavierSanchezdelRio4 жыл бұрын
Love those kits, I still have two or three armor kits in the stash. 1/72
@kennyswonger52274 жыл бұрын
Hi max.just listening more about kits.I've never heard of.your a good narrator. And thanks again from Ohio
@PiperStart4 жыл бұрын
Built several Esci tanks - great quality.
@Ynffy4 жыл бұрын
The tanks and AFV's were superb for their time and you could often find some ESCI figures to go along with them in dioramas (or if you played with them).
@kenshores99004 жыл бұрын
Ynffy I can see that. I never was into the diagrams. Just enjoyed building them for their significance. I did have a phase where I built every single surface to air missile built. There were some good models.
@vincentrathbone264 жыл бұрын
Back in the late 70's, early 80's I was obsessed with ESCI tanks, the detail was and still is outstanding and I also had the El Alamein battle set.
@williamporter75964 жыл бұрын
Good to know more about the ESCI history after building a few of their kits over the kits.
@joakimkarlsson92554 жыл бұрын
Italeri have recently been selling both their own mold for the 1/72 scale C-47, as well as the ESCI mold. They look very similar, with the biggest difference being how the parts are layed out on the sprues. They´re both very nice kits. I built the ESCI as a kid, and am now building the Italeri kit as a Swedish air force TP-79 (the Swedish designation).
@glenngilbert65134 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed building ESCI's 35th scale Nebelwerfer as kid in the 80s. Their 72nd scale armor kits were generally good. I always wanted to try ESCI's 48th scale jets, but it seems that every time I walked out of the shop with a jet, it was always Revell/Monogram or Hasegawa.
@AriesStyreneBistro4 жыл бұрын
always wondered about their history and we all have made an ESCI and probably never known it lol
@larrythorn47154 жыл бұрын
Used to love their whole line of 1/72 scale kits. Maybe they weren't the 'best' or the 'fanciest' but I always felt like they were good, honest, enjoyable kits to build.
@Niskan402 жыл бұрын
The Cessna 172 is so far (currently building it) a great model, fits are good and details are amazing for the time.
@rundoetx4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for posting. Keep up the good work Maximus
@emptyentertainments79144 жыл бұрын
Greatly enjoy your history of these companies including the people who created these.
@ЗнаменосецВечности4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video maxmodels! Very well done and informative as usual. Keep it up!
@Habu124 жыл бұрын
One of my favorite kits of all time is their 1/72 F-5A/B. A Gem! You can still get that kit to this day, in RoG boxings.
@roadstarman584 жыл бұрын
I was withing for individual link tracks on their 1/72 scale tanks after building a Stug III and it looked like it had about ten extra links per side. On the other hand, the Italian M75/18 had tracks too short. I couldn't get them on without breaking the fragile rear idler. Still have a few of the old 1/72 scale kits in the stash, many purchased from Squadron for as little as $.49. Built a Matilda, T34/76 w/'43 turret, and Panzerjager I.
@tomdynia99514 жыл бұрын
Tracks too tight! Argh! Their M13/40 had the same problem as the 75/18, not a surprise since the running gear was the same. A shame too because it was a nice little kit otherwise as far as I can remember.
@kerrycox92264 жыл бұрын
I still have in my display case the two cockpits of the F-104 and the F-16. Stunning still, and many friends say that they are still the best and only ones of their type.
@SueBobChicVid4 жыл бұрын
My local Woolworths somehow had a good selection of ESCI 1/48 kits in the early 80's. There was no LHS within 40 miles of my home town. I think I had the best success with their aircraft kits compared to any other single manufacturer. Good fit and relatively simple. Also, they usually had a paint scheme I could brush on.
@FastSports-ScaleCarGarage4 жыл бұрын
Well done! Keep 'em coming!
@danielcarlson70024 жыл бұрын
ESCI: Probably the BEST kits I’ve ever had the pleasure of building.
@TheProfitOfDoom4 жыл бұрын
Built many ESCI kits. I find their 1/72 marder III to be quite impressive. A fair few of their 1/72 armor kits still have little to no competition, and hold up very well. Needless to say, I'm a fan. Sad they're gone.
@modelcrow4 жыл бұрын
The Best, by far, model company of Europe! I love esci!
@22waffen4 жыл бұрын
I Believe the motorcycle models are the best in the industry even today.. they were designed by a famous Spanish gentleman from Barcelona...I remember seeing those models at the model store back in the late 70s , I couldn't afford them then but today I have them all! (a short wait of 30 yrs)
@hynol4 жыл бұрын
I made a lot of ESCI kits in 90s. Nice, sharp molds and very good hard plastic. It wasn't as expensive as Japanese models and much better than Italeri. I am glad Italeri currently bringing back 1/9 th scale series.
@jerryrip4 жыл бұрын
I had both the Zundapp and BMW motorcycles and the F-16 and F-104 cockpits. They were all very impressive models with lots of detail.
@esitu56554 жыл бұрын
How about Cartograph? They have become THE go to decal manufacturer us model builders and other kit manufacturers!
@StuartJTucker4 жыл бұрын
"cartograf" .That would be an interesting insight .
@screwthisin4 жыл бұрын
I immediately thought of Cartograf as well.
@andyrichardsvideovlogs88354 жыл бұрын
One of the very best Esci kits was the Ford-sponsored (Ford Europe) Transit van of 1984 which came in a "Ford" box and was sold through Ford dealerships as well as normal retail outlets in an Esci box. The box arts were completely different. It is still available in an Italeri box both as a UK police van or a panel van in British Gas colours. The kit contains both right and left hand drive parts which is a rarity and despite being over 35 years old is still comparable to a modern kerbside kit. Get one if you can - it's definitely worth it.
@maxbrandt64 жыл бұрын
Great company review, I have a few ESCI kits in the stash, pretty decent stuff and some of the racing subjects are greatly sought after to this day.
@modeler3084 жыл бұрын
I built an ESCI 1/24 scale CJ-7 Jeep and still have it. It is 'Promo-like' with non-opening hood and the engine is molded into the chassis. I does have steerable wheels.
@mr.gunzaku4374 жыл бұрын
I've seen a very few of these for sale at second-hand shops and I should have picked them up...blast it!😕
@mr.gunzaku4374 жыл бұрын
I was in my teens or early twenties and I wasn't into collecting older models. Though now I dig'em and I've got a Zaku 2 Desert Type of Gundam fame from the mid eighties, along with that Hasagawa Veritech fighter trainer from Macross.
@tonerotonero13754 жыл бұрын
ESCI was nice. I still have their 1/48 Starfighter with the green Canadian air force livery , a 1/72 F104C and the full detail F104 cockpit , very impressive which also includes a helmet with the oxygen hose. This was left on the shelves, nobody wanted to buy that so it seems. Glad I did! Nice channel, thanks and regards from France.
@buzzawuzza37434 жыл бұрын
Never saw an Esci kit in my modeling days or didn't know it for what it was. The motorcycle kits look like fun builds. Glad to know of them though.
@trappenweisseguy274 жыл бұрын
The big motorcycles and kettenkrad are crazy good kits. Masterpieces.
@vincentrathbone264 жыл бұрын
There's still thousands of old ESCI kits on the market, EBAY and swap meets are a great way to get your hands on some, give them a try and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
@Crediblesport4 жыл бұрын
Their armor was very nice there 1/48 scale aircraft were o.k. depending on the kit some were better than others.
@KZ-xb8fi4 жыл бұрын
Hey ,I love the history your bringing to light on these model manufacturers, i never had a ESCI kit, seen a few around used but also read up on the the inconsistently on the quality, maybe someday I'll pick one up.
@joesphbrown73224 жыл бұрын
Esci tanks and the inf and long with the battle line stuff for back in my Old cadet days as my dharma for the model contest that where run over the few years i was in! Hard to believe seeing now the many cross over I did not pick up on back then!
@martinproctor69444 жыл бұрын
Thanks for continuing to produce these historical overviews. They are especially welcome during this time of isolation. When I was a kid I had no idea just how many model kit companies existed. It wasn't until I got a Classic Kits by Arthur Ward from our local library that I got an eye opener into the extensive range of companies. I later bought a company of the book. It's a bit Airfix-heavy (the Author is British, so that's not unusual), and doesn't cover all companies (Hobbycraft is one of the ones that got missed), but it was a very good primer.
@iagmscalemodelling34014 жыл бұрын
The 1/72 began in 1936 the first commercial scale, before 1/48, perhaps could make a video about it.
@jorgel.fernandeziii82784 жыл бұрын
I have build kits from ESHA/Ertl and the earlier mentioned Japanese company ! And to tell the truth they really made some nice and detailed models for the Price !!! I wished I would’ve had the opportunity to have done some of the fine military ! I remember that orange Porsche I wanted so Badly ! Now besides a couple of airplanes and an aircraft carrier! 🌊🐺
@cudathehawgjetfixer75204 жыл бұрын
ESCI 1/72 scale kits are some of the best, their 1/72 F-100's still out do the Trumpeter and they're 30 years older, and their 1/72 armor kits very nice even up today's standards, I built a complete WWII U.S. armor battalion minus the half tracks and Duces that was nothing but ESCI plastic and they where less expensive to the Hasegawa 1/72 armor kits. As for their 1/48 scale planes they released some nice ones then a few not so nice but they released the planes no one else released like the MiG Floggers, and a bunch of European fighters that where out shined by the American planes but they filled the gap until some of the Eastern European countries started to import their kits to the U.S. My opinion ESCI was ahead of their time and should be remembered for their great part on making some of the best 1/72 scale model kits by even today's standards
@DavidRLentz-b7i5 ай бұрын
David R Lentz, USA Again, thank you, Max, this time for your overview of ESCI’s plastic scale-model assembly kits. If my source is correct, I may have acquired several of their 1:72nd-scale aircraft, at the time under AMT’s label. These were several of Boeing’s KC-135 Stratotanker USAF Aerial Refueler series, including the experimental test-beds. I planned to build the different variants, e.g., the KC-135A, -E, -Q, and -R. I had intended to build them in flight, with a model of an appropriate jet positioned to undergo refueling. Also the 1:72nd-scale kits of the later variants of the Boeing B-52G and H Stratofortress USAF Strategic Bombers. (Round this time, my finances had eased some, as I had received disability benefits, and I had relocated to subsidised housing.) Over the subsequent years, I also had acquired monographs on the actual aircraft, toward my efforts to research them.
@nigelbranthwaite84714 жыл бұрын
Hi Max, enjoyed your video on ESCI, here in New Zealand found that towards the end of ESCI a lot of their kitsets were warped, specifically the aircraft, I had their 1/72 scale AC-47 ,C-47 both had warped fuselages sad really because they were lovely models when assembled. I also get the feeling that their 1/72 scale C-47 were scale down Monogram / Revell 1/48 scale C-47 having had both.
@maxsmodels4 жыл бұрын
sounds like Ertl's imports from China
@rkyyrs94774 жыл бұрын
I have some of their kits including extra external ordinances.
@scaleplasticclassics4 жыл бұрын
Very interesting. I built a few of their 35th scale kits in my youth
@David-ty1xz4 жыл бұрын
Just finishing ESCI S-3 Viking, a fantastic kit.
@ShlomoTenembaum4 жыл бұрын
I think I might still have the sticker sheet that accompanied their 1984 catalog. Their A-4 was the 1st serious model paint and all was an ESCI. For a while it's all I built ESCI aircraft models 1/48th scale.
@ernestoescudero15244 жыл бұрын
Nice short history, I always thought they where from Spain.. Bloopers..... thanks for taking the time to make this videos!
@ernestoescudero15244 жыл бұрын
I've built a few of the 1/72 aircraft.. pretty solid!
@iagmscalemodelling34014 жыл бұрын
Max, you make good videos, keep them coming pal, greetings.
@Craigers227634 жыл бұрын
I built that Panavia Tornado when I was in high school, when the kit was first released. Lacking in detail compared to most 1/48 aircraft kits but it went together easily.
@F4FWildcat4 жыл бұрын
I built the F-16 cockpit. I still have it, helmet and all.
@billhuber29644 жыл бұрын
I built that one too. I found a figure the same scale and the helmet fit very well. I gave it to my buddy a air force. Armmorer on f-16s.
@danielcarlson70024 жыл бұрын
Tom Andrews I remember that kit. They made an F-104 cockpit kit as well, 1/12 scale, I think.
@F4FWildcat4 жыл бұрын
@@danielcarlson7002 you are correct sir. I did not however, build the 104. :(
@trappenweisseguy274 жыл бұрын
I have mostly good memories about ESCI, particularly the big 1/9 armour kits and racing car kits. Sometimes the quality of the kits seemed highly variable, so you didn’t always know how good a kit you would get. I fondly remember building a road racing Lancia with full engine and good detail. They typically had Cartograph decals, which were the best around.
@trappenweisseguy274 жыл бұрын
Man, you’re really cranking these videos out. Protar would be another interesting Italian company to feature. I never could figure out how they could afford to make the moulds for large scale Formula 1 cars and racing motorcycles.
@trappenweisseguy274 жыл бұрын
I just looked at what some of the Protar kits I used to have are going for on eBay. Crazy money 🤯 !.
@StuartJTucker4 жыл бұрын
Building and painting a ERTL ESCI 1/48 BA Jaguar GR1 at this very moment ,loving it .Have that 1/12 f-104 cockpit too and looking for the f-16 so to build them at the same time .
@johnashley-smith49874 жыл бұрын
Wow! I still have that 1985 catalogue. I didn't build many of the ESCI 1/48th aircraft,only the Mirage F-1c which was a pretty good kit for the era with recessed panel lines, extensive underwing stores and a choice of like 4 marking options,one being South African Air Force. Their 1/48th F-4 Phantoms were popular and much sought after for conversions and kitbashes. IE; Take the ESCI Phantom with recessed panel lines, swap out the decal cockpit for Monogram's Phantom cockpit, which with minor surgery could easily be made to fit the ESCI fuselage. Their 1/72 scale armour is something I still look out for at shows and obscure hobby shops because they were great kits that had in many cases ,more detail than their 1/35 scale contemporaries. The only complaint I could have about the 1/72 armour is that the tracks were the weakest point in any of them, very stiff,not ,rubbery like other manufacturers small scale tank tracks. I must have built 15 or 20 of the armour, for wargaming, and just plain fun! Thanks again for an entertaining and informative history on a great model company! Looking forward to the next one!
@mch123119694 жыл бұрын
I still collect their 1/35th figure kits when I can find them.
@vincentrathbone264 жыл бұрын
The German "smoke unit" and the Red Devils are my favourites.
@wall-e33133 жыл бұрын
I built several ESCI 1/24 cars and thought the engraved detail and overall quality left something to be desired. But those Cartograph decals were awesome!
@sealttwo-013 Жыл бұрын
I still have some unbuilt figure kits, German Green Devil, British Red Devils, Nebelwerfers, etc. I also still have the horse drawn convoy with two wagons, this is one of the nicest kits that they ever marketed.
@scottworsley32184 жыл бұрын
Great video! I built some Esci kits back in the day. They weren't bad kits.
@orangelion034 жыл бұрын
Enjoy these Max! Thanks! Some of their 72nd aircraft were outstanding and detail/tech leaders for their time. I built over a dozen of their F-104 kits in the early 80s (I still have two in my display case) and those kits were not topped until Hasegawa released theirs in the late 90s. Their Skyhawk, F-100, and F-4 kits were not outclassed until Fujimi and Hasegawa third generation offerings. The same couldn't be said for their 48th offerings; the only one of those that was decent was their Mirage F1. Most of the rest were poorly detailed and poorly engineered (to be fair, they could be built up with a lot of work and many of their subjects would not be kitted by other companies until fairly recently). Those cockpit kits were great! Some of the detail was a bit thick, bit some of the early developers of aftermarket resin and PE made detail parts for them (IIRC somebody offered pilot figures in that scale). Had them both* and eventually gave them to my nephews. Wish the line would have been more popular and I recall a lot of speculation and "wishful thinking" regards future offerings. Everybody wanted a Tomcat pit! Danger Zone!!! *I worked as a test engineer with McDonnel-Douglas Escape Systems late 80s-early 90s on various ACES II updates and improvements, and I built a half dozen or so of the seats in the F-16 cockpit for some of my co-workers. One of them paid me with a HGU-26/P and MBU-5/P helmet and mask that had been used on test sled dummies =D
@maxsmodels4 жыл бұрын
In high school I did ejections systems as my science fair projects every year even making a full size mock up from conduit tubing. Went to state. I even called Pensacola NAS and they mailed me a stack of ejections seat brochures including the ACE II. I probably still have it somewhere...I hope I do. I thought that seat was the coolest thing since pockets.
@orangelion034 жыл бұрын
@@maxsmodels I was fascinated by ejection seats since I was a kid too! One of the first books my parents bought us when we came to the US was one on the XB-70. Those escape capsules hooked me. I tried to buy a seat several times in the early 80s...the scrap yards around Tuscon were full of them, mostly Century series and B-52 seats, but that never worked out. At McD-D and the test sites, there were piles of scrap seats (ESCAPAC and ACES) left over from testing, but they were all USAF property and I could not pull off a "One Piece At A Time" type operation. Do have various pull handles, used an ACES seat cushion in a couple of my race cars, and brought home a well used orange flight suit they used on some dummies =D. Worked on tests at Holloman, Hurricane Mesa, and China Lake. Good times. I accumulated a lot of info over the years, photos, drawings, etc. and donated nearly all of it to Kevin Coyne at The Ejection Site a few years ago.
@orangelion034 жыл бұрын
@@maxsmodels By the way, this discussion encouraged my decision to order one of the 1/10 scale ACES II models from Squadron. Been putting it off since they were first released. They are on sale!!
@crazybrit-nasafan3 жыл бұрын
Just got my paws on four ESCI Phantoms. I have always liked their kits. The decals do tend to disintegrate when they get a bit old though, including the aftermarket sheets, even if they look OK. Now on the lookout for the F4 Bicentenial sheet in 1/72.
@karlperry48053 жыл бұрын
I really like the 1/72 armor kits and have most of them. The loco kits were also really good.
@CaptainNomura4 жыл бұрын
Still got nearly a hundred of their kits from the 1980s. Mostly 1/48 aircraft , 1/72 scale armor diorama kits and bunch of their decal sheets. Still great. Still regret not getting their 1/12 scale cockpit kits.
@grecco_buckliano4 жыл бұрын
Another Thumbs Up for ya, Max!
@joeperson47924 жыл бұрын
They made some really fine 72 scale armour kits. the Panther Ausf D or Honomag halftrack among them. Everything else was Japanese or Airfix/matchbox 1/76 in the early Eighties. Except Hasagawa. I used to love wargaming at this time so I remember the brand.
@sonosoloio4 жыл бұрын
9:14 I, on the other hand, love tracks in a single piece of rubber
@erikkunkle95744 жыл бұрын
I have the 1-48 ESCI A-7 with MB on the tail. It's bombing a target in my garage. Next to a Revell 1-48 A-10 with MB on the tail straifing a target. I enjoyed buildimg the A-7.
@taskmaster584 жыл бұрын
I still have quite a few 1/72 aircraft in my collection, and a few 1/35 scale figures also.
@mikestanmore26144 жыл бұрын
It seems there's a lot of reboxing of old kits, as my old favourite manufacturers go the way of the dodo. *Wake me up when it's all over, Max!*
@TrainNerdWill4 жыл бұрын
Back in the 80s the ESCI 1/48 aircraft line was pretty solid, but the decals were such a crapshoot. Sometimes fine, sometimes they disintegrated as soon as they hit water. I credit ESCI with forcing me to try aftermarket decals. I was most proud of my F-104 built from their kit, which included decals for a CF-104 of 1 CAG. That model was displayed proudly in my house for 20 years.
@michaelgautreaux31684 жыл бұрын
Max +, Max 😆👍👍. From ESCI, prefer 1/48 a/c. Yeah, know how lame some kits are but hey. Mid 70's to early 80's we were getting planes that no body else offer. The tornado, a-10, g-91, F-8, kfir& the AM- 326(lmpala). When they surface, I snag'em, craving A-7's. Again many thanx 👍👍 😉, be safe!
@im2point04 жыл бұрын
I'm here for the music. (Ok, I do have two ESCI cockpits still boxed.)
@im2point04 жыл бұрын
I forgot, I also have a ESCI Senna Mercedes 190E. Highly treasured because I also own a 190E.
@im2point04 жыл бұрын
Stop the presses. I found another ESCI: a GR 1 Harrier. 1/72.
@rdr81474 жыл бұрын
Hahaha. New subscriber all from 2 videos with the highlight being the “Lone Ranger” song and the Italian version of “Wake me up when it’s all over “ 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣