Plastic Soldier Company M60 Review

by Charles Christy and Charles McKellar

The PSC M60 model is really great! I picked up a box just to see how they looked and was not surprised. I’ve known they do great gaming models, and this one is no slacker at all!!!

Here is the sprue. Each tank model is on one sprue, so there are five in the box. There are not a lot of parts but sort of makes you wonder why some were not already combined into one as opposed to three or four, as in the case of the turret that we’ll talk about in a minute. On to the hull…

The hull bits. Make sure to match up the track halves, and insert into the lower hull BEFORE you put the upper hull on, as there is some overlap that will make it very difficult if you don’t.

In spite of not having all the pegs and snaps like some kits, the very smooth fit of the parts makes this go together easily. The upper hull piece fits naturally and lets the grill fit into its inset space perfectly. I’d really have liked it if the grill was part of the upper hull but suspect there were molding considerations that made it necessary for a two-part instead of the more convenient one.

Here is the finished lower hull from the rear. The only other parts that go on the hull are the tiny little headlights, which sit on a shelf and have their cable overlapping the fender. I used glue all along the cable to make sure they would remain in place. This is another part that I wish would have been cast on the hull as it is small, delicate, tiny and tedious for us older types with bifocals to deal with. But don’t let that detract from a really clean hull assembly that will go together in a matter of minutes. (I tend to drop tiny parts that I have to go looking for on the floor).

And now the turret, you can see it has plenty of parts. I managed to drop one of the smoke dischargers and lost it to the carpet jungle…

All fit perfectly, but I wish that the bustle rack was one piece and not three. Also beware, the instructions are a bit vague on the position of the smoke dischargers, I got mine upside down on the first pass. The machine gun barrel on the cupola is also very delicate!!!

All done… these are great models, an inexpensive option for those looking to get a full company to chase the Red Horde with or upgrade those M48’s in time for Yom Kippur!

Attached are some pictures I took when I put some PSC models side-by-side with BattleFront’s version. Both tanks miss the mark on different areas so I will list them separately.

PSC (Note: I didn’t mount the grenade dischargers or discharger ammo boxes)
Good…
Headlights
Hatches
Bustle rack

Not so Good…
Oversize grenade dischargers
Oversize rear sponson boxes
Oversize infantry rail on the turret
No searchlight, heater exhaust, or external telephone
No detail on air cleaners, rangefinder blisters, and rear fenders Antenna and wind sensor locations

WRONG Two piece tracks

Gunner’s sight too flat

BattleFront (Note: the plastic used was very temperamental with glue)
Good…
Turret details (But everything is attached, you can’t make a different version. I.E. M60A1 or M60A3) Hull details

Ability to build Israeli Version

Not so Good…
Loader’s hatch
No antenna mounting
Headlights
Very delicate track
Cupola details

Both PSC and BattleFront’s versions went together fairly easily but the BF plastic had issues with the glue. The PSC track had gaps after being put together.

So which is best?

Both models seem to have the same amount of minor discrepancies and they are both equally suitable for the table top. Either would serve you fine. However, we do think the issues on the PSC model are a bit easier to correct.  The biggest difference between the Battlefront and Plastic Soldier Company M60A3 is the price. Battlefront’s M60A3 box set cost $45.00 US for five models while Plastic Soldier Company’s M60A3 cost just $29.99 for five models. This makes PSC’s M60A3 the better bargain.