ESCI History - (Page 1)

Catalog covers, kitnumbers, box lay-outs 8300 series

ESCI no longer exists and their models are getting hard to find. A major loss to the 1/72 scale, but sometimes you find the kits in the shops and at shows. Where are the old moulds? Luckily they are not yet lost, most of the moulds exist and the kits are re-released from time by time by Italeri!!! --- See the Italeri page for re-release of many of old Esci/Ertl kits.

Click on the picture

Information about Esci Kits History

Esci is started with releasing the military kits in scale 1/72 in the 1970 years. In the years were Esci also released under other labels or in combination with other labels.
For more information, please visit the website from "On the Way'. There you found a lot of the Esci kits history!!!

The story of the Esci kits!!!

Catalogue History

Some updates on serveral Catalogues. The Pollistil 1977 catalogue lists all Esci kits as wel as Polistil's own produced kits. As in the Esci 1977 catalogue, the Polistil 1977 lists 5 Esci 1/72 kits that were never released (see pics) : 8052 German Sappers with Goliath, 8053 German Green Devils Fallschirmjager, 8058 Chevrolet LRDG, 8060 Horh typ 1a and 8061 horch ambulance.
The 1972 Catalogue is the first known Esci catalogue and contains only the decal range. The 1973 Catalogue is the first to list the famous big motorcycle kits, the last pages also list the 1973 Italaerei range. ( see italaerei update)
The 1974 Catalogue is the first to list the beloved 1/72 Armor range. Some pictures are different in detail from the final Esci-Armor box top art !!
The 1977 folder lists on its 1/35 page three never released Chevrolet Army Trucks (5015, 5018 and 5019) The 1993 Catalogue lists serveral 1/72 P-series soldiers kits that were never released, amongst them a Roland Missile Battery.----------- Alfred van Netburg 2010

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1999

Esci Kit-numbers

Name	Italeri	Esci-Ertl	Esci	Esci-Revell	Humbrol	Esci-Aurora	Esci-AMT	Esci-Polistil	Esci-Hasegawa	Esci-AHM

-	7000	8300	8000	H2300	HK72200	----	----	as 8000	----	----
Leopard I	-	8300	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Leopard 1 A2 OTO	7031	8301	8069	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Leopard 1 A3A4	7002	8302	8071	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Leopard 2 A1A1	-	8303	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
M163 AA	-	8304	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
M113 A1 APC	7011	8305	-	-	-	-	8635	-	-	-
M901 Hammer Head	-	8306	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
M1 Abrams	7001	8307	8070	-	-	-	8637	-	-	-
M4A1 Sherman	7003	8308	8028	H2324	HK72203	-	8639	-	MB123	-
Pz. IV Ausf. G	7007	8309	8058	H2359	-	6203	8497	-	-	-
Pz. IV Wirbelwind	-	8310	8063	H2364	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pz. IV "Brummbar"	-	8311	8065	H2366	HK72210	-	-	-	-	-
JagdPanther	-	8312	8009	H2323	-	6216	-	-	MB126	-
Sherman "Galliope"	-	8313	8059	H2316	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pz. IV SPG "Hummel"	-	8314	8013	H2312	-	-	-	-	MB108	-
M60 A1 Patton	-	8315	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
M60 A2 "Starship"	-	8316	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
M60 A3	-	8317	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
M60 "Blazer"	-	8318	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Jgdpz. IV "Lang"	7028	8319	8012	H2311	-	-	-	-	MB113	-
Jgdpz. IV "Short"	-	8320	8056	H2357	-	-	-	-	-	-
Morris "Quad"	7027	8321	8042	H2342	-	-	-	-	MB135	-
M-48 A2	7015	8322	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Merkava 1	7005	8323	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pz. III Ausf. M	7041	8324	8001	H2300	-	-	-	X	MB101	0553
Pz. III Ausf. N	-	8325	8021	H2318	-	-	-	X	MB109	-
M48 A3	-	8326	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Flammpanzer III	-	8327	8057	H2358	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sturmpz. III Ausf. G	7021	8328	8005	H2304	-	6213	-	-	MB105	-
M48 A2 GA2	-	8329	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tiger II Henschell	7004	8330	8008	H2307	HK72207	6201	8483	-	MB112	-
Jagdtiger	7030	8331	8014	H2313	HK72209	-	-	-	MB114	-
Churchill MK-IV	7019	8332	8043	H2343	HK72204	-	-	-	-	-
M48 A5	-	8333	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
T34/76 m1942	7008	8334	8032	H2332	-	-	-	-	MB143	-
T34/76 m1943	-	8335	8047	H2347	-	-	-	-	MB144	-
M48 AC2	-	8336	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
M106 Mortar	-	8337	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Merkava II	-	8338	-	-	-	-	8641	-	-	-
Churchil AMCR	-	8339	8049	H2349	-	-	-	-	-	-
T62 MBT	7006	8340	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
T62 M	-	8341	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Opel Ambulance	-	8342	8035	H2308	-	-	-	-	MB115	-
SdKfz. 251/7	-	8343	8066	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
SdKfz.251/1 Rockets	-	8344	8022	H2319	-	6225	-	-	MB110	-
SdKfz.251/10	-	8345	8053	H2354	-	-	-	-	-	-
SdKfz. 251/16	-	8346	8055	H2356	-	-	-	-	-	-
SdKfz. 251/8	-	8347	8067	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
SdKfz. 11	7016	8348	8015	H2314	-	6217	-	-	MB116	-
SdKfz. 11 with pak 40	-	8349	8054	H2355	-	-	-	-	-	-
WWII German Guns	7026	8350	8020	H2317	HK72202	6218	-	-	MB121	-
Nebelwerfer 41	-	8351	8033	H2333	-	6212	-	-	-	-
WWII Accessoires	-	8352	8060	H2361	-	-	-	-	-	-
Iwo Jima Memorial	-	8353	8062	H2363	-	-	8548	-	MB136	-
British 25 pnd gun	-	8354	8045	H2345	HK72206	-	-	-	-	-
Opel Blitz	7014	8355	8007	H2306	-	6215	-	-	MB122	-
M3 Recce Fr/So	-	8356	8068	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
US Light Truck	7010	8357	8039	H2339	HK72205	6220	-	-	MB133	-
Dodge with 3.7cm gun	7025	8358	8040	H2340	-	6229	8516	-	MB134	-
SdKfz. 251/1 APC	7009	8359	8002	H2301	HK72212	-	-	-	MB102	0554
Elephant	7012	8360	8006	H2305	HK72201	6214	-	-	MB111	-
Valentine MK-III	7013	8361	8050	H2352	-	6223	-	-	-	-
M12 SPG	-	8362	8029	H2325	-	6206	-	-	MB124	-
Panther Ausf. G	7018	8363	8026	H2326	HK72208	6204	8500	-	MB127	-
Pz. IV Ausf.H	-	8364	8023	H2320	-	-	-	-	MB125	-
MK-I Bishop	-	8365	8044	H2344	-	6221	-	-	-	-
Opel with AA	-	8366	8052	H2353	-	-	-	-	-	-
Modern Accessoires	-	8367	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pz. I Ausf. B	7042	8368	8024	H2321	-	6226	-	X	MB140	-
SdKfz. 250/3	7034	8369	8027	H2327	-	6227	-	-	MB137	-
Pz. I Command version	-	8370	8041	H2341	-	-	-	X	MB141	-
SdKfz. 250/9	7020	8371	8048	H2348	-	6209	-	-	MB138	-
Panzer Jager I	-	8372	8046	H2346	-	-	-	X	MB139	-
SdKfz. 250/10	-	8373	8051	H2351	-	-	-	-	-	-
Marder III	-	8374	8010	H2309	-	-	-	-	MB106	-
Jagdpanzer Hetzer	-	8375	8011	H2310	-	-	-	-	MB107	-
WWII Accessoires	8352	6049	8060	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Leopard 1A4	-	-	8071	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Abrams M1-A1 MBT	-	-	8072	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Leopard 1A1 A1	-	8303	8073	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
U.S. Soldiers	-	-	8016	H2328	-	6210	-	-	MB118	-
Russian Soldiers	-	-	8017	H2329	-	-	-	-	MB120	-
Africa Corps	-	-	8019	H2315	-	6211	-	-	MB117	-
8the Army	-	-	8019	H2316	-	6224	-	-	MB119	-
British Paratroopers	-	-	8034	H2334	-	-	-	-	-	-
Japanese Infantry	-	-	8061	H2362	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fiat Ansaldo 75/18	-	-	8031	H2331	-	-	-	-	MB129	-
Fiat Ansaldo M13/40	7036	-	8030	H2330	-	6219	-	-	MB128	-
KV-1C	-	-	8037	H2337	-	-	-	-	MB131	-
M3A1 Scoutcar	-	-	8038	H2338	-	6207	-	-	MB132	-
M4A3 Sherman	-	-	8064	H2365	-	-	-	-	-	-
Matilda MK-II	7035	-	8036	H2336	-	-	-	-	MB130	-
35(T) Skoda	-	-	8025	H2322	-	-	-	-	MB145	-
Panzer II Ausf. F	-	-	8003	H2303	-	-	-	-	MB103	0555
Wespe	-	-	8004	H2302	-	-	-	-	MB104	0556
-	-	-	**	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

ESCI - (8300 series)

The Esci 1/72 Armor history - "8300 series" :

The 8300 series In 1987 Esci dropped a bombshell in the by then dormant 1/72 armor land : they started the 8300 series containing many new modern armor kits. They also returned to the "Whitebox" format with only a painting of the vehicle on both box sides. (luckily they didn't go with the real model picture boxart so "popular" then...). Although they had teased us the year before with the five last 8000 series kits of the Abrams and Leopard, Esci realy started with the series in 87. Releases came out quickly too but by then there were hardly any model kit shops left to buy them from, yes in the late eighties we had a crisis too !!
The boxes, as said, were plain white with a vehicle painting on both sides. At the lower corner on the top side a track print was put with nations flags of the decal options. Side ends of the boxes were red as the previous 8000 series. the first 21 kits (8301 to 8321) had "NEW / NOUVEAU" printed on front and sides, and the kits thereafter had the new Esci/Ertl logo.
Curiously the series started with number 8301 (Leopard IA1). A year later kit 8300 was released, also a Leopard I but only with Dutch decal options. Number 8300 does not appear in any official kit listing nor in any catalogue It also has no "NEW/NOUVEAU" logo. It seems that Esci honoured us Dutch Esci kitlovers with a special and rare extra release !!!
From 1987 up to 1990 Esci released new kits and all but a few old kits in the 8300 series, running from 8300 to 8375 and so being the largest Esci 1/72 armor range ever. Up to 1990 the 8000 series was listed along the 8300 series graduately dissolving into it.
In 1988 Ertl takes influence in Esci and logo's on the kits change into the ESCI/ERTL logo. This also happens to the few 8000 series kits still produced. In 1990 for the last time the whole 8300 series is listed in a Catalogue. (8301 to 8375). From then on all starts going down the mountain. Kit moulding quality drops and through ERTL influence kits are produced in different countries like Mexico, Canada and China. This all results in detail differences on the boxes like manufacture countries and safety instructions.
Right up to the end in 1999 the 8300 kits appear randomly in the Esci/Ertl catalogues from 1991 to 1999. Some are in the Greenband series discussed elswhere. Many kits are badly moulded with lots of flash in pale yellow or lightgrey plastic. The instruction leaflets are sometimes overblackened copies of originals and decals are often not present : the end is near!
In 1999 the final two Esci kits are released from China : The SdKfz 251/1 and the Opel Blitz truck in green boxes. The 251 actually contains a SdKfz 251/16 Flamethrower with a bad new instruction leaflet and an old decal. The Blitz kit contains the ambulance variant with an equally bad instruction leaflet but a very nice new decal..... End of 1999 it is over and Esci ceases to exist.
But the phoenix slowly rises from its ashes some years later when Revell starts re-releasing an old Esci kit : the M 48 A2c. In 2002 Good old Italeri starts its 1/72 Armor series by re-releasing Esci kits with their hard tracks (mostly) and beautiful new decal sheets. Now, in 2010, almost all Esci's have been re-released by Italeri.....Esci lives !!-------------- Alfred van Netburg , august 2010

Kit 8300 - Leopard I (Dutch-decals)

Kit 8301 - Leopard 1 A2 - other nations

Kit 8302 - Leopard 1 A3A4

Model built by Erhan Atalay

Kit 8303 - Leopard 2 1A1A1

Kit 8304 - M163 AA

Built model by Zhenmin Han

Kit 8305 - M113 A1 APC

Kit 8306 - M901 Hammer Head

Kit 8307 - M1 Abrams

Kit 8308 - M4A1 Sherman

Kit 8309 - Pz. IV Ausf. G

Kit 8310 - Pz. IV Wirbelwind

Built model by Fabrice Dulot

Kit 8311 - Pz. IV "Brummbar"

Kit 8312 - JagdPanther

Kit 8313 - Sherman "Galliope"

Kit 8314 - Pz. IV SPG "Hummel"

Kit 8315 - M60 A1 "Patton"

Kit 8316 - M60 A2 Starship

Kit 8317 - M60 A3

Kit 8318 - M60 "Blazer"

Kit 8319 - Jgdpz. IV "Lang"

Model built by Erhan Atalay

Kit 8320 - Jgdpz. IV "Short"

Kit 8321 - Morris "Quad"

Kit 8322 - M-48 A2

Kit 8323 - Merkava 1

Kit 8324 - Pz. III Ausf. M

Kit 8325 - Pz. III Ausf. N

Built model by Fabrice Dulot

Kit 8326 - M48 A3

Kit 8327 - Flammpanzer III

Kit 8328 - Sturmpz. III Ausf. G

Kit 8329 - M48 A2 GA2

Kit 8330 - Tiger II Henschell

Kit 8331 - Jagdtiger

Kit 8332 - Churchill MK-IV

Kit 8333 - M48 A5

Kit 8334 - T34/76 m1942

Kit 8335 - T34/76 m1943

Kit 8336 - M48 AC2

Kit 8337 - M106 Mortar

Kit 8338 - Merkava II

For an "Keith Goodman" review about kit 8338 - Merkava II visit:

"KGWings" Website

Kit 8339 - Churchil AMCR

Kit 8340 - T62 MBT

Kit 8341 - T62 M

For an "Keith Goodman" review about kit 8341 - T62-M visit:

"KGWings" Website

Kit 8342 - Opel Ambulance

Kit 8343 - SdKfz. 251/7

Kit 8344 - SdKfz.251/1

Kit 8345 - SdKfz.251/10

Kit 8346 - SdKfz.251/16

Kit 8347 - SdKfz.251/8

Kit 8348 - SdKfz. 11

Kit 8349 - SdKfz. 11 with pak 40

Kit 8350 - Different guns

Kit 8351 - Nebelwerfer 41

Kit 8352 - WWII Accessoires

Kit 8353 - Iwo Jima Memorial

Kit 8354 - 25 pnd gun

Built 25 pounder by Marcin Mizielinski