Steve Whitmer
Elizabeth, Pennsylvania
Steve writes: “The upgrade developed for the M60 by Raytheon Corp. known as the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) included slat armor for the turret, a 120mm main gun, a 25mm Bushmaster gun behind the loader hatch, air-pressurization units for the rear deck, a modified commander’s cupola and gunner’s station, added armor up front, and side skirts.” Some of what Steve did to upgrade his Tamiya 1/35 scale M60 includes: an M2 barrel and thermal sights for the commander’s station; improving the gunner’s station with foil and Plexiglas; a 120mm main gun and smoke-grenade launchers from a Trumpeter M1A1; slat armor cut from sheet styrene; a new mantlet made from styrene and white-glue soaked tissue; a scratchbuilt 25mm gun station; and the additional front armor and skirts.