ESCI
Encyclopedia
ESCI was a well-known Italian
model aircraft
manufacturer. It is no longer in business. It specialised in static models.
They started manufacturing aircraft
, military vehicle
, car kits and figures around late '70s early '80s. Some of their kits were famous and also officially awarded (Model Fan magazine) for their accuracy and smoothness. They were pioneers of engraved panel lines at injection moulded kits alongside with Hasegawa
.
, F-15
, F-100
, F-16
and F-5
and Sea Harrier kits, were extremely accurate at the time of their manufacture. The F-104
and F-15 Eagle
kits were later superseded by other competitors like Hasegawa, but ESCI's line of 1/72 scale F-5, F-100D/F, and Sea Harrier remained, until today, arguably among the best scale replicas ever produced in injection moulded plastic. Esci's 1/72 Sea Harrier kit is quite exceptional because it has continued to be re-released under many other familiar model brands such as Italeri
, Revell
and even Fujimi
marques as well. Esci was also noted for releasing 1/72 scale models of top-secret Soviet supersonic bombers such as the (Tu-22
and the Tu-22M
) during the height of the Cold War era, despite it being a difficult subject to find information and references.
ESCI's 1/48 aircraft line had below-average accuracy and detailing in spite of the interesting themes (Mig-23
, Mig-27
) and eyecatching box art. The exception to this are the two crisp models of the famous Henschel ground attack aircraft, the (Hs-123 and the Hs-129).
Interestingly their World War II
line was limited to ground vehicle themes (in 1/72, 1/35, and 1/9 motorbikes).
Also several 1/24 cars (street and motorsport) were available with high finish details.
The US ERTL
company merged with ESCI in the early '90s. The period of unchanged kits under ESCI/ERTL label was pitifully short. In the mid '90s they completely disappeared from the market. Although several kits has been re-issued under AMT
logo they lacked the aforementioned exclusive appearance. After 2000, Italeri
has begun re-releasing many interesting and still accurate ESCI kits, this time under the Italeri brand and with new updated box art and decal options. These re-releases ensure ESCI's lasting contribution to the plastic modelling hobby.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
model aircraft
Model aircraft
Model aircraft are flying or non-flying models of existing or imaginary aircraft using a variety of materials including plastic, diecast metal, polystyrene, balsa wood, foam and fibreglass...
manufacturer. It is no longer in business. It specialised in static models.
They started manufacturing aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, military vehicle
Military vehicle
A military vehicle is a vehicle that includes all land combat and transportation vehicles, which are designed for or are in significant use by military forces throughout the world. Vehicles that are armored or intended for combat are often referred to as armoured fighting vehicles....
, car kits and figures around late '70s early '80s. Some of their kits were famous and also officially awarded (Model Fan magazine) for their accuracy and smoothness. They were pioneers of engraved panel lines at injection moulded kits alongside with Hasegawa
Hasegawa (model company)
The is a company that manufactures plastic model kits of a variety of vehicles, including model aircraft, model cars, model ships, model armor, model space craft and science fiction kits...
.
Products
The early Esci 1/72 scale aircraft offerings, notably the Mirage F-1, F-104F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
, F-15
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
, F-100
F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
, F-16
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
and F-5
F-5 Freedom Fighter
The Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and the F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely-used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop...
and Sea Harrier kits, were extremely accurate at the time of their manufacture. The F-104
F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
and F-15 Eagle
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
kits were later superseded by other competitors like Hasegawa, but ESCI's line of 1/72 scale F-5, F-100D/F, and Sea Harrier remained, until today, arguably among the best scale replicas ever produced in injection moulded plastic. Esci's 1/72 Sea Harrier kit is quite exceptional because it has continued to be re-released under many other familiar model brands such as Italeri
Italeri
Italeri Incorporated is an Italian manufacturer of plastic scale models of airplanes, military vehicles, helicopters, ships, trucks, cars and figures...
, Revell
Revell
Revell is the brand name today of two manufacturers of scale plastic models. The original US company merged with another, Monogram, but now trades only under the Revell name. European Revell Germany separated from the US company in 2006.-Early history:...
and even Fujimi
Fujimi
In Japan, is a common place name which means Mt. Fuji is viewable. It may refer to:* Places in Japan:** Fujimi, Tokyo, a district in Chiyoda, Tokyo** Fujimi, Saitama, a city** Fujimi, Nagano, a town** Fujimi, Gunma, a village...
marques as well. Esci was also noted for releasing 1/72 scale models of top-secret Soviet supersonic bombers such as the (Tu-22
Tupolev Tu-22
The Tupolev Tu-22 was the first supersonic bomber to enter production in the Soviet Union. Manufactured by Tupolev, the Tu-22 entered service with the Soviet military in the 1960s, and the last examples were retired during the 1990s...
and the Tu-22M
Tupolev Tu-22M
The Tupolev Tu-22M is a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the Soviet Union. Significant numbers remain in service with the Russian Air Force....
) during the height of the Cold War era, despite it being a difficult subject to find information and references.
Quality
ESCI became noted for their 1/72 military vehicle line as they were one of the first manufacturers to release an extensive and accurate series in that scale.ESCI's 1/48 aircraft line had below-average accuracy and detailing in spite of the interesting themes (Mig-23
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
, Mig-27
Mikoyan MiG-27
The Mikoyan MiG-27 is a variable-geometry ground-attack aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan design bureau in the Soviet Union and later license-produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics as the Bahadur . It is based on the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 fighter aircraft, but optimized for...
) and eyecatching box art. The exception to this are the two crisp models of the famous Henschel ground attack aircraft, the (Hs-123 and the Hs-129).
Interestingly their World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
line was limited to ground vehicle themes (in 1/72, 1/35, and 1/9 motorbikes).
Also several 1/24 cars (street and motorsport) were available with high finish details.
The US ERTL
Ertl
-People:* Gerhard Ertl, the 2007 Nobel Prize laureate for chemistry* Hans Ertl , German cameraman active during the 1930s* Hans Ertl , Austrian ice hockey player* Harald Ertl, an Austrian motorsport journalist and driver...
company merged with ESCI in the early '90s. The period of unchanged kits under ESCI/ERTL label was pitifully short. In the mid '90s they completely disappeared from the market. Although several kits has been re-issued under AMT
Aluminum Metal Toys
Aluminum Model Toys, or AMT for short, was a Troy, Michigan based company that manufactured various pre-assembled plastic promotional models starting in 1948, when attorney West Gallogly, Sr. started it as a side business. Later, a variety of kits became very popular. Most of the company's vehicle...
logo they lacked the aforementioned exclusive appearance. After 2000, Italeri
Italeri
Italeri Incorporated is an Italian manufacturer of plastic scale models of airplanes, military vehicles, helicopters, ships, trucks, cars and figures...
has begun re-releasing many interesting and still accurate ESCI kits, this time under the Italeri brand and with new updated box art and decal options. These re-releases ensure ESCI's lasting contribution to the plastic modelling hobby.
External links
- Extensive list of ESCI / ESCI-Ertl kits (in Polish)
- The plastic soldier review website carrying an extensive list of all ESCI figure and accessory kits
- Henk of Holland has a extensive list of all 1:72 sets released