Maker record
ESCI
ESCI was an Italian scale-model maker whose kits covered military aircraft, 1/72-scale armoured vehicles, 1/9-scale motorcycles and, later, cars and trucks. The company re-entered the market in 1968 importing toys and plastic kits, then launched ESCI Modellistica in 1972 with a catalogue of aircraft decal sheets. Its first assembly kit, the BMW R 75 motorcycle, appeared in 1973. ESCI worked with outside firms for tooling and moulding, and its kits were sold through international licensing and distribution arrangements. Italeri later acquired ESCI moulds and reissued some kits under the Italeri name.
- Founded
- 1968
- Locations
- Italy
The story of ESCI
In 1968, ESCI resumed activity in Milan as an importer of toys and plastic model kits from Hong Kong and Japan. The venture was initiated by Dino Coppola with investment from the Agiman family. Its first model-related products included supplemental aircraft decal sheets, presented in the company’s first catalogue in 1972 under the name ESCI Modellistica. Each sheet included colour profiles and historical notes. In 1973, ESCI introduced its first assembly kit, the 1/9-scale BMW R 75 motorcycle, using a sample model by Manuel Olive-Sans and moulds made by Italaerei.
ESCI broadened its range in 1974 with 1/72-scale armoured vehicles and figures, then developed aircraft kits, including a 1/48 range from 1978. The company relied on outside designers, toolmakers and moulders; its commercial network included arrangements with Hasegawa, Revell, Polistil and, from 1982, ERTL. Later products included 1/24-scale cars and 1/32-scale trucks.
ESCI kits continued under the ESCI-ERTL label after the business passed into ERTL ownership. A final ESCI-ERTL catalogue appeared in 1999. After ERTL’s acquisition by Racing Champions, the plastic-kit moulds were entrusted to Italeri, which reissued some of the kits under its own brand. Italeri’s company history also records its acquisition of ESCI moulds.
