This kit dates originally from 1975 and is also for Esci an early tank model. My boxing was issued in 1978, and I recently purchased it second hand.

I always like the boxarts from the older Esci kits. It's a complete painting with scenery and all. And not so dramatic as the old Airfix and Matchbox boxes were the tanks are always blazing from all barrels at the same time. The scenery clearly depicts a Russian scene, and there immediately is a small problem. So far into Russia you would expect the earlier Ferdinand version from 1943. And indeed this vehicle with number 501 is a well known Ferdinand that was deserted at Kursk and was well photographed by the Russians:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/6d/58/3a/6d583a3326489a7c1828dfe29351d3cf.jpg
So what's the difference between a Ferdinand and an Elefant?
The Ferdinand was designed as a very heavy tank destroyer on the chassis of the Porsche design for the Tiger I. Only 90 were built. Operational first during the battle of Kursk it proved excellent in destroying Russian tanks at long distance. But due to mechanical unreliability and extreme weight it had a disastrous mobility. Moreover the crew was'nt able to protect themselves against infantry anti-tank teams. Half of the Ferdinands were lost during the battle due to these problems. So after the battle of Kursk the vehicles left over were upgraded with a bow machine gun, a commanders cupola with all round vision and zimmerit anti magnetic mine coating. You can clearly see the innovations on this picture:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4273/34081906653_c84814aea4_z.jpg
The upgraded vehicle was later called Elefant, more in accordance with German nomenclatura. The Elefants were used on the Eastern front and in Italy to fight off the landing at Anzio.
What's in the Esci box?
The Esci box is containing no Ferdinand, but basically an Elefant as the model has a bow machine gun and a commanders copula. But the Zimmerit is missing. That makes it relatively easy to backdate the kit to a Ferdinand. But that's not what I am going to do now.

In the box are two sprues of dark green plastic and silver coloured plastic tracks. Interesting is that there are some parts for the interior included like radios, ammunition and a gun breech. But its incomplete and nothing can be seen of it. Exterior detail is quite well done with rough armour plate and welding lines.

And a decal sheet for four different versions. As an Elefant it can't be the 501, so I'll see what to make of it.
And now, let's build!