21st Century Toys

32x (plastic)
Cold Steel (diecast and plastic)
Twinpacks
Playsets
Plastic/Colds steel comparison
Cold Steel Lineup (sorry, out of date)

32X Plastic

21st Century Stug, 1:32	21st Century M18, 1:32	21st Century M5, 1:32
21st Century Tiger, 1:32	21st Century Bulldog, 1:32	21st Century Sherman, 1:32
21st Century Panther	21st Century M24 Chaffee	21st Century Panzer III, 1:32

21st Century 38(t)	R21st38t2.jpg	R21st38t3.jpg
21st Century Marder III	21st Century Marder III	21st Century Marder III	21st Century Marder III

Although made of plastic, 21st Century toys makes some incredibly detailed tanks and armoured vehicles in 1:32 and 1:18 scale (as well as action figures and other items). All the models shown above are 1:32 scale, and are part of the 32x series.

You can also find some of these items at Wal Mart under the Motor Works brand. Some are preassembled, some are listed as plastic 'snap together' models. To confuse the issue, several of the Forces of Valor diecast models are also marketed under the Motor Works name.

Cold Steel

Panzer III Ausf. L #99328	Panzer III Ausf. L #99328	Panzer III Ausf. L #99328
Sherman 75mm #99318	Sherman 75mm #99318	Sherman 75mm #99318

Cold Steel Panther

Cold Steel Panther

Cold Steel Jagdpanther

Cold Steel Jagdpanther

Cold Steel Jagdpanther

Cold Steel Chaffee #99301	Cold Steel Chaffee #99301	Cold Steel Chaffee #99301	Cold Steel Jagdtiger #99339
Cold Steel Jagdtiger #99339	Cold Steel Jagdtiger #99339	Cold Steel KingTiger #99324	Cold Steel KingTiger #99324
Cold Steel KingTiger #99324	Cold Steel M113A2 #99322	Cold Steel M113A2 #99322	Cold Steel M113A2 #99322 Engine
Cold Steel M113A2 #99322 Engine	Cold Steel M113A2 #99322 Top View	Cold Steel M113A2 #99322 Top View	Cold Steel M113A2 #99322 rear
Cold Steel M113A2 #99322 rear	Cold Steel M113A2 #99322 rear- interior	Cold Steel M113A2 #99322 interior

Cold Steel Stug IV #99317	Cold Steel Stug IV #99317	Cold Steel Stug IV #99317
Cold Steel Stug IV #99317	Cold Steel Stug IV #99317	Cold Steel Stug IV #99317

Cold Steel Brummbar #99342	Cold Steel Brummbar #99342	Cold Steel Brummbar #99342	Cold Steel Brummbar #99342
Cold Steel Brummbar #99342	Cold Steel Brummbar #99342	Cold Steel Panzer IV D #99341	Cold Steel Panzer IV D #99341
Cold Steel Panzer IV D #99341	Cold Steel Panzer IV D #99341	Cold Steel Panzer IV D #99341
Cold Steel Sherman #99307	Cold Steel Sherman #99307	Cold Steel Sherman #99307	Cold Steel Sherman #99307

21st Cold Steel Priest #99348	21st Cold Steel Priest #99348	21st Cold Steel Priest #99348
21st Cold Steel Priest #99348	21st Cold Steel Priest #99348	21st Cold Steel Priest #99348

In response to the release of the Forces of Valor diecast line, 21st Century has released the "Cold Steel" lineup. Like FOV, it features a mix of diecast metal and plastic. According to 21st Century:
" 'Cold Steel' is a hybrid of metal, Acrylic Butyl Styrene (ABS) injection and metal molded parts creating the highest detail and finest structural fit ever produced in miniature vehicles and aircraft. Unlike old fashioned die cast, whose process produces rough surfaces and poor detail, thus requiring heavy paint overspray to hide blemishes and poor structural fit...'Cold Steel' is a step into the 21st Century."
With the new lineup, it remains unclear if 21st Century will continue to manufacture the all plastic lineup.

Mike's Thoughts...

The detail is good. I really like the paint job on the Sherman. Although not as heavily "weathered" as the Forces of Valor tanks, the Sherman has a nice dirty appearance. The hull detail is good, but the drivers and machine gunners hatches could fit a bit better, though. Although accessories are included, the buyer must install (i.e.glue) them him/herself. As for the "cold steel" part, the hull is metal, the turret appears to be plastic, as does the base of the tank.
The Panzer is well done, but needs to come with more accessories. The hatches are a bit stubborn, but most all open.
Both vehicles come with two figures.

The Chaffee is excellent, with a great paint scheme and good detailing. The King Tiger, Panther, Jagdpanther, and Jagdtiger are OK. Nicely done, but nothing exceptional. The M113A2, however, is a real prize! It has good exterior detail, and superb interior detail, with a lot of opening hatches. Even the engine is detailed...all for $14.95 at Wal Mart! The Stug IV is also well done. The interior detail is fair, but the exterior is excellent!

Twin Packs

In 2006 introduced its ".VS Iron Horses" series, featuring two 1/32 scale vehicles in one package. So far I have seen:
SdKfz 251/1 Hanomag VS SdKfz 222 Panzerspahwagen and
Tiger Ausf E VS M18 Hellcat

Playsets

21st Century also releases  various "playsets", with figures, bunkers, and armor

Plastic/Cold Steel comparison

21st Century Sherman. Plastic to the left, Cold Steel to the right

21st Century Sherman. Plastic to the left, Cold Steel to the right

21st Century Sherman. Plastic to the left, Cold Steel to the right

21st Century Panther. Plastic to the right, Cold Steel to the left

21st Century Panther. Plastic to the right, Cold Steel to the left

The two models look to be cast from the essentially the 'same' mold. The detail is good. I think the paint is a bit better on Cold Steel than the all plastic version. The plastic version comes with the accessories attached. The Cold Steel version has accessories, but they are loose. The cold steel version is a bit heavier, but not much for the Sherman (see the comments above on metal content). The Cold Steel Panther is markedly heavier than the plastic version. The hull has the nice "cool" feel of metal that the plastic version does not. Overall, I give Cold Steel a small edge!

Cold Steel Lineup

2004 Releases

According to Jim T. , here are the Cold Steel releases for 2004:
I. First Qtr 2004
a. German Sd. Kfz. 141 PzKpfw III Ausf. D Medium Tank - Early Afrika Korps Pattern
b. German Sd. Kfz. 171 PzKpfw V Panther Ausf. G Medium Tank - Ambush Pattern
c. US M4 Sherman Medium Tank (Olive Drab Paint/Winter Weathering Scheme)
d. US M24 Chaffee Light Tank
e. German Sturmgeschutz IV Assault Gun - Summer Camouflage
f. German Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank - Normandiefront, 1944
g. US GMC M18 Hellcat Light Tank Destroyer
h. German Sd. Kfz. 7 8-Ton Prime Mover - Early Afrika Korps Pattern

II. Second Qtr 2004
a. US M4A3 Sherman Medium Tank (2nd release of the Sherman)
b. German Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen Anti-Aircraft Vehicle
c. German Sd. Kfz. 141 Panzer III Ausf. L Medium Tank (2nd release Panzer III/summer camo)
d. German Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. H Medium Tank " Thanks Jim T.

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