Matchbox Collectibles - Mike's Diecast Tanks and Armour

These 1/72 tanks were produced in 1998/1979 and have incredible detail under the Matchbox name, and are truly collectors quality. The one exception is the Churchill. Although it is a nice tank, it seems to lack the detail of the others in the series. Still, it is worth having, even if just to round out the set. The complete set can also be found in the 2000 Matchbox Collectibles catalog.

This series of Matchbox collectibles appears to have it's roots in the CDC Armour line of 1997. Six of the eight tanks appear to be the same as those produced by CDC Armour. Only the T34 and Churchill do not appear to be from this line. Please refer to the table below.

The base of the tanks has Matchbox/Dinky in white ink. The box is light colored with a yellow print. The series is billed as the "great tanks of the world" series.

Prices are variable and are going up as supply goes down. The Panther A appears be in particularly short supply and can go for $30-$60+.

January, 2003: Matchbox has just re-released six of the 1:72 tanks made from the CDC Armour molds. These tanks are featured in a box with a clear window, on a "diorama" depicting a WWII scene. The re-released models include the two Shermans (37579, 37585), the gray Panzer IV (37580), The Churchill (37584), the T34 (37583), and the Panther (37581).

Mid-February, 2003. The models have been released and are now widely available. Diecast direct has them for $16.95, or buy them as a set for $75.00 ($12.50 each). A friend of mine reports seeing them in Target for $12.00. Meanwhile, I have seen them on eBay for $19.99. It pays to be an informed buyer!

How do I tell them apart? Based on what I have seen so far, there are two ways to differentiate between the 1998 release and the 2003 releases.

1) The 2003 release will have two holes in the base of the tank. These holes are where the screws hold the tank to the inclined diorama base.

2) The 1998 releases have a model number in white print on the base, for example DYM37583. The 2003 releases do not have the model number.

2004 Matchbox Collectibles Box	2004 Matchbox Collectibles Box
Sherman M4A3 75mm B6044	Sherman M4A3 75mm B6044	Sherman M4A3 75mm B6044	Sherman M4A3 75mm B6044
Called a Sherman M4A3 76mm, actually a M4A2 76mm B6945	Called a Sherman M4A3 76mm, actually a M4A2 76mm B6945	Called a Sherman M4A3 76mm, actually a M4A2 76mm B6945	Called a Sherman M4A3 76mm, actually a M4A2 76mm B6945

In 2004, Matchbox re-released two more CDC armour castings. The M4A3 75 mm and the "M4A3 76mm". The M4A3 75 mm is a recast of CDC Armours Art.3138. A closer examination of the "M4A3 76mm" reveals that it is actually a recast of a CDC Armour M4A2 76mm, with sandbags and an extra wheel, most likely CDC's Art. 3132!

The Great news is that 1) both versions sport wonderful paintjobs, and 2) These are really good, high quality, diecast tanks. The bad news is that they are packaged in CHEAP packaging. Unlike release two, these are not in a diorama case. The plastic 'case' is merely a flimsy clear plastic which does not permanently attach to the base.

Type	Model Number	Description	CDC Armour Equivalent	Re-released by Matchbox in 2003	2003 Re-release Number	Re-released by Matchbox in 2004	2004 Re-release Number
Sherman 76 mm	DYM37579	Dark Green	Art. 3132	YES	91738	NO	na
Pkfw IV type F1	DYM37580	Dark Gray	Art. 3101	YES	91739	NO	na
Panther Ausf A	DYM37581	Tan, brown stripes	Art. 3160	YES	91741	NO	na
Wirbelwind Flak PZ IV	DYM37582	Tan, green/brown stripes	Art. 3201	NO	na	NO	na
T34/76	DYM37583	Green/brown camo	none	YES	91742	NO	na
Churchill MK VII	DYM37584	Green	none	YES	91743	NO	na
Sherman, 105 mm	DYM37585	Tan and green camo	Art. 3135	YES	91744	NO	na
Panzer IV H/J	DYM37586	Tan, brown stripes	Art. 3214	NO	na	NO	na
Sherman M4A3 75mm	not released	new paint: green w/ tan spots	Art. 3138	NO	na	YES	B6944
Sherman M4A2 76mm Matchbox calls it an M4A3	not released	new paint: green w/ black camo, added sandbags	ART.3132 NOT a remake of ART. 3138!	NO	na	YES	B6945

M60A3, 1:113??

M1A1 Abrams, 1:113

Sherman w/ camo, 1:92

Collectibles 50th
card

Collectibles
50th Anniversary
Rear of Card

Matchbox also made an additional series of Matchbox collectibles in 2001(??), including an M1A1, and M60A3 and an M4A3 Sherman. The Sherman and M60A3 are very well detailed, the M1A1 less so.

There are some other differences from previous releases, beyond just paint and extra details (spare tracks, machine guns, antenna, etc.). For example, although the Sherman uses the same top casting as previous releases, it also has a cast metal base. The previous releases have a plastic base. This gives the tanks a nice heavy feel. Also, previous releases of the Sherman and M1A1 sported wheels in the undercarriage (allowing them to roll), the collectible version does not.

When were these models released? Well, the base of the tanks is copyrighted 2001. The boxes were copyrighted 2001, with a 2002 fifty year anniversary logo! Take your pick!

Matchbox Collectibles 50th Anniversary	Description
M1A1 Abrams - Tan	Desert Tan
M3A2 Halftrack	Oliver Green
Jeep Willys with trailer	Olive Green
M4A3 Sherman - Camo	Green w/ white camo stripes
M60A3 - Tan	Desert Tan
Transporter	Desert Tan

Sherman w/ camo, 1:92 Steel Soldiers edition	Bradley Steel Soldiers edition	M1A1 Steel Soldiers edition
LVPT Steel Soldiers edition	Steel Soldiers Box	Steel Soldiers Rear of Card

Steel Soldiers (copyright 2000) featured six models with high grade paint and accessories. The Sherman, M1A1 and the halftrack are the are as released in the 50th anniversary collection (see preceding section). The Bradley has a different paint scheme than released previously (see Premiere Collections - below) as well as antenna. The troop carrier sports a nice camo paint job, and the LVTP7A1 new addition.

Matchbox Collectibles Steel Soldiers	Description
M1A1 Abrams - Tan	Desert Tan
M3A2 Halftrack	Olive Green
LVTP7A1 APC	Desert Tan
M4A3 Sherman - Camo	Green w/ white Camo stripes
M2 Bradley	Brown w/ green/black/white camo stripes
M34 2 1/2 ton truck	Olive Green

The Matchbox Collectibles Premiere Military collection is copyrighted 1998 and consists of Six vehicle listed below. It is easy to confuse with the "Premiere Military" collection (see below) which appears to be a subset of the "Collectibles Premiere Military" collection

Matchbox Collectibles Premiere Military	Description
Humvee	Green w/ brown and black camo stripes
Bradley M2	Green w/ brown and black camo stripes
M1A1 Abrams	Green w/ brown and black camo stripes
Air Force Transport	Dark blue(?))
Sherman	Green w/ tan camo stripes
Chevy Tahoe MP	Olive green

The "Premiere" military collection is copyrighted 1998, and features four vehicles, according to the card. If so, they appear to be a subset of the Matchbox Collectibles Premiere Military collection (see above). I have seen, however, reference to other Premiere vehicles: an Air Force Flight Crew Transport and a Sherman tank.....which would make it the same vehicles as the Matchbox Collectibles Premiere Military collection, just different packaging.

These vehicles feature an upgraded paint job as compared to the previous releases of the same models.

Matchbox has also released the Heroes collection for 2003. The collection consists of an M1A2 Abrams, Chevrolet Blazer, Bradley M3 fighting vehicle, LVTP7A1 Amphibious personnel carrier, Willys Jeep, Armored response vehicle, Missile launcher, and Radar truck.

Through out the years, the same vehicles have been released, often with varying paint jobs, and with different numbers. Below, I have tabulated the release from 1999. This (and 2000)seems to be the most complete releases of military vehicles, and also seem to be what is most available in the aftermarket.

M1A1, 1994?, 1:113	M1A1, 1994?, 1:113
Sherman, #85	"Muddy" Sherman #51
Two versions of the Amphibious Personnel Carrier. The Heroes version on the left, #55 on the right	Two version of the Hummer, #3 and #48
Bradley Rough & Ready No. 47	Bradley Military Patrol No. 83 1999

1999 Matchbox 100 collection
Series 11	Number
Yellow Missile Launcher	#52
Yellow Humvee	#53
Green Ford Expedition MP	#54
Green Amphibious Personnel Carrier	#55
Series 15	Number
Green Humvee	#81
Green Missile Launcher	#82
Green M2 Bradley AFV	#83
Green M1A1 Abrams Tank	#84
Sherman M4A3, Gray	#85

Below is an partial cross reference for the military models from 1995...more as I find them....

Type	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2003	unknown
M1A1Abrams	#54, Beige and Brown	#54, Olive Green			#84, green
Sherman					#85, Green/muddy	#51
Bradley			#47	#47	#83				#54
Missile Launcher				#82	#52, Tan; #82, green	#52
Humvee		#3	#48	#48	#53, Tan	#53	#48	#32
Weasel Tank									#77, #73
Ford Expedition MP					#54, Green	#54
Amphibious Personnel Carrier					#55, Green	#55

Matchbox 5 packs

1994

2005

2005
five pack

Sherman in package

Sherman - unpackaged

Bradley

Hummer

Occasionally Matchbox released military 5 packs. Pictured above are the 1994 set (no tanks) and the 2005 set.

Battle Kings Jungle Recon

Battle Kings Night Landing

Battle Kings Polar Rescue

Battle Kings Sahara Strike

Branded as Battle Kings, these are (disappointingly) just retreads of the current models. The feature:

Night Landing: Dark livery; Helicopter, LVPT, Hovercraft?, Artillery piece, 3 soldiers
Sahara Strike: Desert livery; Abrams. Bradley, MRLV, Artillery piece, 3 soldiers
Jungle Recon: Green Livery: Swamp boat, Truck, M1 Abrams, Artillery piece, 3 soldiers (Abrams in the Jungle???)
Polar Rescue: Winter livery; Helicopter, Radar truck, Hummer, Artillery piece, 3 soldiers

Older Vintage Matchbox

From 1982-1992 Matchbox was owned by Universal Toys. Universal purchased Matchbox when it went into receivership. Soon after the purchase, most of the manufacturing was moved to Macau.

This period saw only one military release. The Commando series was released in 1989. It was comprised of approximately 24 vehicles, many of which were civilian vehicles painted in the Commando paint schemes. These were meant to represent a military convoy. The paint scheme was black with some yellow and gray camo blotches ("Dagger Force") or olive green with brown camo ("Strike Team"). Of the 24 models released, the actual military models (not civilian repaints) consisted of a jeep, a covered truck, a couple of jets, 2 versions of the Weasel, 2 versions of a self propelled gun, and a re-release of the swamp rat (bayou boat with an armed figure).

Of those, the self propelled gun and the Weasel are the most hardcore military models of the set.

Sherman #K-101

King Tiger #K-104

Howitzer #K-107

M48 A2

Halftrack #K-108

Missile Launcher #K-111

Matchbox Battlekings were produced in the 1970's. A wide variety of styles and color schemes were made. I have pictures models I own here as well as scans from the 1979 Matchbox catalog. Please go to Battle Kings (Lewis E. Miller's Matchbox Collection) for MUCH more information!

Type	Number	Type	Number
Sherman	K-101	Recovery Vehicle	K-110
M48	K-102	Missile Launcher	K-111
Chieftain	K-103	Ambulance	K-112
King Tiger	K-104	Crane	K-113
Hover Raider	K-105	Aircraft Transporter	K-114
Tank Transporter & Tank	K-106	Petroleum Tanker	K-115
155mm Gun	K-107	Artillery truck and field gun	K-116
Half Track	K-108	Self Propelled HAWK missile launcher	K-117
Sheridan	K-109	Helicopter	K-118

Originally, Matchbox vehicles were originated under the Lesney name. Refer to these fine sites for more information:

Sherman DYM37579	Panzer F1 DYM37580	Panther A DYM37581	Wirbelwind DYM37582
T34/76 DYM37583	Churchill DYM37584	Sherman DYM37585	Panzer H/J DYM 37586

Matchbox Premiere Collection	Description
Humvee	Green w/ brown and black camo stripes
Bradley M2	Green w/ brown and black camo stripes
M1A1 Abrams	Green w/ brown and black camo stripes
Chevy Tahoe MP	Olive green