World Tank Museum - Mikes Diecast Tanks and Armour

World Tank Museum is a series of 1:144 preassembled tanks and fighting vehicles from a company called Takara. Each series consists of a variety of fighting vehicles (mostly armour) and a package of candy. These are considered to be "trading miniatures", thus the contents of each box is unknown. The pictures above are not representative of all the models in the first series...there are more, I just don't have them :-).

The fourth series was due out summer of 2003 and featured armour and helicopters of the JDF (Japan Defense Force). I've seen this on the WTM website, but not widely distributed for sale.

The "VS" series is a bit different. First, the contents of each box are known - not a mystery like the others. Second, each features two tanks, one "vs." the other, and also contains some unpainted accessories on a sprue. The accessories vary from box to box, and can include extra track, jerry cans, and even small figures.

The 5th series returns to the original formula, and features 6 different WWII vehicles, wheeled and tracked. The 6th series features modern tanks, and one helicopter.

These are very similar to the Dragon Pocket Army 1:144 miniatures, although I prefer the paint and detailing on the Dragon models over the World Tank Museum models.

Model Graphix also featured the WTM series, with an unassembled and unpainted Panther tank in 1:144 scale.

As a note: After Series 3, WTM also came out with a special book, which also featured a special edition of the Tiger tank.

Unfortunately, I don't have any models in this series. The series is composed of vehicles of the JDF (Japanese Defense Force) and includes:

WTM also featured a "special edition" with the following three JDF vehicles:

The "VS" series is unique, in that each package features two tanks....one vs. the other. I assume they are meant to represent historical battlefield matchups(?). This series differs from the others in that the contents of each package are labeled.

This edition Features four WWII German vehicles, including the uncommon Tiger prototype VK45.01(P) or Porsche Tiger, as well as one US and one Russian vehicle.

This release features the Abrams Tank, T-80U, Leopard Tank, Strv. 122, Merkava, and AH-1W Super Cobra Helicopter

Type	Variations
M1 Abrams	M1A2 (#99,NATO, green/black/brown camo), M1A2 (#100, mostly tan camo), M1A2 (#101, NTC tan and green camo), M1A1 (#102, green), M1A1 (#103,NATO, green/black/brown camo), M1A1 (#104, desert tan)
T-80U	T-80U (#105, Russian Service, tan and green camo), T-80U (#106, green), T-80U (#107, desert tan)
Leopard	Leopard 2 A6 (#108,winter camo),Leopard 2 A6 (#109,Nato, green/black/brown camo), Leopard 2 A4 (#110,NATO, green/black/brown camo), Leopard 2 A4 (#111, green),
Strv. 122 (Leopard, Swedish)	Strv. 122 (#112, Swedish Service, black and green camo), Strv. 122 (#113, winter camo)
Merkava	Merkava Mk.III Baz (#114, desert tan), Merkava Mk.III Baz (#115, light green), Merkava Mk.III Baz (#116, dark green)
AH-1W	AH-1W Super Cobra USMC (#117, green/gray camo)

This entry in the popular series features German and Russian tanks and guns of Kursk tank battle, 1943! The series is numbered from 118-138

Panzer IV

Wespe

Panther

T-34

ISU 100

Tiger

Field Artillery

World Tank Museum: Series 8

	Panther #141	Wirbelwind #144	Wirbelwind #144
Ersatz M10 #146	Ersatz M10 #146	Sherman #148	Sherman #148
Panzer IV/70(V) #151?	Panzer IV/70(V) #151?	M20, Schwimmenwagen #153	M8, Schwimmenwagen #154
M8, Schwimmenwagen #154	King Tiger #156	King Tiger #157

A mix of old and new, with a nice Stug, Ersatz Sherman (a Panther with fake panels to make it look like a M10 tank destoryer from a distance), a Wirbelwind, and some old favorites (King Tiger, Panther, etc.). This is a well done set.

Panther G

Wirbelwind 2cm quad AASPG

Ersatz M10 (Panther)

Sherman M4A3

Panzer IV/70(V)

M20 and Schwimmenwagen combo

M8 and Schwimmenwagen combo

King Tigerwith Henschel turret

French Release: Panzer Squadron Game

	Panzer Squadron game board	Panzer Squadron	Panzer Squadron
Panzer Squadron	Panzer Squadron	Panzer Squadron rules	Panzer Squadron Kit

Recently, the WTM tanks were released in Frnace by Abysse Corp as a gaming kit. These kits, called Panzer Squadron, include an 8 page rulebook, 4 tile sets, a game map with an hexagonal grid. The tanks have game cards, one side with historical data, the other with game rules. The players roll dice, and then the player with the highest roll may: 1) Move the tank, 2)Fire on another tank.3) Move the tank and fire on another tank, or 4)Leave the tank in its current place

Winner is The player who has tanks left at the end of the game is the winner

Currently there are two sets. Set 1has 10 tanks. Set 2 has 15.

Models include:

KV1-A
ISU 152
T34-85
IS2M
Panzer IV ausf H
Panther V aufs G
Panzer VI Tiger I
Panzer VI Tiger I.E
Panzer VI Tiger II
Elephant
Jagtiger
Sherman M4A1
Firefly

More info can be found at:

www.panzersquadron.com

http://www.abyssecorp.com/html/products/panzer_squadron.htm

Thanks Florian!

Omami's website J-model Works has some interesting customized WTM tanks. Check it out!

As of January 2007, World Tank Museum http://www.world-tank-museum.com/ now has a US distributor/partner. They are marketing single and multi packs of the WTM models a prices competitive with the Dragon Can.do series models. The Single and "Platoon" packs themed around the Battle of the Bulge, and featurw the King Tiger, Jagdpanzer, Panther, and Sherman tanks

Panzer IV	Sherman	Tiger - winter
Tiger - winter	Tiger - winter	Model Graphix Panther This is Unassembled!

Hetzer	Jagdpanther	Jagdpanther	JS II
King Tiger	KV-1	KV-1	Tiger (rare)
Stug	Stug

Panzer II	Sherman Firefly	Sherman Firefly
Panther	T34/76	Fi156 Storch
Fi156 Storch	Kubelwagen	Kubelwagen

Sherman Firefly vs. Tiger	Sherman Firefly vs. Tiger	King Tiger vs. JS-2	King Tiger vs. JS-2
Panzer IV vs. KV-1A	Panzer IV vs. KV-1A	T34/85 vs. Elephant	T34/85 vs. Elephant
M4A1/76 vs. Panther G	M4A1/76 vs. Panther G	side of box

Tiger Ausf E	Tiger Porsche VK45	Jagdtiger	King Tiger
SDKFZ 251D	M3 halftrack	M3 halftrack - undercarriage note the detail	JSU-152

M1A2 #101	M1A1 #102	T80U #107	Leopard2A6 #108
Leopard2A6 #109	Leopard1A4 #111	LeopardSTRV12 #112	Merkava #116
Black Eagle "special limited edition"	Series 6 Box

artillery #138	SU-122 #131	Panther #124	Panzer #119
Panzer #120	T34/76 #128	Tiger	Tiger2
Wespea #122	Wespe #122	Wespe #122	Wespe #122
Wespe #123	Wespe #123	Wespe #123	Wespe #123