SolidoVerem - Mike's Diecast Tanks and Armour

	General Grant	Panther G	SU 100
SU 100	General Lee, Muddy	Tiger	Solido "Muddy" Tiger #6212
Gorilla #6232	Gorilla, elevating mechanism actually works!	Jeep with Trailer	Patton 99046
Solido Char Souma #234	Solido Char Souma #234	Sherman M4A3	Solido Char Renault R-35
Solido PT 76 #6231	Solido PT 76 #6231	Solido AMX Brenus #6239	Solido Panzer IV short barrel, #6218

Solido Halftrack
6225

Solido Panhard AML
#6146

Solido AMX 13 VCI	Solido AMX 13 VCI	Solido AMX 13 VCI
Solido Halftrack 6052	Solido Halftrack 6052	Figures with the halftrack

Special Sets
D-Day 40th Anniversary
1984

From time to time Solido will release special sets. This set was released in 1984 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of D-Day. The set included a Sherman, Panther, Bussing Nag and truck. It also included a full set of decals and a RARE (for Solido) set of instructions on where to install the decals and accessories (antenna, machine guns).

Liberation of France - 50th Anniversary

Solido 50th M10

This model is one of several celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of France (1944-1994). It has an M-10 on a plinth, with a map showing the disposition and movement of allied forces (I think).

Discussion

Solido makes many different types of 1:50 scale military vehicles. Solido was founded in 1932 by Ferdinand de Vazeilles. Although production was interrupted during WWII, manufacturing began again soon after. Solido has sold military diecast vehicles since 1961. The detail on these vehicles is fair to good. The models are easily identified by their shiny metal treads (I have painted or tarnished some of the treads on the tanks shown above). They have the satisfying, hefty feel of a true diecast metal vehicle. Some of the earlier releases also included figures. For a more detailed models, see the Verem lineup, below.

	Tiger	Jagdpanther	Priest	Panzer IV
Sherman V9030	PZIV Kugelblitz V9031	PZIV Kugelblitz V9031	SU 100
	Verem Leopard 9018	Verem Leopard 9018	Verem Panther Flakpanzer 9032	Verem Panther Flakpanzer 9032
SU 100B V9035	SU 100B V9035		Verem T-34/85 V9037	Verem T-34/85 V9037

Verem Brummbar V9039	Verem Brummbar V9039	Verem Brummbar V9039
Verem Panzerjager V9040	Verem Panzerjager V9040	Verem Panzerjager V9040

Verem Berliet carrier and
AMX tank set

Verem Berliet carrier and
AMX tank set

Verem Berliet carrier and
AMX tank set

Verem Berliet carrier and
AMX tank set

Verem Bussing Nag V9515	Verem Bussing Nag V9515	Verem Bussing Nag V9515
Verem Sherman M4A1 Cast hull V9041	Verem Sherman M4A1 Cast hull V9041	Verem Sherman M4A1 Cast hull V9041
Verem Sherman M4A1 Cast hull V9041	Verem Sherman M4A1 Cast hull V9041	Verem Sherman M4A1 Cast hull V9041

Verem Discussion

In 1993, Solido created it's Verem line/subsidiary. Verem tanks are Solido tanks with an upgraded paint job, decals, and sometimes extra accessories. They are a bit more expensive, but tend to be worth the extra $4-$5. The Leopard, for example, is one of the best Verem models I won, and hold its own against many of its competitors from other makes. The T-34 is also well done, although not quite to the standard of the recent Corgi releases. The Brummbar and Panzerjager are also quite unique, and are a nice addition for the serious (obsessed?) collector.

Even further upgrading can be found in Tank Museum (also Stretton Models, Sandford Models), Gaso.line, and other builders who utilize Solido models as the "base" for their customization. These builders then customize the models with resin parts. They can range from simple customization (e.g. sandbags) to complete replacement of the hull, turret and gun. In addition to Gaso.line, Stretton, and Tank Museum; Brent Dietrich and Bert S. Toys (to name a few) frequently utilize Solido as a basis for customization.

Pictured above are several small scans from a 1973 Solido catalog, as you can see little has changed

Since it's inception, Solido has adopted numerous numbering scenarios, often in conjunction with specific releases. In the table below, I will attempt to summarize the numbering system for selected tanks and AFV's. This is an abbreviated list, and was compiled with the help of MSV, various catalogs, personal observation, and Dr. Edward Force's book "Solido Toys", 1993, published by Schiffer Publishing.

Series:	200's	2200's	D-Day	6000's release 1	Overlord	Les Militaires 6000's release 2	Les Grandes Batailles: Military 2 The Famous Battles Anniversary of Victory Military 1
Date range:	1961-1980	1980-1982 ish	1984	1985	1989	1986-?	?-2005
Number range:	200 to 262	2200 to 2262	601 to 610	6001 to 6012	4489-1 to 4489-12	6001 to 6079	6100 to 6225?
Box Color	yellow					tan and brown; green	light tan/off white
Vehicle							listing below is in progress:
M-20 car	200	2200	607		4489-8	6028	6104
Patton M47	202	2202		6005		6065
SU 100	208	2208 tan Egyptian		6010			6227
AMX 30	209	2209		6006		6060
AMX 30 Brenus							6239
Patton M47 radio control	210
Patton M47	na	2214 Israeli tan					99046 2001 release
M41 tank destroyer	219
Tiger tank	222	2222				6063	6212
Tiger tank	na	2223
Tiger, muddy							6212
AMX 13 AA tank	223
Jagdpanther	228	2228				6064	99045, 99050 2001 release
Jagdpanther	na	2229
AMX 13 w/ 90 mm	230			6008		6058, 6078	6214
M4 Sherman	231	2231	605			6053	6210, 99049 2001 release
M4-Sherman with plough						6077
M4 Sherman Egyptian						6078
M-10 dank destroyer	232	2232	603			6068	6202
Renault R-35	233	2233				6072	6205
Char Souma S35	234	2234				6074
Panther G	236	2236	606				6226
Panzer IV long barrel	237	2237				6073	99047 2001 release
Panzer IV short barrel							6218, 6240
Hanomag	241	2241			4489-11	6061	6225
Leopard	243	2243		6011		6055	6241
M3 halftrack	244	2244	608		4489-10	6052
T-34/85	246??						Verem 9037
M41 tank destroyer	248	2248
M7B1 Priest	252	2252		6012			6233
General Lee	253	2253				6067	6224
General Grant						6071	6211

Pricing: $20-$25 for Solido. $25-$30 for Verem, $60 and up for the customized models. Unfortunately Solido and Verem models are becoming more difficult to find in the US.

More on the history of Solido/Verem can be found at MSV, Militaires Solido Verem, a great website by an enthusiast in France. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the English version.