WW1 AFV KITS

This is a list of 1/72-76 scale WW1 AFV kits that I know of. It will be updated whenever I hear of new kits. Please feel free to drop a line.

BUT FIRST: Rumors and News
1. Best News Yet! Alexey Blashchuk of ACE Models in the Ukraine has informed me, that they have decided to do the A7V in plastic! Braille Scale! Anyone who thinks he can help them in doing this, please mail him. One of the things he is looking for, are good plans for the A7V-variant "Hedi", you know, the one with small MG turrets, employed in the civil unrest in Germany 1918-9.
2. Volker Lachmann of Fine Scale Factory has mailed me, telling me the excellent news that they plan to do more WW1-kits in the future "but only lorrys for the moment". They are also looking "for masterbuilders who are interested in building masters for WWI vehicles or tanks". Anyone out there who feels up to the job? If so please drop Volker a line!
3. Now it has been confirmed: Matchbox is going to disappear. Some kits will be produced under the Revell-Germany label, but other will just be dropped. So grab them while they are still around. Especially that combination kit of a FT-17 and a Char B.
4. The Czech resin kit manufacturer Kora Models, that recently brought us both the K-Wagen and no less than three A7V-variants, appears to be committed to do more Great War stuff! Rumor has it that they are scheduled to do both a A7V-U, the German Mk IV-clone, and that gigant Russian WW1 AFV Lebedev. This looks very promising.
5. Regarding the that Emhar A7V mentioned before on this page: William Beard has informed me that there is a strong probability that this kit will not be released at all. Stay tuned. But I like to add, for what's it worth your'e still able to place advance orders for this kit - slated for realese in February this year - on the Hannants Home Page.
6. Now for some good news: Retromodels are NOT going out of business. They will be around, and will soon release a new WW1 kit: a French truck, type Berliet.
AND ALSO: A Wish List!
As can be seen from the list below, there are more WW1 AFV kits around than you might have guessed, which is good news. 95% of it is in the form of Resin or White Metal kits, and done by smaller companies. (Without them, this Hobby would be much, much duller.) The question is: what is missing here? Well, here is my highly personal "Want"-list, for anyone to see. (And perhaps for people doing Resin or White Metal kits to ponder upon. When it comes to true Plastic, then anything goes: why not an A7V?)
1. The British Medium Tank Mk B.
It has an interesting, "Great War-ish" form, and although it appeared too late to participate in WW1, it was used in Russia by both sides during the Civil War. But it sure has a lot of rivets...
2. A Mk IV Tadpole-tail conversion set.
The Emhar Mk IV can be converted in many ways, but one of the trickier ones is the Tadpole-tail. There are drawings for a tadpole, using the Airfix Mk I, on Hans von Oerles excellent site, but a whole conversion kit, aimed at the Emhar kit, would be kind of nice.
3. The Italian FIAT 2000.
This the first Italian tank, looks a bit like the A7V, bristling with guns, but it would make a really interesting looking model, especially with that domed turret.
4. The British Mk IX.
This, the Worlds first APC, would fill the gap in any collection of Armoured Fighting Vehicles. And it looks really ugly, in a very interesting way - no wonder it was called "The Pig"...
5. The Soviet T-18.
It was the first "home-designed" Soviet tank, and it looks like a cross of the FT-17 and the FIAT 3000, which is actually not far from the truth. It has an intriguing shape: see Armada no 1 for really excellent plans.
6. The British Mk V.
OK, we have the superb Cromwell Mk V*, and it can be hacked into a Mk V. And it is also possible to convert the Emhar Mk IV into a Mk V - I am working on such a conversion myself. But a proper Mk V would be fine!

VEHICLE

MANUFACTURER

MEDIUM

QUALITY

NOTE

"Little Willie"

Matador Models

Resin & White Metal

Good

See review.

A7V

Milicast

Resin

Good

See Review. Kits exists of both multiplate and singleplate variants. With decals.

A7V

Kora Models

Resin

?

They produce kits of three variants: Early, Middle & late. Haven't seen any of them.

A7V

Reviresco

White Metal

?

Haven't seen it.

A7V

MGM

Resin

Fair

Some details a bit crude. Moulding not first rate. Track assemblies over-simplified. Milicasts offering is better.

A7V

Fine Scale Factory

Resin

?

Haven't seen it, but see Fine Scale Factorys own picture of the model.

Austin-Putilov 1917 halftrack A/C

Reviresco

White Metal

Good

Some details a little heavy. Requires work, but still better than the same firms "Erhardt" A/C.

Austin-Putilov A/C

Extratech

Resin

Have not seen it

Also contains photo-etched parts

Austin Series I A/C

Modelkrak

Resin

Excellent

The variant with symmetrically placed turrets. See review in Internet Modeler

Charron 1906 A/C

Retromodels

Resin

Good

Alternative parts for two different marks.

Erhardt Strassenpanzer 1917 A/C

Reviresco

White Metal

Fair

Moulding & fit not perfect. General shape OK, but it requires work, as most details are crude and overscale.

Erhardt Strassenpanzer 1917 A/C

MGM

Resin

Excellent

Nice, crisp mouldings. Captures the form very nicely. Recommended.

Ford Tfc A/C

RPM

Plastic

Good

See review in Internet Modeler and also this one on the On the Way-site

FT-17

Matchbox

Plastic

Good

Riveted "Omnibus"-turret. Both gun & MG variants. Boxed together with the Char B1. Is now discontinued: get it if you can!

FT-17

AL.BY

Resin

Superb

Cast "Girod"-turret. Both gun & MG variants. Individual track-links.

FT-17

Retromodels

Resin

Excellent

Includes internal detail. They manufacture a number of variants of this AFV, including Signal tank, 75mm Howitzer tank and even a Balloon tank!

FT-17 Signal

BW Models

White Metal

Good

They also manufacture variant with cast "Girod"-turret.

FT-17

Reviresco

White Metal

?

Haven't seen it, but according to Michal Derela it's "nice-looking".

FT-17

NRC

Resin

"Mediocre" according to Michal Derela

Cast "Girod"-turret, no tail.

Gun Carrier Mk I

Retromodels

Resin

Excellent

Very ambitious kit: over 74 parts! No gun supplied, however. For views of a completed kit, see Hans von Oerles site.

K-Wagen

Kora Models

Resin

Good

See Review.

Lanchester 1915 A/C

Reviresco

White Metal

?

Haven�t seen this one, but see notes by Pat Storto on his site.

Lancia Armoured Lorry

Reviresco

White Metal

?

Haven�t seen this one.

Lancia IZ

Reviresco

White Metal

?

Haven�t seen this one.

LK II

Cromwell

Resin

Excellent

Portrays the MG variant.

Mk A Whippet

Retromodels

Resin

Good

See Review. They also manufacture a Beutepanzer-variant.

Mk A Whippet

Milicast

Resin

Good

See Review.

Mk A Whippet

Black Star

Resin

Crude

Intended only for wargamers. (But see kit built by Pat Storto, shown on his site.)

Mk I Male

Airfix

Plastic

Good

An old kit, but can still be made into a nice model. Lots of possibilities for conversions. See Hans van Oerles notes on correcting the Airfix kit.

Mk I Female

Matador Models

Resin

?

Conversion kit for the Airfix model. Haven't seen it.

Mk I Wireless tank

Matador Models

Resin

?

Conversion kit for the Airfix model. Haven't seen it.

Mk II Female

Matador Models

Resin

?

Conversion kit for the Airfix model. With track with grousers, and torpedo spuds. Haven't seen it myself.

Mk IV Female

Black Star

Resin

Crude

Will only satisfy wargamers, but see this model by

Mk IV Male

Matador Models

Resin

?

Conversion kit for the Airfix model. Haven't seen it.

Mk IV Female

Emhar

Plastic

Excellent

Some details a bit on the heavy side. Lots of possibilities for conversions.

Mk IV Male

Emhar

Plastic

Excellent

Some details a bit on the heavy side. Lots of possibilities for conversions. See Review by Doug Chaltry on his homepage "On the Way".

Mk V *

Cromwell

Resin

Superb

See review.

Mk VIII "The International"

Cromwell

Resin

Superb

See review.

Peugeot 1915 A/C

Retromodels

Resin

Excellent

They manufacture 2 different versions.

Pierce-Arrow Armoured Lorry w/ 2 pdr Pom-Pom

Matador Models

Resin

Excellent

Many small detailed parts.

Putilov-Austin A/C

Modelkrak

Resin

?

See review in Internet Modeler

Putilov-Austin A/C

Cromwell

Resin

Excellent

The variant with asymmetrically placed turrets. Open drivers flap on kit.

Putilov-Austin A/C

Leva

Resin

?

Have not seen it.

Putilov-Garford A/C

Modelkrak

Resin

?

See review in Internet Modeler

Putilov-Garford A/C

Cromwell

Resin

Excellent

Includes 2 crew figures

Renault 1915 A/C

Retromodels

Resin

Good

They manufacture 2 different versions.

Rolls Royce A/C

Milicast

Resin

Excellent

Ambitious kit: 32 parts.

Rolls-Royce A/C

Reviresco

Resin

?

They make a number of variants. Haven�t seen any of them.

Russo-Balt A/C

Modelkrak

Resin

Excellent

Very sparse instructions. See review in Internet Modeler

S:t Chamond

JMGT

Resin w. Photo-etch & white metal

?

They manufacture both early and late variants.

S:t Chamond

Reviresco

White metal

?

They manufacture two variants.

S:t Chamond

Fine Scale Factory

Resin

?

Have not seen it, but see this built kit by Pat Storto, and also Fine Scale Factorys own picture of the model.

S:t Chamond

Retromodels

Resin

?

Haven�t seen this one. They manufacture the first version.

Schneider CA 1

Reviresco

White Metal

?

Haven�t seen this one.

Schneider CA 1

Retromodels

Resin

Excellent

Crisp mouldings, and some very fine details - including a pennant! Very nice set of background material. They manufacture three different variants.

Schneider CA 1

Crusader Models

Resin

?

Haven�t seen this one.

SPECIAL TIP 1
A manufacturer that I think is of special interest to modelers of WW1 Military Models is Matador Models in the UK. Besides the AFV kits mentioned above, they also sell WW1 soft skins kits, artillery pieces - including Limbers and Gun Crew -, AFV accessories, like Fascines and tracks for the Mk:s I to IV. They can be bought through the Scale Link hompage. (And Matador Models own fax number is: UK/01425-628219.)

SPECIAL TIP 2 & 3
Tracks & Troops in Belgium has a *very* wide range of 1/72-76 scale resin kits, including Al.By, MGM, Milicast, Exokit, Retromodels and many, many more, and they also sell hard-to-get accessories for the same scale from firms like Part and Extratech. Check them out!. The German supplier United Fun carries an even larger range of 1/72-76 scale kits, both resin and plastic, from among others Cromwell, Kora, Milicast, CMSC and Emhar.

LINKS TO MANUFACTURERS
Cromwells models can be bought through their own site
Retromodels can be bought through Exokits site
Fine Scale Factory can be bought through their own site
Reviresco also have their own site
Milicast can be found at Accurate Armours site
Milicast can also be bought directly from Milicast themselves. Just mail Tom Welsh.
Modelkrak can be bought through Jadar Models in Poland
Kora Models can be bought from Panzershop in the Czech republic
MGM and Al.By can be bought through Tracks & Troops in Belgium
Matador Models can be bought through the Scale Link hompage
Leva Productions can be bought through their own site
Crusader Models can be bought through their own site

Back to Index�| Contact Me�

VEHICLE	MANUFACTURER	MEDIUM	QUALITY	NOTE
"Little Willie"	Matador Models	Resin & White Metal	Good	See review.
A7V	Milicast	Resin	Good	See Review. Kits exists of both multiplate and singleplate variants. With decals.
A7V	Kora Models	Resin	?	They produce kits of three variants: Early, Middle & late. Haven't seen any of them.
A7V	Reviresco	White Metal	?	Haven't seen it.
A7V	MGM	Resin	Fair	Some details a bit crude. Moulding not first rate. Track assemblies over-simplified. Milicasts offering is better.
A7V	Fine Scale Factory	Resin	?	Haven't seen it, but see Fine Scale Factorys own picture of the model.
Austin-Putilov 1917 halftrack A/C	Reviresco	White Metal	Good	Some details a little heavy. Requires work, but still better than the same firms "Erhardt" A/C.
Austin-Putilov A/C	Extratech	Resin	Have not seen it	Also contains photo-etched parts
Austin Series I A/C	Modelkrak	Resin	Excellent	The variant with symmetrically placed turrets. See review in Internet Modeler
Charron 1906 A/C	Retromodels	Resin	Good	Alternative parts for two different marks.
Erhardt Strassenpanzer 1917 A/C	Reviresco	White Metal	Fair	Moulding & fit not perfect. General shape OK, but it requires work, as most details are crude and overscale.
Erhardt Strassenpanzer 1917 A/C	MGM	Resin	Excellent	Nice, crisp mouldings. Captures the form very nicely. Recommended.
Ford Tfc A/C	RPM	Plastic	Good	See review in Internet Modeler and also this one on the On the Way-site
FT-17	Matchbox	Plastic	Good	Riveted "Omnibus"-turret. Both gun & MG variants. Boxed together with the Char B1. Is now discontinued: get it if you can!
FT-17	AL.BY	Resin	Superb	Cast "Girod"-turret. Both gun & MG variants. Individual track-links.
FT-17	Retromodels	Resin	Excellent	Includes internal detail. They manufacture a number of variants of this AFV, including Signal tank, 75mm Howitzer tank and even a Balloon tank!
FT-17 Signal	BW Models	White Metal	Good	They also manufacture variant with cast "Girod"-turret.
FT-17	Reviresco	White Metal	?	Haven't seen it, but according to Michal Derela it's "nice-looking".
FT-17	NRC	Resin	"Mediocre" according to Michal Derela	Cast "Girod"-turret, no tail.
Gun Carrier Mk I	Retromodels	Resin	Excellent	Very ambitious kit: over 74 parts! No gun supplied, however. For views of a completed kit, see Hans von Oerles site.
K-Wagen	Kora Models	Resin	Good	See Review.
Lanchester 1915 A/C	Reviresco	White Metal	?	Haven�t seen this one, but see notes by Pat Storto on his site.
Lancia Armoured Lorry	Reviresco	White Metal	?	Haven�t seen this one.
Lancia IZ	Reviresco	White Metal	?	Haven�t seen this one.
LK II	Cromwell	Resin	Excellent	Portrays the MG variant.
Mk A Whippet	Retromodels	Resin	Good	See Review. They also manufacture a Beutepanzer-variant.
Mk A Whippet	Milicast	Resin	Good	See Review.
Mk A Whippet	Black Star	Resin	Crude	Intended only for wargamers. (But see kit built by Pat Storto, shown on his site.)
Mk I Male	Airfix	Plastic	Good	An old kit, but can still be made into a nice model. Lots of possibilities for conversions. See Hans van Oerles notes on correcting the Airfix kit.
Mk I Female	Matador Models	Resin	?	Conversion kit for the Airfix model. Haven't seen it.
Mk I Wireless tank	Matador Models	Resin	?	Conversion kit for the Airfix model. Haven't seen it.
Mk II Female	Matador Models	Resin	?	Conversion kit for the Airfix model. With track with grousers, and torpedo spuds. Haven't seen it myself.
Mk IV Female	Black Star	Resin	Crude	Will only satisfy wargamers, but see this model by
Mk IV Male	Matador Models	Resin	?	Conversion kit for the Airfix model. Haven't seen it.
Mk IV Female	Emhar	Plastic	Excellent	Some details a bit on the heavy side. Lots of possibilities for conversions.
Mk IV Male	Emhar	Plastic	Excellent	Some details a bit on the heavy side. Lots of possibilities for conversions. See Review by Doug Chaltry on his homepage "On the Way".
Mk V *	Cromwell	Resin	Superb	See review.
Mk VIII "The International"	Cromwell	Resin	Superb	See review.
Peugeot 1915 A/C	Retromodels	Resin	Excellent	They manufacture 2 different versions.
Pierce-Arrow Armoured Lorry w/ 2 pdr Pom-Pom	Matador Models	Resin	Excellent	Many small detailed parts.
Putilov-Austin A/C	Modelkrak	Resin	?	See review in Internet Modeler
Putilov-Austin A/C	Cromwell	Resin	Excellent	The variant with asymmetrically placed turrets. Open drivers flap on kit.
Putilov-Austin A/C	Leva	Resin	?	Have not seen it.
Putilov-Garford A/C	Modelkrak	Resin	?	See review in Internet Modeler
Putilov-Garford A/C	Cromwell	Resin	Excellent	Includes 2 crew figures
Renault 1915 A/C	Retromodels	Resin	Good	They manufacture 2 different versions.
Rolls Royce A/C	Milicast	Resin	Excellent	Ambitious kit: 32 parts.
Rolls-Royce A/C	Reviresco	Resin	?	They make a number of variants. Haven�t seen any of them.
Russo-Balt A/C	Modelkrak	Resin	Excellent	Very sparse instructions. See review in Internet Modeler
S:t Chamond	JMGT	Resin w. Photo-etch & white metal	?	They manufacture both early and late variants.
S:t Chamond	Reviresco	White metal	?	They manufacture two variants.
S:t Chamond	Fine Scale Factory	Resin	?	Have not seen it, but see this built kit by Pat Storto, and also Fine Scale Factorys own picture of the model.
S:t Chamond	Retromodels	Resin	?	Haven�t seen this one. They manufacture the first version.
Schneider CA 1	Reviresco	White Metal	?	Haven�t seen this one.
Schneider CA 1	Retromodels	Resin	Excellent	Crisp mouldings, and some very fine details - including a pennant! Very nice set of background material. They manufacture three different variants.
Schneider CA 1	Crusader Models	Resin	?	Haven�t seen this one.