War Master Military Machines 1:72 Diecast Tanks and Armor

The War Master tanks shown on this page reproduce the glory that was/is tanking. War Master diecast features unique, hard-to-find subjects that the other manufacturers have ignored. From the 1:72 Sonderkraftfahrzeug to the die cast bladed Sherman, War Master has the tanks every collector relishes for their collection.

When armchair historians and fans of WWII tend to think of tanks and other military vehicles they tend to focus on battles, firepower and pure intimidation wrought by these mechanical monsters. Essentially a marriage of tractor and automotive technology, tanks produced by their respective countries often shared many commonalities within the borders. Overlooked by many aficionados, the durability, serviceability, and mechanical soundness of the tanks is a crucial factor in battlefield success. Burning up a clutch or throwing a rod at the wrong moment could mean instant death for the crew.

German tanks were marvels of technology, the finest tanks made under optimum conditions. However, German armor, like a 1965 BMW, Mercedes, or Audi auto, for example, required a tremendous amount of maintenance to keep running. Early in the war, driving a Panzer 1000 miles from the factory to the front lines would have exacted a prohibitive toll on the machine and it would be worn out before it ever was used in a fight. Rail became a mainstay in bringing up replacement tanks from the rear. Anything to keep the number of hours and miles on each machine to minimum was vital. The Germans struggled mightily with keeping their machines in a state of satisfactory operational readiness.

The Russians built their tanks much simpler than the Germans. Russian armor and their crews were treated more as disposable. Built fast, cheap and Spartan, Su-85 required less maintenance than its Hetzer counterpart. The biggest negative of the Russian machines were their poor parts tolerances and fit-and-finish quality leaving the factory. In today’s terms, we’d say they were a bit “junky”. Crude and uncomfortable as they were, the Russians were usually able to field large numbers of units when the shooting began each day.

America, boasting the world’s most advanced automotive production facilities in the 1940s was able to overwhelm with sheer numbers AND quality. While most American tanks like the Sherman and LVT had relatively weak defensive armor, pedestrian firepower, and a high profile, these beasts worked. Able to withstand punishing conditions for many months on end, American armor functioned when it was needed even if subjected to considerable neglect and hard use. In the end, the faster moving, more reliable machines built in the USA won the day because they appeared on the battlefield day-in-and-day-out in large numbers and functioned at a very high operational readiness state.