Menards tank is back

Yep, the first run was a sell out.

 

   Bill T.

cabinet Bob,

Thanks for letting everyone know. This run will sellout also. This would be a good item for them to run a (6) or even a (12) car special.

Interesting. Is that really a model of a U.S. Army tank?

NOPE it is not.
the turret is similar to an m47 tank.
the chassis is a cross between a Porsche Tiger I prototype from Germany in ww2 with elements of a Russian BMP postwar tracked vehicle.
Total fantasy design.

Thanks. I figured something was a bit odd looking, having spent almost 2 years in the 2nd Armored Division, the "Tankers" sure didn't have anything like THAT. But then I was assigned to the Headquarters, Division Artillery, so I could have missed something. 

cabinet Bob,

    If they have upgraded the trucks I will probably order a couple more for my SF Army Train, when somebody receives their order please let us know.

PCRR/Dave

I just ordered one.

Lee, Not that I am sharp shooting but, Fantasy design yes but Mix is the following

 

Main gun similar in appearance to the 90mm used on the M41D or the M109 Paladin in length and thickness  but still fantasy

 

 

 

Turret:  M41A1 Walker Bulldog

 

 

Hull: Tiger Mk I

 

 

Not even a hint of a BMP1/2

 

  Unless you were thinking of the M-551 Sheridan BMP 1 VISMOD used at NTC until replaced by the M113A3 BMP VISMOD not pictured. still not even close.

  

I ordered 4 last night along with 2 of the army box cars, they will look great on the layout, can't wait.

 

Paul

Hmmm...picked to pieces by knowledgable.  Even if they were immediate pre WWII

being shipped to allies (and I am not sure we were doing that, and when, which I would like to find out...that is, when was war materiel really rolling on U.S. roads, before to support allies, or after Pearl Harbor)?  I'd have to do my homework. 

These are to represent more recent conflicts.

 

1. Yeah, I wrote 47 when I was thinking 41...
2. There never was a tank known as a "Tiger MKI". Tiger was the name the Germans (Ferdinand Porsche supposedly came up with it) gave to the MKVI tank. Officially, it was known as Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung E, or also the ordnance inventory SDKFZ 181. Once the Type B  (182) tank came out, that was called a "Tiger II" or a "King" or "Royal" Tiger depending on who you were talking to. Oddly enough, the model in the first post has the treads and suspension/roadwheels for a 182, as designed by Porsche (as opposed to the Henschel designed suspension used on the 181). The photo you used was of the only running surviving Tiger I, at Bovington in England, a tank better known as the very tank taken out by Brad Pitt and crew in the film, "Fury" which was the very first movie ever to feature a real running Tiger tank.
3. The hull is way too long to be any class of German tank. It reminds me a great deal of a BMP for how long slung the hull is and how long it is. Even for a Tiger, it uses a 181 upper hull which is compressed way too short, an overall hull which is way too long, and treads coming off a totally different tank, a 182. I never said it was one, but that it seemed to me to be a hybrid between a Tiger I and a 'BiMP" in regard for how it appears. I stand by that.

 

 

 Well, someone DID ask if it was a type of tank the US Army had, as seen below:

 

I'm really not a stickler for detail, but the tank is a bit jarring.  I wonder why they went with that design.  There are no shortage of cheap mostly-realistic tank toys and models being made overseas.

 

Still, I could easily see removing the tank and dropping it's light and sound pack and barrel into one of the many cheap 1/48 scale tank kits that are available.  One could even use the classic timmee Toys style army man tank.  Those are at least pretty close to an M48.

 

 

The hull is way too long to be any class of German tank.   Hull length increased by the toy manufacture due to relocation of the drive sprocket and Idler arm wheel being lowered to run even with the road wheels. (Note the increase length of the front sloop eliminating the machine gunner position and obvious reconfiguration of the driver position) Giving it a lower profile more in line with the German Leopold 1 and length increased by about a 1 1/2 feet. It also retains the eight road wheels, front drive sprocket and the rear idler arm wheel as in the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E Sd. Kfz. 181.

With that being said I should have stated a modified Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E Sd. Kfz. 181.

  

Turret and main gun. Assessment stays the same. But do note in pic of the Manard's Tank the turret and main gun are oversized in relation to the hull.  

 

colorado hirailer   These are to represent more recent conflicts. That would be a correct assessment of the Manard's tankas it would be if real. It would fall in the MBT category as the M1A1/Leopold II/ Challenger II /ROTEM K2 (Black Panther).

 

It reminds me a great deal of a BMP for how long slung the hull is and how long it is. Even for a Tiger, it uses a 181 upper hull which is compressed way too short, an overall hull which is way too long, and treads coming off a totally different tank, a 182. I never said it was one, but that it seemed to me to be a hybrid between a Tiger I and a 'BiMP" in regard for how it appears. I stand by that.  The BMP1/2 IFV http://www.military-today.com/apc/bmp1.htm  dose not even come close in resemblance or in concept. and is shorter in length ( 6.74m) 0 when compared to the 181 (8.45m) . The Manards tank  if real, would be longer and taller

 

 

 Well, someone DID ask if it was a type of tank the US Army had, as seen below:

 

 

I was just watching a Godzilla/Rodan movie and the tanks looked similar. 

Correct, I know I see that design before, Now they need to do one of those Mazor cannons that shoots the funky laser beams at the big guy.

A nice deal for $25.00

LOL, a flatcars with a tank for $25 and the folks are griping that Menards didn't use a scale tank. Some folks just want to gripe about everything in this hobby. Its a toy, chill out.

 

   Bill T.

OK Guys.....lets be nice AND thankful here.  You all are worried about the tank...well, have you looked at the flat car?  This is not intended to be a scale representation of any prototype for Heaven's sake!  It is offered at a price point that has little to do with scale or accuracy but we are very lucky to have at least an option for those folks that aren't concerned about "the details"....

 

Alan

Yep, there is a vendor at York that has scale flats and tanks ranging from $150 to $250, he has probably what they want.

 

   Bill T.

The other option is to make your own. This is a 1/56 sword version of the Abrams. Total cost with flat car @$70.

Someone post if these come with the upgraded trucks and couplers.  The ad seemed to indicate the same trucks as the first run.  BigRail

I do not think anyone is maligning the car and tank, they know it is a toy tank on a traditional type flatcar and is selling for a great price. What they are having is a little fun in the design of the tank. German treads and body with an american type turret with far oversize gun. They are having a little FUN  with the tank not the manufacture of the flatcar, They also understand if it was a scale model it would cost around what MTH sells their USA army tank with flat at 70.00 bucks.

Alan,

   I lovem if they upgraded the trucks, I put the MTH premium trucks on the 1st generation Menard's Tank Flat Car, it now runs down the tracks perfectly. I am hoping the 2nd generation runs perfectly right out of the box with better Trucks, other wise I will replace them with the MTH Premiums.  Still a great deal either way.

PCRR/Dave

I had a couple of folks that didn't understand my post above....  Let me explain:  I had to edit/delete a couple of posts that were on a personal level and simply were not appropriate thus the reason for what I said above.  No problem with questioning the tank etc. but keep the personal jabs to yourself...please!

 

Thanks,

Alan

If budget "realism" is the goal, then a Menards flat is $8, a 1/48 scale model of a range of ww2 and semi-modern tanks is $15 shipped.  The tanks come molded in "army" colors, so all you might need is some leftover decals and a bit of paint for the flat.  You wouldn't have the light and sound, but that's probably not much of a loss for those who prefer a bit more realism.

 

I don't mean to malign the product, just to say that it's not out of the realm of possibility to do a slightly more realistic tank at the same pricepoint.