Cool Stuff: M4A1 Sherman miniature

The Sherman tank was the workhorse of the U.S. Army in Europe, and it’s a damn fine tank in COH. Imagine my delight when I saw a beautifully detailed little miniature Sherman tank sitting in the toys section of my local Target store. I took this picture of the little Sherman, which is a 1:72 scale model, perched on a coatstand. You can clearly make out the open hatch and the commander sitting above it, binoculars in hand, one arm perched casually over the .50 caliber machine gun feared by Grenadiers everywhere. It came with a handful of little soldiers and tank traps, also to scale.

My fellow gamers, you may laugh if you wish. But you know that somewhere inside you is a little boy (or girl, to be politically correct) who thinks little toy tanks are cool. If you were holding this handsome Sherman tank in your hands, you may feel a sudden urge to drive it around with your finger, while a low, rumbling noise that sounds suspiciously like a tank engine begins to form in your throat. Admit it: it would be damned COOL to have a highly detailed, miniature Firefly or Tiger tank sitting on your desk to inspire your gameplay.

I did a little research online and it turns out that the company making these things has a serious eye for detail. The Sherman I bought for the low, low price of $14.99 is made from die-cast steel and is carefully proportioned based on schematics of the real Sherman.

The turrent rotates, the main gun elevates and the tracks — made from realistic-looking black vinyl — actually move! Everything about these models, from the detailed weathered paint jobs to the markings to the accompanying infantry (Riflemen, MG teams, Mortar teams, etc.) seems to parallel COH to an amazing degree. Just a testament to Relic’s attention to detail and this model company’s, as well.

The company’s name is Unimax, and its line of military models is called Forces of Valor. They’ve got tons of models, from World War II to the Gulf War. A large number of their models are “retired” meaning they aren’t sold anymore, which is too bad, since many are really cool — larger 1:32 scale King Tigers, Shermans, Panzer IVs, etc.

But they continue to issue new models every year. You can check out their website here. I’ve bought a few other Forces of Valor models and in the coming days I’ll do a few review-type posts on the ones I’ve got.