MENG TS-017 German A7V Tank

Another little piece of history, the German A7V heavy tank was the first tank produced by the Germans in the First World War. The first British tanks appeared on the Western Front in 1916, which prompted the Germans to begin exploring tank design and manufacture. The design they came up with was the A7V, although only handful were heavily armed and used for combat purposes – the rest were use as Überlandwagen supply vehicles.

It’s curious to consider what the armies of the world must have though when these metal beasts first starting rolling across the battlefields. Huge military vehicles had generally been seen only at sea or in the skies, but for relatively poorly-armed infantry these behemoths must have been a terrifying glimpse into what modern warfare would become.

While the A7V doesn’t quite have the traditional tank appeal, lacking a mounted turret, it is an impressive vehicle nonetheless. This model comes with workable tracks and the viewing ports can be opened. As with other models from Meng, the parts are precision engineered and wonderfully detailed, making this another excellent choice for model buildings and military history enthusiasts alike.

• Length: 17cm
• Ages: 14+
• Pieces: 100
• Scale: 1:35