Model Military Vehicle - Subjects

Subjects

Military vehicle modelers build a wide variety of models. Tanks and other armored fighting vehicles are the most popular subjects at model contests. Modelers also build ordnance, military trucks and half-tracks, and lighter vehicles such as jeeps and motorcycles. Models may be displayed in stand-alone mode, that is, with no base, or on a decorative base, often with a label of some kind. More elaborate bases may include scale scenery, intended to depict the setting in which the vehicle served. This trends towards the closely related hobby of diorama building.

Modelers tend to focus on vehicles from three eras. World War I, World War II, and the modern era. The first denotes armored vehicles from their inception into combat during the first World War until approximately 1939. Vehicles of this time period are considered to be experimental for the most part and did not make major contributions to what few battles they took part in.

Vehicles between 1914 and 1918 are not as numerous as their later world war counterparts, but are often just as commonly available, being produced by high-volume companies such as Emhar. Recently, there has been a trend amongst small producers to make resin add-ons and extra tank tracks, since those supplies by Emhar are tapes of soft plastic (Much like in 1:72 scale rather than individual track links (As seen in most 1:35 scale models). Some companies (regardless of production number), particularly in Eastern Europe make little-known WWI designs such as the Tsar Tank or the K-Wagen. These are expensive and scarcely available outside the production country.

Vehicles used between 1939 and 1945 fall into the Second World War category. Even though this area spans the shortest number of years, it is by far the most popular for armor modelers due to the enormous range of vehicles used and the vast improvements in armor technology. During the early part of the war, most armored vehicles were smaller, less heavily armored, and lightly armed. Major tank engagements early on convinced governments on all sides of the need for more survivable and deadlier vehicles.

Any vehicle serving in a setting after 1945 is considered "modern". This encompasses a longer time span and very large number of armor designs from all countries.

Models may also be categorized by place of service, for example, US or Soviet. They may also be categorized by function, for example, combat engineering vehicles, recovery vehicles, etc. In all cases, the national and unit markings on the replica determine the era and user nationality. For example, a model of a Sherman tank, a World War II design, would be considered a 'modern' model if the tank were shown in Israeli markings from the Six-Day War. The same vehicle in World War II US Army markings would be considered a World War II Allied subject.

Models are generally built with historical accuracy in mind, and each model may represent many hours of research effort on the part of the modeler. Frequently, modelers display some of their research work alongside their model.

There is generally some crossover of modelers between the eras, though some focus solely on a specific era, country of origin/operation, or even to a specific vehicle.