6 Of The Best Army Tank Toys

If your child is into army toys then once you’ve bought them their fill of army men toys, they are going to need some tanks and other toy army vehicles to complete their play experience.

As such you will want to know what is on offer in the tank toys for kids range and what if anything is any good. Basically army tank toys can be categorized into three groups: basic toy tanks, remote control toy tanks, toy tank model kits and collectors pieces.

Below we cover each group and give you our ‘top picks’ for what is worth buying.

Basic Toy Tanks

Die Cast Toy Tanks – 3 Piece Set

This pack of three die cast army tanks makes the ideal play set for army mad children. Each tank is a different camouflage color and the main gun on each moves up and down. They are not a bad size at 4.5″ long by 2.25″ wide and being friction powered you just pull back and let go for great role play fun. They are well detailed making for a nice looking toy. They are also available as single tanks. Click the link to read our more detailed review of these toy army tanks.

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Military Vehicles Backpack Playset

This playset offers good value for money coming with 10 die cast metal and plastic army vehicles and accessories. The plastic backpack is great for storing or carrying the toys out on trips or to friends houses and the cardboard backing doubles up as a playmat and game. The vehicles may vary between packs, but you are likely to get a tank or two. The quality between the plastic and die cast toys can vary but some details like a moving track on the tank are a nice touch.

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RC Toy Tanks

Abrams Remote Control Toy Tank 1:24

For a more fun army toy tank, why not consider a remote control version for the ultimate in role play. This 1:24 scale model of an Abrams tank comes equipped with a motor air gun that fires up to 40 6mm Airsoft BBs in a fast continuous stream with a range of up to 25 meters.

The turret can spin 320 degrees and the gun can be raised to a 20 degree height. It is large at 41cm long and can move via the remote control forwards at two speed settings or backwards. Everything you need is included in the set such as the tank, the RC, a battery charger and rechargeable battery. It also includes a box of accessories and a box of BB pellets.

The tank’s detailing is very realistic as is its motion and the caterpillar tracks have a good grip meaning it runs well on uneven terrain such as your carpet, or even courses that you might want to create in your garden.

The only downsides are that you need to stay within 10-12′ of the tank for the RC to function properly and that the BB pellets can hurt if they hit you. There is a safety feature on the firing mechanism to stop accidents though.

This RC toy tank is quick to charge and get going – a 15 minute charge will set you up for about an hour’s play. It is lots of fun to play with, both driving and shooting, so it will be hard to just stand by and watch your kids get on with it!

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Toy Tank Model Kits

1:35 German Leopard Tank Kit

This 1:35 scale model is a plastic kit of one of the Leopard German toy tanks and offers assembly as well as fun play once built. It needs the separate purchase of glue and paints but does come with an action figure to enhance the playing experience. The tank is very detailed so will look real once built and is weapons ready with a gun barrel, machine gun carriage and towing rope.

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1:48 Toy Sherman Tank Kit

This 1:48 scale model kit of a Sherman tank has a weighty lower hull made from coated die cast metal. The rest of the model is made of plastic and comes with three sets of markings. Once built it is durable and would be ideal to teach children a little about the armed forces.

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Collectors Tanks

Unimax Forces of Valor 1:32 Scale U.S. M4A3 Sherman D-Day Tank

Unimax are our favorite brand for Forces Of Valor tanks are available in 1:32 or 1:72 scale models. This 1:32 model of a US Sherman D-Day tank is an authentic replica made from die cast metal and plastic. It is very detailed with rolling tracks, turning turrets and opening hatches. It is dark green and comes with appropriate markings. It has sandbag protection on the front and comes with many accessories including four figures and various equipment. This type of battle tank was produced a lot in WWII so makes a great choice for army role play. This toy and in fact all of those in the Forces of Valor range are ideal for both collectors and older children.

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Best GI Joe Vehicles

GI Joe must be THE action figure of choice for boys, so if your children are into GI Joe figures, then help complete their role play fun with some of the cool GI Joe vehicles on offer.

There are a wide range available to choose from including vintage versions, however, those most popular with kids today are those from the live action movie, The Rise Of Cobra.

There are two ranges as well as individual toy army vehicles to choose from. The Alpha range vehicles come with launchers, projectiles and surprise attack features as well as a 3.75″ figure. For example the Ghost Hawk comes with a firing missile launcher, rotating engines and interchangeable weapon accessories and the cockpit opens so the figure can ride inside.

The Bravo vehicles are larger and equipped with a hidden reveal weapons system. This means you just have to pop up the missile launcher and flip down the missile storage bays to be weapons ready. A 3.75″ figure comes again as standard.

You can also find the PIT Mobile Headquarters which is a great GI Joe playset. It has multiple levels and represents the fortress HQ of operations from the movie. To start with it operates as a heavily armored vehicle but then transforms into a high tech HQ where up to 84 of your child’s GI Joe figures can plan operations. It has various interesting features such as elevators, sounds and secret compartments. When in vehicle mode there are weapons at the sides and front and these convert to a gun platform when used as the HQ and it comes with a 3.75″ figure to start off any collection.

Below are our top picks for the three best GI Joe toy vehicles but click here for the full range of vehicles.

GI Joe Bravo Vehicle Steel Crusher H2 With Nitro Viper

The Steel Crusher is an armor plated enemy GI Joe vehicle that shows brute force strength when on its destructive missions. It is basically a Humvee that transforms into the intimidating attack vehicle. The Nitro Viper baddie figure is on the run and the GI Joe team has to stop him before he pops up the missile launcher and blasts them or anything else in his way. The figure sports an armored outfit and helmet. The vehicle’s front doors open so the figure can sit at the wheel and drive and there is an Iron Plow attachment he can use to increase the danger to the Joes.

The vehicle looks good and feels sturdy. Extremities such as the front ramming grill and side mirrors are either removable or are made of soft plastic so don’t break easily. The tires are real rubber, not plastic, so grip well on most home surfaces and stop the vehicle rolling over too much. There is an armored shield on the roof that can be slid down over the windshield as required. This then releases the passenger to stand up and fire from the hole in the roof. There are hidden panels on the passenger doors that pull off to reveal concealed rockets. There is room for two figures to sit inside the vehicle but there are also foot pegs around the vehicle for extra figures to ride along. Overall this vehicle is highly recommended.

GI Joe R.H.I.N.O. Vehicle

In all its glory, RHINO stands for ‘Rapid Heli-Intigrated Neutralizing Offensive’. This basically means you get a two in one vehicle that is combat ready with its hidden helicopter – it is effectively a ground/helicopter vehicle combination.

This blue-gray vehicle is awesome and full of features, the most exciting of which is the detachable helicopter. All you have to do to deploy it is push a button at the rear and a spring loaded platform effectively pops the helicopter part out of the middle of the vehicle. You then get to pull out the rotor blades and away it goes.

The two vehicles come with three missile pods that can be attached to either. The ground vehicle also features six opening hatches, plenty of room for more of your collection of figures (up to nine more in addition to the new Rampage figure that you get) and has multiple mount points for weapons. The only downsides are that only the single missile launcher actually fires and the tires are back to plastic rather than the rubber versions found on the Steel Crusher above. They still roll well though. Overall this vehicle is chunky, durable and fun. With a great design and so many features it is bound to please any GI Joe toys fan.

GI Joe Night Raven Vehicle With Air Viper

The Night Raven is the fearsome fighter jet aircraft from the movie. This role play copy offers hours of adventurous play with its raft of electronic lights and sounds. There is a handle you can lower to “fly” this jet vehicle and there is retractable landing gear to make flight time more realistic. The included Air Viper 3.75″ action figure fits neatly into the cockpit via the opening hatch. For combat there is a lock-and-load firing action with two rotary 6-missile launchers – two missiles are fired with each trigger pull but they can be refired quickly for a rapid fire action.

The sounds are realistic and varied to keep the effects interesting. You can also play them simultaneously. They include jet fly by and pilot communication sounds as well as firing blasts and bullet ricochets. On the downside it would have been nice if it was a bit bigger and came with wheels that roll. Overall this is an impressive and durable warbird. Just make sure you buy the 3 AA batteries for it before your GI Joe fan is left disappointed.

So if your army toys fans are into GI Joe, don’t miss out on these extra special vehicles.