Before model tanks were even a gleam in their builders' eyes their full size and fully functional namesakes were built. The history of tanks is quite diverse and no one country can take full credit for their creation. In ancient times the precursors of the modern tank were used to keep infantry units from being destroyed by enemy archers. Even the great Leonardo Di Vinci drew plans for a mechanized troop carrier that could be used as a weapon.

The eras that make up the history of the tank can be divided up into three basic categories. These categories can usually be defined by the introduction of a new technological advance that furthered the refinement of the tank as a viable weapon. The first of three categories is the Pre-WWII era which ran from 1916 until roughly 1936. It was during this time that the tanks were first developed. Very crude and unelaborated, these vehicles were very slow and tended to be extremely heavy. They also did not carry very much firepower and tended to be used as a way for infantry to safely cut across the trenches of the enemy.

It was during this period that most tanks were kept with the infantry units. During the next historical era of the tank (1936 - 1945) there was a rethinking of the tank concept. The tanks were lightened up a great deal and many were mounted with large bore guns or large caliber machine guns. The armor process was somewhat improved on as was the ventilation for the tank crews. The last or most recent era of the tank has seen a huge range of improvements made to the tank.

Many became very specialized such as the flame thrower tanks (which have since been discontinued) or the technically advanced Abrams M1A2 which is the most recent tank created by the United States. Now that the whole warfare dynamic is changing once more many tanks are not being replaced as they begin to wear out. They are simply being brought back, disassembled, outfitted with the latest technology and then totally reassembled. With no new true tanks being created it is conceivable that we have seen the end of an era.

No matter what era you choose your next model tank from you can rest assured that you will be helping to keep a piece of history alive. As long as model builders continue to seek out new tank models there will be manufacturers who are ready to produce them.