What kind of wooden model is this?

[RobertE]

This tank is about 14 inches long and made of wood. It has the capture papers with it, and was brought back from Germany in 1945 - the box goes with it.

Were these used for war gaming? Scaring the family cat? Birthday presents?

What are these used for?

I appreciate any help - s/f Robert

[RobertE]

Any ideas?

[Dan T.]

Robert,

I believe these were identification training models.

[DaveG]

I've got an identical one (without box) and have always wondered about its origin. I had no idea if it was scratch built or what. It has a surprising amount of moving parts and detail for an ID model (in my opinion). The turret rotates, the treads and bogeys function properly, the front flap guards are hinged, etc.

Dave

[prorege1]

Any markings, labels or text on the tank itself? I recently bought a 1/20 scale wooden Tiger I German recognition model from a forum member, quite nice.

Link:

http://www.mikes-tanks.com/RecognitionModels.htm

[RobertE]

Dan and Dave, I believe these were used for training, and I suppose friendly forces tank ID could be part of that. As these are German tank models and the Germans made them, they could have used them so German gunners wouldn't engage their own armor. I suppose pilots could use them in the same manner.

I have seen models used in terrain orientations or during briefings to show disposition of forces, but they lack the detail of these tanks.

Prorege1, I can't open the link from this computer, but will check it out this evening. I appreciate the link!

Regards, Robert

[Dan T.]

Robert and Dave,

Looks to be a Rodach Mk IV ID model.

[RobertE]

Thanks Dan. Do you have a feel for how many tank models there were in the series? s/f Robert

[prorege1]

Hope you can open the link I provided earlier, it reads amongst others:

A partial listing of Rodach models:

<table id="table6" border="1" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center">Churchill </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">T-34 </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> KV-1</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">StuG III </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> PZKW IV</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> Sherman</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> Panther</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> Tiger</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> German half tracks (2 types)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> T34-76</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">T34-85</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

[prorege1]

One more link with the same tank as yours:

http://www.doxaerie.com/historical_models.htm

[RobertE]

Thanks for pulling that from the site; darn firewalls! This must be the T-34 then - s/f Robert

[RobertE]

Thanks very much for the information!

[Dan T.]

Great models Robert. In Wade Krawczyk's book "The Panzer Soldier", you'll find a section addressing ID models.