Poor Man's Brickmania...
Brickmania, even though expensive, and I understand why (sourcing parts, exclusive unique printing, custom graphics, custom weapons, elements, limited runs, etc.), to their credit offer many tanks and vehicles from a rival company, Cobi.
You don't see that often in the toy market. Hats off to Brickmania.
You can use Brickmania discounts on Cobi products too on Brickmania's site.
I'm sure many of you know this, just wanted to point it out to any new comers.
So I got this Cobi Sherman M4A1 awhile back and did super minor simple cosmetic mods using Brickmania stickers, elements, BrickArms weapons, Lego parts, BrickWarp elements, etc.
My first Cobi tank and I have to say it's a sturdy good looking Sherman, can stand up for play and looks great on display at a fraction of the cost of a Brickmania tank (which I have a few and love them as well).
So if you don't want to drop high dollar on your military vehicles, give Cobi a shot. It's worth it.
The caveat I'd say is color matching Cobi's tones with Lego colors if you want to mod with Lego bricks.
COBI 3044 Company of Heroes 3 Sherman M4A1
615 parts
1:35th scale
One minifigure, with helmet and weapon.
PRO's:
- Excellent design and shaping. The tank itself looks better than some Brickmania Sherman's.
- Extremely sturdy solid model, can handle play.
- Detailed interior engine with opening hatch.
- Nice pleasing Olive Drab tone. Not sure if exactly military OD, but looks very good.
- Printed elements (hatches, insignias, sighting device, power unit compartment cover, shell ejection port, etc).
- Accessories (crates, shovel, sandbag, M3 submachine gun, jerrycans, Browning .50 caliber machine gun).
- Lights, coaxial machine gun, tracks, rear tow hitch, towing hooks, ventilators, radio antennae, etc.
- Very detailed but molded drive sprockets, bogies, track support rollers.
- Rolls smooth and nice on rough surface. Not so much on smooth.
- Turret turns °360, cannon elevates up and down.
CON's:
- Back rear section, too many gaps.
- Driver's hatches for some reason are printed small on 1x2 w/rounded edges. Looks out of scale.
- Shovel element comes in two parts that comes apart very easily.
- No printed star on turret.
- No .30 caliber on turret.
- Cobi figures are really too goofy looking. Very unappealing.
- For some reason, tanker helmet looks like a Soviet WW2 tanker helmet.
- Need to take off legs for commander to fit in properly in turret. He can stand with legs, but not a proper look.
- To fit driver figures, need take off arms and legs to fit properly.
Of note: Box graphics, art.
Cobi does itself a disservice with their box art. Doesn't do the tank justice. The colors are too dark and saturated. The green color is way off from the actual model. Makes the toy look cheap.