Trade Federation Tank

from "Star Wars - Episode 1: The Phantom Menace" (1999)

Scale: 1/48
Initial Release: 1999
Medium: Polystyrene
Kit Rarity: 3

About the Design

Featured prominently in the "The Phantom Menace's" climactic battle scene, the Trade Federation Tank was a oddly-shaped, slow-moving and apparently lightly armed fighting vehicle propelled by a combination of jet and hover technology.  Its elevated turret position makes one wonder how such a vehicle could be effective against low-lying ground targets.

About the Kit

This was one of the largest kits produced by AMT/Ertl in conjunction with "TPM," and it built up very nicely.  However, like most of the "TPM" kits released in 1999 and 2000, it was a slow seller, a fact that caused AMT/Ertl to ultimately abandon the once-lucrative "Star Wars" license.

The model was built from an original issue.