When you are looking for the best Flames of War tank sets, the catalogue rewards patience. Battlefront makes dozens of armoured boxes, and the choice comes down to era, faction and how much of an army you want on the table for your first game.
A Flames of War tank set is a boxed bundle of 28mm-scale World War II armoured miniatures plus the cards and decals needed to field that force. Some boxes are a single five-tank platoon, others are a complete two-player starter set. Plastic boxes arrive unassembled and unpainted, so clippers, glue and paint are on your list. Metal boxes arrive pre-assembled and unpainted. That difference surprises more new players than anything else on the page.
One quick correction before we get into the picks. Flames of War is played at 28mm, roughly 1:56 scale, not 1:100. If you came here from War Thunder or from diecast armour, the models are larger than you may expect and they fill a 6mm grid rather than a large table.
Is the hobby shrinking? No. The v4 ruleset is current, tank boxes are still the most common first purchase, and the community advice we found on r/flamesofwar still points new players at boxes such as Hit the Beach and the Heavy Tank Training Company. Below are the ten armoured boxes worth your attention in 2026.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Best Flames Of War Tank Sets (October 2026)
- At a Glance: Every Flames of War Tank Set Compared in 2026
- 1. Flames of War Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon – Best Overall Pick
- 2. Flames of War Panzer IV Platoon – Best for Versatile German Armour
- 3. Flames of War Tiger II Tank Platoon – Best Value
- 4. Flames of War M26 Pershing Tank Platoon – Best Rated Pick
- 5. Flames of War British Comet Armoured Squadron – Best All-in-One British Force
- 6. Flames of War M4 Sherman Tank Platoon – Best for US Late War
- 7. Flames of War M5 Stuart/M8 Scott Light Tank Platoon – Best for US Light Armour
- 8. Flames of War Soviet T-34 Tank Company – Best for Soviet Armour
- 9. Flames of War Fighting First US M3 Lee Tank Company – Best First Army
- 10. Flames of War Panther Late Tank Platoon – Best for Tank-Hunter Play
- How to Choose a Flames of War Tank Set in 2026?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Verdict on the Best Flames of War Tank Sets in 2026
Top 3 Best Flames Of War Tank Sets (October 2026)
Flames of War Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon
- 5x plastic Tiger tanks
- Tank Commander sprue
- 8.8cm gun
- Decal sheet
Flames of War M26 Pershing Tank Platoon
- 3x plastic Pershing tanks
- 90mm gun
- Build as M26 or T26
- Decal sheet
At a Glance: Every Flames of War Tank Set Compared in 2026
The table below covers every set in this roundup. All are plastic kits that need assembly and painting unless noted, and none include scenery, glue or paint.
| Product | Key Specs | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Flames of War Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon |
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Check Latest Price |
 Flames of War Panzer IV Platoon |
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Check Latest Price |
| Flames of War Tiger II Tank Platoon |
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Check Latest Price |
| Flames of War M26 Pershing Tank Platoon |
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Check Latest Price |
 Flames of War British Comet Armoured Squadron |
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Check Latest Price |
 Flames of War M4 Sherman Tank Platoon |
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Check Latest Price |
 Flames of War M5 Stuart/M8 Scott Platoon |
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Check Latest Price |
 Flames of War Soviet T-34 Tank Company |
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Check Latest Price |
 Flames of War Fighting First M3 Lee Tank Company |
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Check Latest Price |
 Flames of War Panther Late Tank Platoon |
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Check Latest Price |
1. Flames of War Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon – Best Overall Pick
Flames of War: Late War: German: Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon (GBX140)
★★★★★★★★★★5x plastic Tiger tanks with 8.8cm guns
Tank Commander sprue and decal sheet
- Excellent mould detail for the size of the box
- Complete platoon of five Tigers plus commander sprue and decal sheet
- 4.9 average across the largest review base in the roundup
- Requires assembly and painting before use
- Scenery
- glue and paint are not included
The Tiger platoon is the one I keep coming back to. Five Tigers, a Tank Commander sprue and a decal sheet in a box that measures 8 x 6 x 3 inches, and it carries a 4.9 average across 21 reviews, the largest review base of anything in this roundup.
The 8.8cm gun is what makes it work as a first armour purchase. The box description puts it plainly: the 8.8cm can slice through almost any tank’s armour, and the Tiger’s own thick armour defeats nearly all incoming anti-tank shells. Your first games are winnable and still feel like heavy armour warfare.
Reviewers single out the mould detail as unusually high for a kit of this size, and the model year is not specified, so treat the Tigers as a general Late War German heavy detachment.
What you get for the build time?
Seven items in total: five tanks, a commander sprue and a decal sheet. Budget a real evening for the first three tanks, and paint them in one scheme so the platoon reads as a single unit.
Who should skip it?
If you want variety on the table, five identical heavy tanks is a narrow roster. Players building a mixed Axis list usually want a Panther or Panzer IV next to the Tigers, and heavy armour skews toward slow, tough lists.
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2. Flames of War Panzer IV Platoon – Best for Versatile German Armour
Flames of War: Late War: German: Panzer IV Platoon (GBX142)
★★★★★★★★★★Five plastic Panzer IV tanks with 7.5cm guns
Tank Commander sprue and 3 unit cards
- Historically accurate mid-war German armour option
- Commander sprue
- decal sheet and unit cards in one box
- Workable armour with a 7.5cm gun that penetrates at effective range
- Lowest average rating in this roundup at 4.2
- Requires assembly and painting before use
The Panzer IV sits between the light and heavy boxes, and that is why it works. Half of the tanks in a Panzer Division were Panzer IVs, so a five-tank platoon is a historically fair slice of a division rather than an outlier.
The rules text notes that the 7.5cm gun penetrates most tanks at effective range while the armour matches a good medium tank. In practice the Panzers trade well at mid range and struggle up close.
What is in the box?
Five Panzer IV tanks, one Tank Commander sprue, one decal sheet and three unit cards, across ten pieces. That card count is lower than the US boxes here, so plan to buy a card set later.
The 4.2 average comes with 76 percent of ratings at four stars or better, and 13 percent at three stars.
Who should skip it?
They are a Mid War through Late War option, so a purely Early War player has no use for them, and value-focused buyers should weigh the 4.2 average before committing.
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3. Flames of War Tiger II Tank Platoon – Best Value
Flames of War: German Tiger II Tank Platoon (Late-War)
★★★★★★★★★★Three plastic Tiger II tanks with 8.8cm guns
One decal sheet
1944 model year, ages 14 and up
- 4.9 average from 15 reviews with 90 percent five-star scores
- Compact three-tank platoon for a small Late War detachment
- Buyers report high satisfaction with the build
- Smaller platoon than most boxes in this roundup
- Scenery
- glue and paint are not included
The Tiger II sits at the heavy end of the German armour in these boxes, and the package is correspondingly small. Three tanks, one decal sheet, four items in total, with a 1944 model year on the packaging.
Ninety percent of the 15 ratings are five stars. Owners describe the kit as excellent and look forward to the build.
How three tanks changes your list?
Three heavy tanks is a detachment, not a company, so you will need infantry and a transport to make it work. The box is also listed for six players, unusual for a single-army box.
Who should skip it?
New builders should note the payoff comes after the work, since three tanks is the smallest combat element here and nothing else in the box speeds up getting to the table. It is also a very late-war box, so Kursk or Stalingrad players have no use for it.
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4. Flames of War M26 Pershing Tank Platoon – Best Rated Pick
Flames of War WW2: M26 Pershing Tank Platoon
★★★★★★★★★★Three plastic tanks with 90mm guns
Build as M26 or T26 Super Pershing
- A perfect 5.0 average across all 10 reviews
- Build the same sprues as M26 Pershing or T26 Super Pershing
- Reported as an easy kit for new builders
- Only three vehicles per box so a platoon takes several purchases
- Requires assembly and painting before use
Every one of the ten ratings on this box is five stars, and the reviews back it up: owners call it a must-have for a US force and recommend it as a starting box.
The moulds are dual-purpose. Build them as M26 Pershings, or build the T26 Super Pershing with the longer 90mm barrel. The T26 version exists to take on the heaviest German tanks, the Tiger II and the Jagdtiger, which makes it the answer to the German heavy boxes on this list.
Why the 90mm matters on the table?
The 90mm began life as an anti-aircraft gun and turned out to be excellent at killing tanks. The box text states it can easily knock out most German tanks, including the Tiger and Panther.
Who should skip it?
Three vehicles per box means a full platoon takes several purchases, and it is a Late War American box, so Early War and Mid War players should start elsewhere. For a full US armour company in one purchase, Fighting First covers that instead.
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5. Flames of War British Comet Armoured Squadron – Best All-in-One British Force
Flames of War British Comet Armoured Squadron
★★★★★★★★★★13 tanks, 3 ram transports, 2 tank destroyers
A5 rulebook and 10 unit cards
- 13 tanks
- 3 ram transports
- tank destroyers and self-propelled guns
- A5 rulebook included
- 21 models in a single purchase
- One reviewer reports soft resin rifle figures with detaching heads
- Most expensive box in the roundup
- Large number of models to assemble and paint
The Comet Armoured Squadron is the odd one out because it is a starter set, not a platoon box. It contains 21 models: 13 tanks, a rifle platoon, 3 ram transports, 2 tank destroyers and 2 self-propelled guns, plus a complete A5 rulebook, 2 decal sheets and 10 unit cards.
If your hesitation is not having the rules, this solves that. It is one of only two boxes here with a rulebook included, and it is a playable British force on night one.
What 21 models means for your hobby time?
This is the biggest build in the roundup, at 2.5 pounds and roughly 11 x 4 x 11 inches of packaging, which is a fortnight of work for most people. The one quality complaint concerns the soft resin rifle figures, where one head came off.
Who should skip it?
If you only want tanks, the rifle platoon and the transports are filler, and it is the most expensive box here, so players certain about their faction should start cheaper and add the Comet later.
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6. Flames of War M4 Sherman Tank Platoon – Best for US Late War
Flames of War: Late War: United States: M4 Sherman Tank Platoon (UBX69)
★★★★★★★★★★Five plastic M4 Sherman tanks
Gyro-stabilised 75mm gun, 8 unit cards
- Full five-tank platoon with commander sprue
- decal sheet and 8 unit cards
- 4.6 average from 8 reviews with no ratings below four stars
- Gyro-stabiliser lets US tanks fire on the move
- Requires assembly and painting before use
- Sherman is a common field and may duplicate forces you already own
The Sherman is a safe American armour choice for good reason. This box gives you five of them, a Tank Commander sprue, a decal sheet and eight unit cards, and it weighs 8 ounces in an 8 x 6 x 2 inch package.
The rule that makes US armour feel different is the gyro-stabiliser. Because it lets the tank fire on the move, US crews keep a high rate of fire that Axis boxes do not get, which is why Sherman lists trade the way they do.
Choosing between the 75mm and 76mm options
The box text covers both: the 75mm is the preferred gun for lobbing HE into German gun positions and machine-gun posts, and when the Panther arrived in 1943, engineers fitted a new turret carrying a 76mm capable of cracking the front armour of Germany’s heavier tanks.
Who should skip it?
The Sherman is one of the most common models on a Late War table, so if you already play US you probably have these, and reviewers flag the duplication risk directly. Anyone wanting a harder-hitting gun should look at the Pershing instead.
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7. Flames of War M5 Stuart/M8 Scott Light Tank Platoon – Best for US Light Armour
Flames of War: Late War: United States: M5 Stuart/M8 Scott Light Tank Platoon (UBX70)
★★★★★★★★★★Five plastic M5 Stuarts or five M8 Scott 75mm assault guns
7 unit cards
- Build as five M5 Stuarts or five M8 Scott assault guns from the same box
- Seven unit cards included for immediate play
- Useful cheap US light armour and recon element
- Simpler models with less detail than the heavy kits here
- Requires assembly and painting before use
This box gives you a choice inside a single purchase. The contents are five M5 Stuart tanks or five M8 Scott 75mm assault guns, one decal sheet and seven unit cards, at 4 ounces.
That duality is the useful part. A Stuart platoon gives you fast, cheap US recon and light armour, while the Scott option turns the same five models into a 75mm assault gun unit for targets a medium Sherman gun struggles with.
Why light armour boxes get ignored?
Reviewers note the models are less detailed than the heavy kits here, and that is true. Light tanks are small, simple builds, which is exactly why they are also the fastest to assemble and paint, and on the table they earn their place by speed.
Who should skip it?
If you want presence on the table, this is the smallest and plainest kit here, listed at small size with 4 ounces of plastic, so modellers who judge boxes on mould detail should look at the Tiger or Panther kits. It is also a Late War box, so it does nothing for a Mid War army.
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8. Flames of War Soviet T-34 Tank Company – Best for Soviet Armour
Flames of War Late War: Soviet T-34 Tank Company
★★★★★★★★★★Five plastic T-34 tanks
Complete tank company roster
1942 model year, ages 14 and up
- 5.4 average build satisfaction with quick-to-assemble models
- 4.7 rating with 74 percent of reviews at five stars
- The only complete Soviet tank company in this roundup
- Small-scale moulds carry less detail than larger kits
- Requires assembly and painting before use
The T-34 Tank Company is the Soviet entry here, and it fills a gap none of the other boxes do. Five plastic T-34s, a 1942 model year, and a large 11.6 x 11.6 x 3.35 inch package to match.
Reviewers rate it 4.7 with 74 percent of ratings at five stars, and the recurring comment is that the models are fun and simple to build. That is the most common praise in this roundup, and for a first build it matters more than detail.
The scale caveat worth knowing
Experienced modellers point out that these are small-scale moulds carrying less detail than larger kits from other ranges. The scale is listed as 1:48, and if you already paint larger-scale armour the jump down can feel like a step down. If you are new, the flip side is that fewer tiny details means a faster first paint job.
Who should skip it?
Detail-hungry modellers will not enjoy the moulds, and with no infantry, transport or support in the box, Soviet players who want variety will be adding purchases for months.
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9. Flames of War Fighting First US M3 Lee Tank Company – Best First Army
Flames of War: Fighting First: US M3 Lee Tank Company (Mid-War)
★★★★★★★★★★18x vehicles with self-propelled artillery
A5 rulebook included
- All five ratings are five stars
- Complete starter force with 18 vehicles and support
- Includes the full rulebook in A5 format for newcomers
- Mid War US only so it does not help Late War armies
- One of the larger boxes by model count
- Large number of models to assemble and paint
Fighting First is the closest thing here to a complete first purchase. It contains 18 vehicles built around an M3 Lee tank company, supported by self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft, plus the complete rulebook in A5 size.
All five ratings are five stars, with strong approval of the box as an all-in-one entry point. The rpg.net forum thread on first armies makes the same argument, judging value on rules inclusion plus a usable tank count, and that is the logic here.
What 18 vehicles gets you?
Eighteen vehicles is a lot of models at 2.4 pounds and a 10.75 x 10.75 x 4.5 inch footprint. Expect a month of hobby time rather than a weekend, and in return you get a playable army on the first night without buying anything else.
Who should skip it?
It is a Mid War US force, so Late War, Eastern Front and Axis players get nothing from it, and it is one of the bigger boxes here by model count. If you already own a Mid War US army, the 18 vehicles are duplication rather than expansion.
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10. Flames of War Panther Late Tank Platoon – Best for Tank-Hunter Play
Battlefront Miniatures Flames of War WW2: German – Panther (Late) Tank Platoon
★★★★★★★★★★5x plastic Panther or Jagdpanther tank-hunters
1944 model year
- Each of the five sprues builds as a Panther or a Jagdpanther
- Owners report high accuracy and plenty of detail
- Best-selling rank of any box in the roundup
- Smallest review base in the roundup at 4 reviews
- Requires assembly and painting before use
The Panther box is the most flexible German kit here. Contents are five sprues that each build as a Panther or a Jagdpanther tank-hunter, with a 1944 model year and a listed material mix of plastic and resin at 10.4 ounces.
It also sells better than anything else in the roundup, ranking far higher in Game Pieces than the other nine boxes. The catch is the review count, the smallest here at four, so treat the rating as encouraging rather than proven.
The reason the box works so well is the sprues themselves. Each one carries both a Panther turret and the Jagdpanther casemate, so the same five frames cover a tank platoon and a tank-hunter element without a second purchase. Owners report high accuracy and plenty of detail for the scale, which is rare in a kit this flexible.
That dual-build design is also why it ranks highest in Game Pieces of anything in this roundup. It is the cheapest way to add both a Late War German heavy tank and a tank-hunter option from a single box, which is unusual when most armour boxes give you one vehicle type and nothing else.
Panther or Jagdpanther, and why it matters
As a tank, the Panther G combines good armour with a powerful gun and solid mobility, and its long 7.5cm KwK42 can crack the front armour of any Allied tank. Built as a Jagdpanther, the same sprues give you 8.8cm tank-hunters whose range and armour outclass most enemy tanks, and the box text is blunt about the requirement: used with proper tank-hunter tactics, they could crush any enemy armour thrust.
Who should skip it?
With only four reviews you have less buyer feedback than with any other box here, so if you want proven quality on a first tank purchase, the Tiger platoon has twenty-one ratings behind it. Casual players should also note the tank-hunter option is a harder style than a straight tank platoon.
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How to Choose a Flames of War Tank Set in 2026?
Pick the era before the tank. A Late War Tiger platoon is useless in a Kursk list, and a Mid War Lee company does nothing for a 1944 Normandy game. Decide the theatre, then the faction, then compare the boxes above.
Next, pick your box format. A single-army platoon box gives you one element, roughly five tanks, and the most flexibility. A two-player starter set gives you two complete forces and usually the rules and dice, which is the fastest route to a first game. An army deal sits between them, filling out an existing faction with a themed group of kits. If rules and dice are your barrier, the British Comet squadron and Fighting First are the two boxes here that include a rulebook.
On plastic versus metal, check the listing. Every box in this roundup is plastic and arrives unassembled. Metal boxes are pre-assembled and unpainted, meaning less build time and more painting time.
Then think about your 100-point list. A five-tank platoon often exceeds 100 points once the commander is added, so most players trim a box rather than field all of it.
Finally, get the supporting gear: a sprue cutter for plastic boxes, superglue, primer, paint, unit cards and dice, plus terrain and movement templates. Armour values run along the lines of AT9 and AT10, and when a tank is hit you roll dice matching the shell type until a penetration result exceeds its armour value.
If you want more roundup-style buying guides while you work out the hobby side, our picks for the best luggage sets and the best bakeware sets follow the same test-everything-first method, and the best flatware sets and best dinnerware sets roundups are built the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flames of War 1:100 scale?
No. Flames of War is played at 28mm, which is roughly 1:56 scale, and games are fought on a 6mm grid. Some boxes list a 1:48 scale for the models, so check the specific box. The scale confusion usually comes from players arriving from diecast armour or digital tank games.
What is the best tank for Flames of War?
It depends on your era and faction. For a first heavy armour purchase the Tiger platoon is the most reviewed box in this roundup, with 21 ratings averaging 4.9. On the US side the M26 Pershing carries a 90mm gun that can knock out most German tanks, including the Tiger and Panther. The community value pick in r/flamesofwar threads is usually a general starter box such as Hit the Beach.
Is Bolt Action or Flames of War better?
Bolt Action is a company-level game with longer battles and 6 inch movement. Flames of War is a platoon-level game with blitzkrieg turns, 6mm movement, the armoured dice system and shorter engagements. Flames of War is better if you want fast, decisive games and heavy armour as the centrepiece. Bolt Action is better if you want infantry-focused, longer games.
Do Flames of War tank sets come painted or assembled?
Plastic boxes arrive unassembled and unpainted, so you will need a sprue cutter, glue and paint before they can be played. Metal boxes are pre-assembled and unpainted. The two-player starter sets such as Fighting First and the British Comet squadron add a rulebook and unit cards, but scenery, glue and paint are never included in any box.
How many tanks are in a Flames of War tank set?
A single-army platoon box on this page holds between three and five tanks. The Tiger, Panzer IV, Sherman, Stuart, T-34 and Panther boxes each contain five, while the Tiger II and Pershing boxes contain three. Larger starter sets go much further: the British Comet squadron holds 13 tanks and the Fighting First box holds 18 vehicles.
Is Flames of War still growing?
The v4 ruleset is current and armoured boxes remain the most common first purchase in the hobby. New players regularly ask on r/flamesofwar and hobby forums which starter box to buy, which is a healthy sign for a tabletop game. The catalogue is large, which is the real source of hesitation rather than decline.
Our Verdict on the Best Flames of War Tank Sets in 2026
The best Flames of War tank sets for 2026 start with the Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon, which pairs the largest review base in this roundup, 21 ratings, with a 4.9 average and a five-tank roster you can actually field. Buy it first, then add the Panther or Tiger II box to give your German force a second heavy option and something with real speed in it.
Playing American instead? The M26 Pershing is the one to start with, and the Sherman platoon below it covers the rest of your Late War armour. Soviet players should take the T-34 Tank Company, and anyone who wants a playable army plus a rulebook on the first night is better served by Fighting First.
Whatever you choose, the hobby tools come first. A sprue cutter, glue and a paint scheme decide whether that box gets built or sits on a shelf.