Buy a LEGO tank? Compare COBI tanks by price and scale
LEGO deliberately doesn't make military tanks — that's been their policy for years. COBI is the best alternative: LEGO-compatible bricks, historically accurate, and shipped to the UK. Compare the most popular COBI tanks here by price, scale and availability.
Why doesn't LEGO make tanks?
LEGO avoids modern military vehicles to promote peace and creative play. Fantasy violence (Star Wars, Ninjago) is allowed, but realistic tanks, fighter jets or warships are not. This policy has been in place for decades.
How much choice is there?
- COBI has more than 60 tank models in its range, from the WWII Tiger I and Sherman to the modern Abrams and Leopard 2.
- You'll find tanks from every era: WWII (Tiger I, Panther, Sherman, T-34, IS-2, Panzer IV), Cold War (T-55, Centurion, M48 Patton) and modern (M1A2 Abrams, Leopard 2, Merkava).
- Five scales are available: 1:72 is compact and affordable (100–150 pieces, £10–18, ideal for dioramas).
- 1:48 is a good middle ground (300–450 pieces, £18–30).
- 1:35 is the recommended starting scale with good detail at a fair price (500–700 pieces, £30–70, start here with a Tiger I or Sherman).
- 1:28 Executive Edition is large and detailed (800–1200 pieces, £70–130, for serious collectors).
- 1:12 MEGA is museum scale (3000–11,000+ pieces, £260–700+).
- Every year 10–15 new models are added.
Why choose COBI?
COBI bricks are 100% compatible with LEGO. They fit all your existing bricks. Every detail is pad-printed (printed directly onto the bricks), so there are no stickers that peel off. Per brick, COBI is cheaper than LEGO, with prices from around £30 for a detailed 1:35 tank. COBI makes everything in its own factory in Mielec, Poland: 100% European quality. In the UK they're available from Amazon.co.uk, Bricktanks, Jadlam, ScaleModelShop and the COBI Official Store. We compare the available prices at these shops daily, including shipping costs.
12 sets · From £1.00 · Avg. £0.07/piece · At 3 shops
The cheapest COBI tank today is the Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B Königstiger - Limited Edition at £1.00 from Elite Models Online.
New to COBI? Start with a 1:35 model like the Tiger I or Sherman: the best balance of detail and price.
The largest model in our range is the Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B Königstiger - Limited Edition with 910 pieces.
Top 10 COBI tank sets
The most popular COBI tanks, sorted by popularity. Prices are updated live.
| Set | Scale | Pieces | Shop | Discount | £/piece | Since | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I (131)2734 / 3123 | 1:48 / 1:35 | 442 | 1001Hobbies.co.uk | -22% | £0.07 | 29 Jun 2026 | £28.79 |
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M4A3E2 Sherman "Jumbo"2550 | 1:28 | 720 | COBI Official Store | £0.05 | 29 Jun 2026 | £37.99 | |
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M1A2 Abrams2622 | 1:35 | 975 | COBI Official Store | -20% | £0.04 | 29 Jun 2026 | £39.99 |
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Tiger II (Königstiger)2808 | 1:12 | 11170 | Reactive Toys | -9% | £0.07 | 29 Jun 2026 | £724.99 |
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Leopard 2A4 / 2A52618 / 2620 | 1:23 / 1:35 | 864 | COBI Official Store | £0.05 | 14 Jun 2026 | £46.99 | |
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T-34/853092 / 2702 | 1:72 / 1:48 | 110 | COBI Official Store | £0.09 | 29 Jun 2026 | £9.99 | |
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Panzerkampfwagen V Panther2566 / 2654 | 1:28 | 905 | COBI Official Store | £0.07 | 14 Jun 2026 | £59.99 | |
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Panzerkampfwagen IV2546 / 2591 | 1:28 / 1:29 | 559 | COBI Official Store | £0.09 | 14 Jun 2026 | £49.99 | |
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M4A3 Sherman3089 / 2533 | 1:72 | 103 | COBI Official Store | £0.10 | 26 Jun 2026 | £9.99 | |
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Challenger 22627 | 1:35 | 954 | Phillips Hobbies | -17% | £0.05 | 29 Jun 2026 | £49.95 |
We compare 12 COBI tanks across 3 shops. Prices updated on today.
Frequently asked questions
Does LEGO make tanks?
No. LEGO has deliberately avoided making realistic military tanks for decades; it's company policy. If you want a tank built from bricks, COBI is the best alternative: 100% LEGO-compatible bricks, historically accurate, in scales from 1:72 to 1:12. We compare 12 COBI tanks across 3 shops.
Is there a LEGO Tiger tank?
Not from LEGO itself. The best-known alternative is the COBI Tiger I (set 2734) and the Tiger II "King Tiger" (set 2808). Both are built from LEGO-compatible bricks with pad-printed details, so no stickers. See current prices in the Top 10 above.
What is the largest COBI tank?
The largest COBI tank is the Tiger II "King Tiger" (set 2808) in 1:12 scale with over 11,000 pieces — one of the largest COBI sets ever made. There are also large 1:28 Executive Edition models such as the Panzer IV. Sort the list above by "Pieces" for today's largest model.
Is a COBI tank a good alternative to LEGO?
Yes. COBI bricks are 100% LEGO-compatible, the details are pad-printed (no stickers that peel off) and per brick COBI is often cheaper. For military models that LEGO doesn't make, COBI is the most complete alternative.
What does a COBI tank cost?
COBI tanks cost between £12 and £170, depending on the model and scale. The cheapest sets are small vehicles in 1:72 or 1:48 scale. Large 1:28 and 1:12 models cost more. We compare 12 models across 3 shops, so you always find the best price.
Which scale should I choose for a COBI tank?
COBI tanks come in 1:72, 1:48, 1:35, 1:28 and 1:12. The 1:35 scale is the most popular starting choice: good detail at an affordable price and a match for other historical models. 1:48 and 1:72 are more compact and cheaper; 1:28 and 1:12 are large and detailed for collectors.
Which COBI tank is best for beginners?
For beginners we recommend a COBI tank in 1:35 or 1:48 scale: fewer pieces, quicker to build and affordable. The Panzer IV, T-34 and Sherman are popular starter models that give a good sense of the COBI building experience.
Are COBI bricks compatible with LEGO?
Yes, COBI bricks are fully compatible with LEGO. You can combine COBI tanks with existing LEGO collections. The brick quality is comparable; COBI focuses specifically on military vehicles and historical models.
Where can I buy COBI tanks?
COBI tanks are available from several UK webshops. We compare prices across 3 shops daily, including shipping costs, so you always find the best deal.