Available again: Takom Whippet Tank

The Medium Mark A “Whippet” was a British tank developed during the First World War to provide a faster, more mobile armoured vehicle capable of exploiting breakthroughs made by slower heavy tanks. Designed in 1916–17 and entering service in March 1918, the Whippet was intended to perform roles analogous to cavalry: rapid penetration, pursuit, and disruption of enemy rear areas once the trench line had been breached. It was powered by twin Tylor four‑cylinder petrol engines, driving a relatively light and compact hull that allowed a road speed of up to 8–9 mph, considerably faster than contemporary British heavy tanks.

The Whippet was armed with four Hotchkiss .303 machine guns mounted in a fixed superstructure, providing all‑round fire but no cannon armament. Protection was modest, with armour up to around 14 mm, sufficient against small‑arms fire but vulnerable to artillery and direct hits. The crew of three (commander/gunner and two drivers) operated in cramped conditions, with limited visibility and demanding control arrangements. Despite these limitations, the Whippet proved effective during 1918, notably in actions such as the Battle of Amiens, where its speed and endurance allowed it to range deep into German positions, harassing infantry, transport, and command elements.

Approximately 200 Whippets were built by Wm Foster of Lincoln. Although quickly rendered obsolete by post‑war tank developments, the Mk A Whippet was historically significant as the world’s first successful medium tank and an early demonstration of armoured manoeuvre concepts that would later become central to armoured warfare doctrine.

Takom originally released the Whippet tank kit in 2015, and it’s been unavailable for a few years. 
We asked Takom to rerun the kit and it is available again, ref PKTAK02025. [April 2026]