Assembling model made of laser-cut poplar plywood (8 mm), birch plywood (4 mm), and beech veneer (1 mm) for decorative details. Requires PVA glue (not included). The assembly is accessible and engaging, with a moderate number of parts and clear construction steps.
In a letter written in 1482 to the court of Ludovico Sforza, Leonardo da Vinci describes a vision of a covered war machine: “I can build covered vehicles, safe and unassailable, which will penetrate the enemy ranks with their artillery, and behind them the infantry will follow, unharmed and without resistance…”
The covered cart, now universally known as Leonardo’s tank, appears in a 1485 drawing found in the Codex Arundel, folio 103r, preserved at the British Library in London. The technical details of the sketch are deliberately ambiguous, allowing for multiple interpretations. Leonardo imagined a mobile, domed war machine, protected by wooden boards and metal plates, with four wheels operated by internal gears and an array of cannons offering a full 360-degree field of fire.
The DAHIMO model faithfully recreates the external appearance of the tank, with its conical shell, circular array of cannons, and unmistakable Renaissance silhouette. The wheels are movable, but there are no internal gears, and the structure is not openable. This is a visual interpretation, true to form but not functional.
Once completed, the model becomes a striking and evocative piece, an ideal display item that captures the imagination of Leonardo’s mechanical vision. One of the most appreciated items in museum bookshops, it appeals to collectors, enthusiasts, and students of historical engineering.
Product details
- Item code s05
- Size 19x15x19 cm.
- Weight 225 gr.
- Components 55 pcs
- Material Birch and Poplar Plywood, Walnut wood sheet.
- Estimated time of assembly 45 min.
- Adatto per età Over 10 years
- Difficulty level Easy
Box
- Box size 28×22,3×5 cm.
- Box weight 345 gr.
- Instructions ITA ENG
Video tutorial and instructions
Download instructions: EN
