It’s not just the rivets that make it look old, there is a list of features, none of which are really fixable. Overall it has the appearance of having quite a high profile. The shapes of the track housings would make reverse travel quite problematic and therefore likely quite slow. The tracks are also too open and unprotected, with only the top edge being protected. And yes, the rivets. Overall it looks like a cross between a Char-B1 and a MK-IV tank. That works for 40k, where things are generally supposed to look a bit backwards and archaic – leaning on old designs from recent history works to create that impression in the mind, even if that’s still not what an “archaic” design might look like 40000 years into the future. But in the Warpath Universe there’s nothing in the lore to suggest any sort of technological stagnation or regression, quite the opposite. The GCPS is full of corporations all doing crazy and often illegal scientific experiments, all in the name of generating a competitive edge – either on the battlefield or the market place.

When you look at the evolution of the tank post WWII, they lean towards the appearance of lower profiles (they’re not actually lower, the height of tanks has remained fairly consistent, but their shape certainly makes them look like they do, but the Wolverine certainly looks like it would buck that trend), smoother bodywork and plating with little visible riveting (and where it is visible, smaller rivets). Their tracks are the same shape front and back specifically to facilitate reverse travel at speed and are covered as much as possible. Looking at the T-14 Armata, you can also see rudimentary stealth features, something that is present to an even greater extent on the PL-01 (and also the Abrams X and Panther KF51 prototypes). Modern tanks look low, sleek and fast and the next generation of tanks is taking that to the next level. It’s not hard to imagine where a 5th generation tank might end up going, especially as AI and software takes more of the workload off the crew. Tanks will get smaller, more campact. Things like retractable or folding turrets might be possible as space is freed up through reduced crew, granting even lower profiles again. Stealth shapes will get more advanced, just as they did with aircraft, as the technology matures (although I still think that the F117 Nighthawk looks very sci-fi)

I understand why this model might be an attractive option – it’s readily available right now with no development costs and it’s not like there are many, if any, other plastic sci-fi tank kits without having to develop a new one. But it’s a poor fit, aesthetically, for the Mantic universe. Especially considering how well Mantic had done stepping out from under GW’s shadow in terms of their miniatures design; even the Marauders are starting to take on a look of their own, even if they will always be Orks. While I don’t think it’s a bad model in and of itself, the “I can’t believe it’s not a Leman Russ” feels like a step backwards to me, a step back towards 40k.

As for the mule, well, to me that just looks like it riffs off the Warthog from Halo. It’s a sci-fi ATV.  And on that note, something like the Scorpion tank from Halo would have been a much better design, although admittedly there isn’t currently one available in kit form.  I’d have definitely backed a Kickstarter to make one though…