I dont really think any of the tanks from that time frame are going to have 'newer' sculpts. Most of the units that come to mind have been in my mini collections for at least 20 years.
That being said, I feel like I can offer you a few solid options based on years of experience. Without additional parameters I can't refine my response, but I can guarantee these tanks are fun to run and can lead to some real memorable moments at the table. Though they are all capable units they tend to have their own specialty or role in which the excel.
Pegasus: My usual go-to fast attack platform. Cheap, zippy, well armored, and loaded with plenty of SRMs. Great for rushing objectives and artillery or worrying your enemy's flank. A pack of these guys can change the flow of a battle. They are a great general combat unit or emergency stop-gap when you get caught flat footed.
Demolisher: Heavily armed and armored, when you really need to drop the hammer on somebody accept no substitutes. The Demolisher really lives up to its name; this monster's duel AC/20s can gut a mech in one shot. Watch and laugh as enemies try to figure out how to deal with one in a city or built up terrain. Just keep an eye out for artillery.
Schrek PPC Carrier: Delicate but dangerous, the Schrek is a perfect example of the Glass Cannon. Three PPCs make for impressive firepower, and its a lot cheaper than an Awesome. However, its just as slow as an Awesome and far, far easier to kill. Because of that the Schrek is always a priority target. However, if you have cover or other units that you can force the enemy to deal with first, this tank can rain death from long range all day long. Just remember that it is an 80 ton tank with the armor of a 35 ton hovercraft. Plan accordingly.
SRM/LRM Carriers: The missile version of the Schrek. After encountering an SRM Carrier in a city you will always consider them high priority targets. Entrenched LRM carriers are absolutely deadly. All that said, they tend of work best as ambush units that you can afford to lose.
Drillson: The Pegasus Plus. It is the Pegasus but more in every regard. Faster, at 9/14, more heavily armored, and sporting a more diverse armament geared for long to mid-range combat. These tanks will absolutely wreck you if you are not careful. The consummate Blitzkrieg hovercraft, in my humble opinion. The main downside is that hovortanks work best in packs, to compensate for their fragility. The Drillson costs not quite twice as much as the Pegasus to deploy so they can be a big commitment. But when you need to stretch someone's force and break on through, the Drillson is hard to beat.
Manticore: The Manticore's shtick is simply being such a damn good option for pretty much anything. Its the Thunderbolt of tanks, which is my way of saying that it is an ideal tank for any situation. This puppy's got a PPC and LRM10 for ranged fighting and an SRM6 and Medium Laser for when things get up close and personal. Its speed is average but its hide is very, very thick. A true jack of all trades.
Also, while its a much more modern unit, I have to tell you about my favorite Inner Sphere tank. It's not fast. It isn't flashy. It's firepower is respectable but not outstanding. 'So what is it's angle?', I hear you asking. It is the fact that, for most opponents, it feels like nothing short of an orbital strike will slow the damn thing down. Its the 50 ton trooper that punches far, far above its weight; a tank that is cheap to deploy and easy to wield in battle. I speak of the Schildkröte Line Tank, the shortstack of the Lyran Armored Corps.
But seriously its pretty great in CBT and Alpha Strike. There is no official mini yet (which is criminal after all these years if you ask me) but you can sub in any generic tank for these bad boys and go to town.
Would you like to know more?
Not only is it more heavily armored than a Demolisher, the Skröte mounts an AMS and an armored motive system. It plods along at 3/5, sure, but they simply don't die. They mount a solid mid-range battery of an LB-10X and a Light PPC, which is pretty respectable for a medium tank that has already trippled down on defense.
It is kind of a perfect setup, really, and this is why I love them. If they had heavier weapons they would be true priority targets, not to mention they would cost far more than the 1000BV they cost to run. But those LB-X hits and LPPC pokes add up, especially when you've got a lance of the buggers crawling at you, gnawing away as they go. Since they are so hard to crack it is tempting to let them go, but if you do they will be in your face, prestine, and nearly unstoppable. I love units that make opponents defeat themselves; something tricky that makes them reconsider their plans and screw up. In that regard the Skröte can be a kind of existential crisis for the enemy if you get them in a spot where they can't be ignored and are backed up by units with more firepower. They are also a great unit to use as an anvil upon which to hammer the enemy with fast mechs. This is a tactic I've used several times and it usually works beautifully.
The Schildkröte is kinda the penultimate Lyran tank, if you ask me. It isn't a 100 ton apex predator, but it doesn't need to be. We already have Thunder Hawks and Devastators for that. They are, however, cheap enough to run in sizable groups, so they become a rolling curtain of steel that can anchor a battle line or stop a hard-charging enemy cold.
I know that kinda turned into a bit of a rant, but the fact is incorporating tanks and infantry into your games is fun. It also adds a lot of variety and will force you to adopt more complex tactics. You should experiment and see what you enjoy running.
