This is Revell’s 1:35 Leopard 1A1. As a former member of the Canadian Army I was jazzed to finally add this subject to my collection!
Overall I would say this is a decent kit with pretty good fit and detail throughout. The price was also very reasonable. Detractors include annoyingly beefy sprue attachment points, so-so fit of the major hull components, very narrow, weak attachment points for the skirts, mud flaps, and searchlight covers, and of course, Revell’s irksome end-opening box (see the last photo for my “patented” solution to this recurring problem).
Revell gives you a piece of wire for the radio antennas, and a sprue of very soft, pliable vinyl for the tracks, tow cables, and external electric cables. These all look decent, and paint up nicely. The decal sheet includes markings for two West German vehicles, and one from the Royal Norwegian Army. The decals behaved well with a little Solvaset. All hatches can all be posed open, although there is no interior or crew figures. The kit has no clear parts.
This was built mostly out of the box, except for the following: coloured mylar for the IR searchlight and other optics, a camouflage net made from a piece of painted gauze, and basket stowage liberated from the ol’ spares box.
Have a great day, and Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians!
Superb build and painting on the most attractive of the Leopard line.
