Unsurprisingly, the Hobbyboss 1/72 Leopold bears more than a passing resemblance to the Trumpeter kit of the same subject. Although simplified, there is little significant loss of detail, and it’s a much easier build. And the running gear detail is still better than Dragon’s 1/35 kit!
It’s a fairly challenging build - the instructions could be clearer, and the fit of pretty much every part is very tight. And even in 1/72, it still takes up a fair amount of space - think in terms of a 1/350 Bismarck!
You get a choice of markings for either a gun based near Calais in 1941, or Anzio Annie. Whichever you choose, there are lots of opportunities to get creative.
I can’t say much more because it’s to be the subject of a build article (not, sadly, in FSM) in a couple of months’ time. Meanwhile, here are some piccies. If this sort of thing interests you, and you see it, buy it. It’s much better than the Hasegawa kit of the same subject, and although it costs half as uch again (in the UK at least) it’s well worth the extra.
I’m quite pleased with the result, though I think, on reflection, I’ve overdone the track grime, on the auziliary generator in particular. I thnk I may also replace the crane cable.
I’m on the search for suitable figures - they’d have to be in early-war uniforms (ie long boots) and. mostly, standing round not doing much, because that’s what artillerymen do most of the time (here speaks a guy whose father commanded an armoured regiment…). Such figures are not easy to find - there are some in the Revell Germany 1/72 German Armoured Infantry set:
btw, is no good. Although vey nice, they’re clearly designed to be serving a much smaller, and horse-drawn, gun.
Townsy - If you’d like to pm me, I’ll happily tell you which mag, and when, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to give publicty to one of FSM’s competitors on the FSM website!
