Mad Leopard Week anyone..?! NOW OPEN TO ALL SCALES

Modeling Subjects Armor
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Mad Leopard Week… Any scale, any variant…! Give yourself 7 straight days starting on Saturday the 14th of May and see how far you can go…! Out of the box, conversion, scratch, diorama, all is OK.

The Leopard has been a major player in the MBT scene for over 40 years. There’s scope for many different versions, interesting conversions, many different types of camouflages and markings from numerous countries;

We already have a badge, courtesy of Whytwolf (Thanks!); help yourself to it:

But let’s first review what is available (as far as I know in any case!); This may just trigger what it takes for you to buy or retrieve from the “to do” pile that Leopard kit…! Thanks to Whytwolf (again!), Duke Maddog, I-beam and Deusmex for the additional info they found!

The Kits!

1/72 Scale

Revell
Leopard 1A5 (kit 3115), probably the finest 1/72 Leopard 1 on the market; Possibly one of the best 1/72 AFV kit of all times too!

Markings are for two different German machines.
Leopard 2A4 (kit 3103). Decent 1/72 kit, which could benefit from some parts from the Hasegawa kit 2A4 kit (see below); lack of details but Eduard has a PE set for this kit (see below).
Markings are for two German vehicles. Also marketed under the Matchbox and Monogram labels (see below).
Leopard 2A5 (kit 3105). Based upon the 2A4 kit, but with new turret, and side skirts. Some problems with driver’s hatch but nothing too difficult to rectify…

Markings for two German Leopards.
Also available in a KFOR set with figures, Luchs and Fuchs.
Biber Bridge-layer. A fantastic kit, I’ve been told;

Dragon
Leopard 2A6 (kit 7232); plastic kit (no metal hull, that is!). Brand new (I haven’t seen any yet!). Comes with the guns foir the A5 and A6 variants.

ESCI
Various Leopards 1 here. The hull is identical but the turret is either different or comes with additional part for each different variant. Still a pretty good series of kits if you can find them!



The decals are also diverse: the A1 comes with German markings only; the A2 with Belgian, Italian and Norwegian ones, while the A3-A4 kit features markings for Germany, Australia, Canada and Greece; The A3-A4 kit (kit 8302) is nowadays marketed by Italeri (see below).

Galaxy
Leopard 2A3
Poor in details, problems with the return rollers (but those are all but invisible).

Hasegawa
Leopard 2A4 (kit 034). This kit is OK but feature very poor tracks and wheels; However, it does come with a very good tank commander figure and a snorkel tube (which may be adapted to other kits).

Markings for two German tanks.

Italeri
Leopard 1A4 (kit 7002). Reboxing of the ESCI A3-A4 kit;

Atlantic
Leopard 1A2. Strangely familiar but looking rather simple…

Matchbox
See Revell Leopard 2A4;

Monogram
See Revell Leopard 2A4
Sorry, no pics of this one…!

1/76

Airfix
Leopard 1. Rather poor in details; nearly as old as the real thing. A very early Leo…! In fact the only very early Leo in Braille scale, I believe!

1/87

Roco Minitanks www.roco.com
Leopard 1A3/A4 (kit HO275)

Leopard 2 (kit HO329)

Leopard 1A1A1 (kit HO391)
Biber bridge-layer (kit HO427)

Leopard 2A5 (kit HO599)
Leopard 2A6 (kit HO622)

Leopard AS1 (kit HO886)
Buffel (Badger) ARV (kit HO726)

1/35 Scale

Tamiya
Leopard 1 (kit 35064)

Leopard 1A4 (kit 35112)

Leopard 2A6 (kit 35271)

Eduard PE set available and Tamiya PE set soon available too (see below)
Leopard 2A5 (kit 48204). R/C kit.

Various PE and accessories sets available from Eduard (see below)
Leopard 2A5 (kit 35242)

Various PE and accessories sets available from Eduard (see below)

Revell
Leopard 1A1A1/A1A4 (kit 03017)
Sorry, no pics!
Leopard 1A5 (kit 0328; apparently discontinued…)

Leopard 2A4 (kit 3053)

Leopard 2A5 (kit 3045)

Leopard 2A6 (kit 3060)

Italeri
Leopard 1A2 (kit 374)

PE set available from Eduard (see below)
Leopard 1A4 (kit 224); out of production#8230;
No picture, sorry!
Leopard 2A4 (kit 243)

Leopard 2A6 (kit 6435)

Leopard 2A5 (kit 280)

Leopard 2A5 KWS (kit 365)

PE set available from Eduard (see below)

Heller
Leopard 1A4

Elite
Biber bridge-layer (kit 3518). Resin, very expensive but quite unique!

Taurus ARV (kit 3510). As above!

Badger ARV (kit 3508). As above!

1/48

Academy
Leopard 2A5 (kit 1304); R/C kit

Leopard 2A5 (kit 13008), supposedly based upon the R/C kit…?

1/144 Scale

Dragon
Leopard 1A4 & 1A5 (box set 14025)

Leopard 2A4 & 2A5 (box set 14026)

Leopard 2A6 (box set 14027, with M113A3)

Roco Minitanks www.roco.com
Leopard 2 (kit N900)

1/24

Marui
Leopard 2A5. R/C kit

Replacement tracks available from Marui (see below)

1/16 Scale

Tamiya
Leopard 2A6#8230; R/C model, big and beautiful but possibly a touch too involved for a Week Build, no…??!

Accessories…!

Eduard:
PE set no. 22016 for the 1/72 Revell (or Matchbox, or Monogram) Leopard 2A4
PE set 35101 for the 1/35 Italeri Leopard 2 kits
PE set 35707 for the 1/35 Tamiya Leopard 2A6 (kit 35271)
PE set 35338 for the 1/35 Italeri Leopard 1A2 kit (kit 374)
PE set 35302 for the 1/35 Italeri Leopard 2A5 KWS (kit 365)
PE set 35340 for the 1/35 Tamiya Leopard 2A5 (kits 35242 & 48204) #8211; includes Express masks
PE set (Grilles) T008 for the Tamiya Leopard 2A5 (kits 35242 & 48204)
Periscopes set XT036 for the 1/35 Tamiya Leopard 2A5 (kits 35242 & 48204)
Paint masks for wheels of 1/35 Tamiya Leopard 2A5 (kits 35242 & 48204)

Extratech
PE set 72017 for 1/72 Leopard 2A5
PE set 72021 for 1/72 Leopard 2A4
PE set 72022 for 1/72 Leopard 1A5

AFV Club
Individual track links set (kit 35S09) for 1/35 Leopard 2A4/A5/A6:

Trumpeter
Individual ‘Diehl’ Track links set (kit 2039) for 1/35 Leopard 2A5/A6

Tamiya
PE set 35272 for the 1/35 Tamiya Leopard 2A6 (kit 35271)

Marui
Replacement tracks for the 1/24 Marui Leopard 2A5

Trackjam www.trackjam.com
Conversion set & Decals for Early Canadian Leopard C1, to fit the 1/35 Italeri Leopard 1A4 (kit 224)

Here is a review of this set:
http://www.ipmsusa.org/Reviews/Details/Armor/Trackjam_35_Canadian_Leopard/C1_Canadian_Leopard_Conversion.htm

Maple Leaf Models
Conversion set (set 1010) for Canadian Leopard C2

Model Point
L7A3 105mm gun barrel (set 3558) for the 1/35 Tamiya Leopard 1
L7A3 105mm gun barrel (set 3558-1) for the Italeri Leopard 1A2/A4
120mm RH120 L55 gun barrel (set 3559-2) for the Tamiya Leopard 2A5 (kit 35242)
120mm RH120 L55 gun barrel (set 3559-3) for the Italeri Leopard 2A5 (kit 365)
120mm RH120 L44 gun barrel (set 3559-4) for the Tamiya Leopard 2A5 (kit 35242)
120mm RH120 L44 gun barrel (set 3559-5) for the Italeri Leopard 2A5 (kit 365)

Perfect Scale
Leopard 2 engine pack (expensive!)

Verlinden
1/35 NATO Manoeuvre markings; not specific to the Leo, but could come in handy…

References…!

Here is an excellent two-part article reviewing several kits and giving lots of very informative data on the differences between variants and operators! A must!
http://www.ontheway.us/articles/leopard1.htm
http://www.ontheway.us/articles/leopard2.htm

Here is a review of the Italeri/ESCI 1/72 Leopard 1A4, plus info on possible conversions:
http://miniatures.de/html/int/esci-8302-leopard-1A4.html

Here is how to modify a Leo A4 into an Australian Leo AS1 (the article is based upon Tamiya’s 1/35 Leo A4 kit, with Armour Bits conversion set:
http://hsfeatures.com/features04/leopardas1bg_1.htm
and for those interested in the Aussie Leos, here is a comprehensive article detailling the history, markings, colours of the vehicle:
http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/Armoured%20Vehicles/leopardph_1.htm

Here is a review of the 1/35 Leo 1A5 from Revell:
http://ipmslondon.tripod.com/armourreviews/id7.html

Here is an article on how to modify the 1/35 Italeri Leo 2 into a 2A4 variant of the Bundeswerh:
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/modern/okleo2/okleo2.htm

7 pages of pictures showing numerous Leopard variants and Leopard-based vehicles…
http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/armored_vehicles/tank/leopard/web_gallery/index.htm

Swedish Leopard 2 (Strv 121) in detail, including camouflage scheme drawings:
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2000/08/stuff_eng_svensson_strv121.htm

And a selection from Prime Portal:

A walkaround of a Bergepanzer Leopard 2…
http://www.primeportal.net/recovery/hartwig/leo2buf_walk.htm

Here is one of a training vehicle based on the Leopard 2… Wicked!
http://www.primeportal.net/apc/hartwig/leopard2a4_fahr.htm

Another walkaround, this time of an engineer vehicle based on the Leo 1; Great stuff!
http://www.primeportal.net/apc/hartwig/leopard2a4_fahr.htm

More pics and great detail shots of another Recovery Vehicle based on the Leo 2:
http://www.primeportal.net/apc/leopards.htm#leo2recov

Here is a great walkaround of a Canadian Leopard C2…
http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/hay/leoc2_walk_1.htm

Here is a nice set of pictures of Norwegian Leo 2…
http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/vik/leo_2_photos.htm
and Norwegian Leo 1…
http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/vik/leo1_photos.htm

Another weird Leopard-type vehicle: a Demo Leo…! That is quite different!
http://www.primeportal.net/apc/hartwig/leopard2a4_fahr.htm

And a small selection of printed material:

Leopard 1 MBT, 1965-1995, by Michael Jerchel, New Vanguard, 1995 (ISBN 1855325209)

Leopard 2 MBT, 1972-1998, by Michael Jerchel, New Vanguard, 1998 (ISBN 1855326914)

2

Excellent review of whats available djmodels1999
If it gets going count me in for a 2A5 or 2A6

3

That is without a doubt the most well researched build post I have ever seen. I am almost tempted to lift my ban on doing 1/72nd just to honor the work you put in there! I would like to see how my first MAD build goes at the end of January first, but this is tempting. Great work

4

Thanks Guys. I’m not as familiar with the Leo kits as I was with the Fokker Dr.1 and the Me-163 Komet, but doing this little research taught me quite a bit. And it was quite fun too! I’m sure there are lots more reference material available on the net and I did not even show all the books available either…

It’s just a matter of putting things into practice now!

There’s plenty of time to see whether you join in or not, and as Jason put it, there’s a couple of MAD builds happening real soon to try the concept out. The One-Day MAD builds are quite difficult and it’s very tempting to go too fast and the quality can suffer. There’s a 2-Day MAD build at the end of the month, but the subject alsi more demanding. We’ll see! At the end of the day, it’s all about what you feel you can achieve in the given time… Out of the three MAD days I’ve done so far, only one was done within the time set but the other two ended up being better models because I was able to say ‘enough is enough’. It only took a few extra hours over the next day or so to complete the builds. But one thing is sure, all were great fun…! It was just great to post updates and share kind of live the progress of a handful of friends across the globe striggling with the same type of kit! The Mad Kmet Day of this coming week end will hopefully be of the same “vintage”…!

What I’d like to see with this Leo MAD build is a lot of variants, mods and maybe little dioramas that a “whole” week can allow. Also it will be less stressful on partners and other members of the family! LOL

5

Also Jason, if you do feel 1/72 is definitely not your cup of tea, there’s no reason why we could not, in a Week MAD build, let 1/35, 1/148 and why not bigger and smaller scales in! By the way, I-beam, those 1/144 Loes are looking real gorgeous…! Did not know anything about them until I started this research and thought of including them in…

6

Having said that, Jason, I would really want to encourage trying out some of those 1/72 kits! The progress that has been made in the past few years is simply staggering! Revell Germany have come up with some fantastic kits lately, but others are joining in too: Trumpeter, Dragon, the newer Fujimi and Hasegawa kits, Mirage,… all have pushed boundaries further and further!

7

dj wow my friend, you really have the mad desease dont you. but i will pass on this one. what else do you have coming up for your mad builds.

joe

8

Hey, Joe… Thanks! I had been planning a Mad Matchbox Day for March, and got a handful of interested people but I’ll try to drum up more suppoert and interest after Mad Komet Day…! Remember those Matchbox AFV kits with the little diorama base they came with…? Well the Mad Matchbox ay is to see what good can be done with the vehicle and the base in a week end…

After that, I do not know…! But maybe you have an idea…!?

9

i am amazed my friend. you take these and really make them good. i will be watching you and what you have in the works. or should i say in the “mad” mind.

joe

10

Well provided I don’t go completely insane or my wife files for divorce, I think I might try this. I’ll let you know. Is their a deadline to sign up?

11

Well, as I’ve been wanting to build a Canadian Leo C1 in 1/72 for awhile, I’m definatly in if this goes forward. Heck, if I can finish the Leo in 4 days, it can be a birthday present to myself! [:)]

Sean

12

Welcome aboard Whytwolf! Looking forward to seeing your Canadian Leopard!

Jason, the deadline is the starting date! So you have plenty of time to decide!

13

Great- I’ll let you know. Thanks for the kit reviews, by the way. It will make picking one out much easier

14

djmodels: thanks! I look forward to completing it [:)] If you don’t have a badge for this GB, I threw something together here:

whaddaya think?

Sean

15

Great stuff Sean. It’s official then, we have a badge! Thanks!

16

dj… i think i may join this. i’ve done a couple 1/72 and definately could use more practice on the scale. I cannot escape the black hole known as the group build, so you can put me down for this one… here I go again.

17

Cool, Tanker, very cool! That’s 3 of us definite then… A few more and we’ll make it really official!

18

I have a 35 scale Leopard still waiting to be built,so you can count me in.Digger

19

You can put me down as a maybe. Although I haven’t done any modern armor, it might be interesting to have an example of a tank from one of the smaller countries.

20

OK, Digger. ok Pmm…! I will now have to do some research on the other scales…! Such a hard life!

When that’s done, I’ll create a new GB thread dedicated to this MAD idea… In the meantime, keep expressing your interest or disbelief here! Hahaha!