Kampfpanzer Leopard 1965

[BootsDMS]

Thanks Bert!

[TopSmith]

I have Mengs Leo1-5. I want to know your recommendations for the Leo 1 or the Leo1a1a1a4.

[BootsDMS]

Greg, I might be the wrong person to ask!

I know nothing about Meng’s efforts I’m afraid. For a standard Leo 1 I’d have to recommend the Revell kit as described above. An easy enough build, comes with lots of options (NL and Belgian versions for example); it has rubber-band tracks but I can live with those - some modellers won’t but there’s a massive range of replacement tracks out there.

My - by now - ancient build of a Leopard 1A1:

was based on this Italeri kit (erroneously described as a “1A2”):

For a 1A1A1 I have this quite old Revell version in my stash:

but I haven’t tackled it yet so can’t really comment as to its buildability or even accuracy (I suspect that it might be from an original Italeri mould - and I haven’t checked its provenance - there might be a missing pericope at the Commander’s position).

However, I have noticed that Revell have recently (2023) produced a 1A1A1-A1A4

and that might be the way to go - assuming it’s more accurate than their earlier effort above.

For the record, I also note that Revell now do a dedicated 1A1:

To sum up - I’m happy enough with the Italeri/Revell kits, and I’m fairly sure I’ll get the best from the 1A1A1 when I get around to it.

So, regrettably, this might not be of much use to you; however, I’m sure someone else will chime in re the Meng kits.

[bwilt]

@BootsDMS

So, regrettably, this might not be of much use to you; however, I’m sure someone else will chime in re the Meng kits.

Ask your buddy Pete, he made a fantastic Belgian Meng Leopard

[BootsDMS]

Yes he did, but I don’t want it to go to his head!

[TopSmith]

Thank you!!

[BootsDMS]

I must just add that depending on what kit(s) you ultimately end up choosing, this effort from Perfect Scale Modellbau is well worth the investment:

Plus some fine chain for the smoke-dischargers; inevitably overscale but better than none at all - in my opinion.

[Jakko]

@BootsDMS

there’s a massive range of replacement tracks out there.

Not really if you want the early chevron tracks, though, which you need for almost any Dutch Leopard-based vehicle throughout their service, as well as early ones from other countries.

@BootsDMS

I suspect that it might be from an original Italeri mould

That one is, yes: it’s Italeri’s “1A2” kit with the necessary bits to turn it into a 1A1A1 through 1A1A4. The 1A1 kit is a Revell original, though, and much more recent.