Char Allemand Leopard 1.A4

Revue de la Maquette ESCI au 1/72

Char Leopard 1.A4 de la Bundeswehr Allemande

La Maquette d’ESCI représente un char Leopard 1.A4 when built straight from the box, although it peut être convertie en Leopard 1 A3 by removing the armoured gun sight in front of the commander’s hatch et replacing it avec a periscope. Les chars Leopard australiens, canadiens et grecs are similar to the Leopard 1 A3 et they will require some conversion work. Les chars Leopard australiens are equipped avec stowage bins above the track guards which need to be scratchbuilt as well. The ESCI kit would have been much more attractive if optional parts had been included. Leopard 1 A3 ist the more common of the two very similar variants, et it is still in service in several NATO countries, whereas Leopard 1.A4 has been completely replaced by Leopard 2.

Contenu

Bundeswehr Leopard 1.A4 allemand
Decals for a Leopard 1.A4 de la 10. Panzerdivision allemande
Decals pour un Leopard C 1 Canadien (similar to Leopard 1 A3)
Decals pour un Leopard AS 1 australien (similar to Leopard 1 A3)
Decals pour un Leopard 1 GR grec (similar to Leopard 1 A3)

Évaluation

Satisfactory choice of subject. The Leopard 1.A4 is unique in this scale, but a model of the Leopard 1 A3 would have been more useful to joueurs de guerre et modélistes. ESCI has published several variants of the Leopard 1 main battle tank, all based on the same chassis parts.

The rear track skirts have been cut back to prevent dirt from clogging the drive sprockets. This is a common modification.

The model is slightly larger than scale, et it is not compatible avec the Leopard 1 A5 produced by Revell.

There are no crew figurines in the kit, despite the fact that the turret hatches may be modelled in the open position.

The canvas cover over the gun mantlet does not fit well. A spare part may be scratchbuilt from tissue paper.

The stowage bins du Leopard AS 1 australien are not included in the kit, even if decals are provided to build this version of the tank. Modélistes sérieux will want to build the bins from scratch.

The inner et outer road wheels are modelled as a solid cylinder, rather than the two separate wheels one would expect.

The track is not detailed enough on the inside, et the track teeth are missing.

There are no antenna sockets on the turret roof. The AA Machine Gun is modelled without the ammunition box. The hand-rails on the turret sides et the guard around the smoke dischargers may be scratchbuilt from brass rod to add detail to the turret.

The pioneer tools are cast directly onto the hull sides, et they lack detail as a result. Discerning modélistes will want to sand the tools off et replace them avec cast items from another kit ou detail set.

The gunfire simulator consisting of optional parts No. 42 et No. 37 should be mounted behind the smoke extractor, not in front of it. The instructions are in error.

Possibilités de Conversions

Leopard 1 A3 of 10. Panzerdivision
Remove the armoured gun sight in front of the commander’s hatch et replace it avec a periscope.
Leopard AS 1 australien
Convert the véhicule to a Leopard 1 A3 et add stowage bins on the track guards. Decals are included in the kit.
Leopard 1 GR grec
Similar to a Leopard 1 A3, but avec armoured gun sights of the Leopard 1 A5 et PZB 200 camera. Decals are included.
Leopard C 1 Canadien
Similar to a Leopard 1 A3, but avec PZB 200 camera on the right side of the gun mantlet et a searchlight on the left. Decals are included.
Leopard 1 DK Danois
Convert the véhicule to a Leopard 1 A3 et add stowage bins on the track guards. Leopards danois are upgraded avec armoured gun sights of the Leopard 1 A5. These upgraded véhicules are designated Leopard 1 A5 DK, but they must not be confused avec le Leopard 1 A5 allemand featuring cast turrets. Les Leopard 1 A5 DK danois sont des Leopard 1 A3 upgrades avec welded turrets.
Leopard OF-40 Export Version
This export version italienne du Leopard 1 A3 has been sold to the United Arab Emirates.

Leopard 1.A4 was deployed exclusively in the 10. Panzerdivision de la Bundeswehr, et it was eventually replaced by chars de combat modernes Leopard 2. Leopard 1 A3 remains in service in a number of NATO countries, et a model of this variant would have proved more successful for ESCI. The only obvious difference between the two variants is the periscope of the Leopard 1 A3 which was replaced by an armoured gun sight on the Leopard 1.A4. ESCI should have chosen the Leopard 1 A3 as the main subject of this kit, et it would have been a good idea to include optional parts for both variants.

Autres Revues des Figurines et Maquettes ESCI

Questions Fréquents

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Char de Combat Leopard 1.A4 de la Bundeswehr Allemande