Leopard 1 German Main Battle Tank 1/72 Scale Diecast Model by Eaglemoss
$ 14.99
1:72 Scale Metal Die-Cast – Leopard 1 German Main Battle Tank - Length: 5.25" (from end of vehicle to tip of the main gun) Width: 2”
This Leopard tank model's body is made of metal while the turret is made of plastic. The turret can rotate all 360 degrees. The tracks are made of rubber and are fitted, however they do not move. The coloring and markings are accurate and realistic.
The maker of the model, Eaglemoss, really did a good job with the model, the panel lines and details are very clear and crisp. These models have different details engraved such as doors, hatches, panels, lights, ports, antennas, machine guns, ropes, shovels, etc; all of these done with high accuracy and proportion. When they are painted in different color, say for example, shovels and ropes, they are indeed painted accurately.
These models come in what could be described as a disposable blister pack. The packaging is very minimum, the blister back is just big enough to enclose the vehicle and the cardboard backing to which the blister is attached is barely bigger than the lengths and width dimension of the vehicle.
Although these models are inexpensive and just about the size of a (regular) computer mouse, they are certainly not toys. The tracks don't move and the turrets and their main guns and machine guns can be quite fragile because of their size. However, unlike airplanes and helicopters, tank models don't have all those think and long parts, so in practice, a tank model would be able to withstand more than an airplane or helicopter model.
The Leopard (or Leopard 1) is a main battle tank designed and produced in West Germany that first entered service in 1965. Developed in an era when HEAT warheads were thought to make conventional heavy armour of limited value, the Leopard focused on firepower in the form of the German-built version of the British L7 105-mm gun, and improved cross-country performance that was unmatched by other designs of the era.
The design started as a collaborative project in the 1950s between West Germany and France, and later joined by Italy,[1] but the partnership ended and the final design was ordered by the Bundeswehr, with production starting in 1965. In total, 6,485 Leopard tanks have been built, of which 4,744 were battle tanks and 1,741 were utility and anti-aircraft variants, not including 80 prototypes and pre-series vehicles.
The Leopard quickly became a standard of European forces, and eventually served as the main battle tankin over a dozen countries worldwide. Since 1990, the Leopard 1 has gradually been relegated to secondary roles in most armies. In the German Army, the Leopard 1 MBTs were phased out in 2003, while Leopard 1 derived vehicles are still widely used. The Leopard 2 MBTs have taken over the MBT role. Leopard hulls have been re-used in a wide variety of roles.
