Creative Leopard 2A7 German Main Battle Tank - 1/35 Meng

[Julien]

Leopard 2A7 German Main Battle Tank
1/35 Meng Models

 

Like many modern weapons system the Leopard 2A7 is not a brand new system but a continuing development of the Leopard 2 family. These are converted ex Dutch A6NL tanks. Using lessons learnt for the Peace support programme, and combat operations in Afghanistan. While retaining the same 120mm smooth bore gun of the earlier variants the 2A7 is able to fire the latest programmable High explosive rounds. The tanks armour has been upgraded with modular armour with frontal protection being improved as well with passive armour and underneath armour for enhanced IED protection. Internally there have been upgrades to the air conditioning system and power systems. More modern sights/thermal systems/rangefinder have been added. The German Army has ordered at present 20 units. With now talk of a Leopard 3, this could possibly be the last of the Leopard 2 line.

The Kit
This looks to be a new kit from Meng to bring the changes for the new variant. Some of the parts are from earlier Meng kits, however a lot in the box is new for the 2A7. The box arrives packed (more so probably than Meng thought as it is noticeable the box lid does not completely fit). Along with the main upper & lower hull plus the Turret there are six main sprues of parts, two sprues of suspension components, two sprues of wheels; and three spures of track components. In addition there is a clear sprue, three sheets of photo etch, a material tow cable, and a small sheet of decals, plus silver film for the mirrors.

 

 

 

Construction starts with the lower hull. Holes must be drilled in the lower hull before construction starts in order to add the additional underside protective plates. The driver and idler wheels are built up along with 14 main road wheels. The suspension components plus the return rollers then need adding to the main lower hull. The rear armour assembly is constructed and added to the lower hull. Next up the bars for the working torsion bar system are added, these slot through from each side and end plates are attached to them. The wheels can now be added, ad as the hull is upside down the additional armour plate can be added on the man hull. Additional protection for the engine compartment are also added at this time with Meng providing a guide which is placed down in order to correctly position these parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up are the tracks.. Unlike other Meng kits, and like the Meng Leopard 2A4 the tracks come as individual links on sprues. Each link has 3 parts; the main track, the connecting rods with end caps, and the track pads. Meng provide a jig to enable 6 links to be put together at the same time. There are 84 links to be joined for each side.

 

 

 

Once the tracks are on construction moves to the upper hull. Mirrors, spare tack, headlights, the drivers hatch, and additional armour plates are added at the front. At threar air filter covers, tools and the tow cable are added. The tow cable supplied in the kit is poor and really needs replacing with a suitable aftermarket one, a shame as the rest of the kit is well above standard. The Cooling fan housings for the rear deck are constructed from the included photo-etch. Be careful to use the parts included on the additional fret not the main one. The top hull can now be joined to the lower one and the side skirts added. The main skirts are one part with the front areas being a multipart construction on both sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up is the turret and gun. The gun barrel is a two part one and the fume extractor one part which fits to the front. The gun hen fits into a five part mantlet. I have read on the web that the gun is a slightly weak point of the kit, the fume extractor being a little skinny and short. It is noticeable that the fume extractor on some vehicle has a fibreglass texture to it, Meng have tried to replicate this, but as the part is split down the middle this will no doubt be lost sanding any seams down. The vision blocks can be added to the upper turret and then the two parts can be joined making sure the gun seats properly between them. The upper surface of the turret has sections which feature a rough texture for walking on and Meng have reproduced this on the part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the turret is together work can start on adding all of the additional armour pieces to it. These are V shaped and fit to the front and sides. The base plates are made up along with the armour parts. The base plates being fitted first, followed by the armour. Grab handles are then added to the outside. For the rest of the turret the commanders periscope is made up and added, along with the gunners hatch and machine gun. Smoke dischargers are added to both sides along with antenna mounts and the gunners sighting system. Lastly to the rear of the turret the large AC system and main stowage boxes are added, along with additional stowage boxes at each side. The last part to be fitted on top of the turret is the gunfire simulator and its control cable. The turret can now be fitted to the main hull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decals
As there are still not many of these in service decals for one German Army tank only are included.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion
This is a great looking kit from Meng and their attention to detail is to be commended. Overall Highly recommended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[Antoine]

Thanks Julien,

There'll never be enough Leo.

I'm impressed by such a long gun, might not be that practical on the field.

I hope that at some time, Meng will do a little come back to the beginning of the family, with specific European versions of the 2A4.

By the way, any reviews of the first HB releases over here?

I'll have a look

[Julien]

Regarding the Gun it is said the 2A7 is not for urban environments.

The Meng 2A4 is very good, Revell 2A4 kit is less so, but I have read the HB ones are not good, with the exception of the 2A4 CAN which I reviewed here, no other HB reviews on here I am aware of.

If you like your Leopards then I can recommend the website Leopard Club, as well as all things Leopard they do their own range of upgrade parts. I have their barrels for all my Leopard kits and they are well worth the money.

[Sgt.Squarehead]

Apparently a 130mm gun is under consideration for Leopard, the increased sophistication of active defense systems and reactive armour are beginning to make ATGMs obsolete.....A high velocity kinetic-penetrator however is largely immune to these countermeasures!

[Antoine]

Ah, yes, I didn't remember about Meng's 2A4.

Speaking about HB, I'm not that sure, but I think it was more a matter of simplicity, and not that they were good or bad.

Got to check that, as what was interesting with them is that HB provided all the different European versions.

[Julien]

Apparently a 130mm gun is under consideration for Leopard, the increased sophistication of active defense systems and reactive armour are beginning to make ATGMs obsolete.....A high velocity kinetic-penetrator however is largely immune to these countermeasures!

Yes I read that. They did try a 140mm gun at one point and proposed it with an autoloader but there were problems.

[Julien]

Ah, yes, I didn't remember about Meng's 2A4.

Mike reviewed it here. Now I have seen that, I feel I must get one!

[ukmodeller]

Looks like a great kit. So much detail and the plastic looks so clean.