Revell Leopard 2A4 review online

[mshackleton]

I have put a review of the new Revell Leopard 2A4 onto Leopard Club and thought that you might be interested in my opinion
www.leopardclub.info/#/revell-leopard-2a4/4576732957

Best regards
Mike

[Leon]

Excellent review Mike.Looks like these manufacturers are just out to make a big buck and to hell with accuracy or just get people to spend more money on AM parts.BTW great review on the AFV M109/A2.I am in the process of finishing up one now.

[TRM]

Thanks for the link Mike!! Great review as it reveals some nice info for the builder when making their choices. It is a shame there is a lack of quality more often now...seems to be 'par for the course' in this day and age. I agree with Leon a bit here, there is more gearing towards AM parts. Get the kit out there and let the consumer spend 2 or three time the cost of the kit to improve it.

[mshackleton]

Hi Dicky
Fairly obviously, Revell have utilised a lot of common parts in both kits. I've had crticism that I have been too hard on this kit. I haven't seen the 2A6 apart from shots on the internet. But I stand by my comments about the poor rear grille, lack of defined bolts, mix up on the non-slip patches, etc. I'm not sure what the German reviewers are seeing other than supporting their home team.

These two releases from Revell are better than Revell's previous releases of the same subjects and they are to be congratulated for having a second stab at them. However, Revell will never give Tamiya a run for their money as they produce kits for the younger market with ease of buildability and lower cost a high priority. For the casual buyer who buys from a model shop (if they can find one these days) or on the internet for a Leopard 2, seeing the Revell and Tamiya kits together, then the Revell one will sell. For the real Leopard enthusiast, he will probably go for Tamiya because he knows about their better accuracy, detail and engineering. It's two markets. The Revell kits also score points over the Hobby Boss kits, but the HB 2A4 is still better in some respects despite its own problems. Maybe the HB hull with Revell running gear and details allied to the HB turret with Revell details might do the trick. Still got the prob of the rear grille though.

It would be interesting to hear your opinion of the Revell kits when you see them as I know you are a big Leo fan.

Cheers
Mike

[Deleted]

Dicky....Kit No 03097..

[Tobi]

Hello Mike,

thanks for your informative review. I'm building this kit at the moment and noted most of the issues you wrote about myself (apart from the three ribs on the hull bottom!). Will have to see how to tackle these.

I found the nut/rivet topic not so disturbing and for a time the nuts and weldbeads on the gearbox cover where present simultaneously. The anti slip surfaces are a shame and a lot of work to correct. We will see how good I have managed it once under paint. It should be noted that mixes can occur on depot maintained vehicles, though the mix with a sharp demarcation of old style on the front and new style on the rear seems highly unlikely. As at least two smoke launchers are facing outward it may be not too noticeable. The ring coolers on the engine deck are a little too high for my taste, but again nothing serious. Overall the weldbeads can be improved very easy as I found out, same is true for the outlet grille on the rear. The mantlet is also not so correct in it's openings for the sight and MG (too small), and lacks the dust plugs completely, as does the hull with the 2nd set for deepwater fording. An always reoccuring problem on A4's for me is the hinging of the front skirts, as it has been oversimplified by kit makers time and again! So there is no way around, some parts of the Revell kit will have to be replaced with AM.

Though some of the sink marks are still present on actual kits I've heard this has been already improved, especially on the A6, compared to the first mouldings. I agree the Revell kit is not necessarily better than the Hobby Boss (I remember the HB suffering from sink marks as well), from my point of view especially regarding the periscopes, but you get truely nice decals. A comparision to Tamiya is not appropriate IMHO, considering the very reasonable pricing of the Revell kit. So don't be too hard and Dicky, give it a try! You won't get out an A4 from the Tamiya, and I find it much more appealling than the A5/A6...

I for my share enjoy some extra work on a model and improving it, thus creating something really unique. As an aftermarket junkie I almost always turn towards single link tracks and turned barrels, so a lower price of the basic kit is also welcome, but that's just personal taste. So well, for an accurate finish the Revell A4 is not a quick build for sure, but can be turned into a gem, I believe. I'm doing my best!

Regards,
Tobi

[mshackleton]

Hi Toby
Thanks for your observations. How have you improved the grille at the back? Someone else pointed out that the cooler on the turret roof behind the commanders cupola is too tall.

I want this kit to be good so it's interesting to hear some else's views.

It will be interesting to see some pics of your build when yo get a bit further on.

Cheers
Mike

[Tobi]

Mike, for the grille I took a fresh scalpell blade and then scratched along horizontally in an downward angle.
It takes some patience and you have to do it several times, but the effect is good.

You're right about the cooler, but correcting that requires more surgery than it's worth the effect, I think.

I will start a thread in the near future and also write a building report with pictures on www.panzer-modell.de.

Tobi

[DeafStuG]

Thanks for the link & Kit Review, Mike !

[Tobi]

May 28, 2013 14:50:04 GMT -5 @dickyf said:

Thanks for your input there Tobi - equally informative with some great insights...IMHO it sounds like another case of a manufacturer dropping the ball/missing an opportunity eh? As with all things in life, yer pay yer money and takes yer chances eh? ALL kits can be improved with a degree of effort and that is down to the modeller and the starting point.

Despite being a huge Leo 2 I only have two builds under my belt, neither were perfect but I fully intend my next one to be nearer the mark and have several builds planned including a Danish spec vehicle, a scratched Buffel conversion and another Cutaway.

I am really looking forward to seeing yer build Tobi and shall be making notes

Yeah, with Revell kits it's always like gambling! New releases can be fantastic kits if you're lucky, or a complete mess. I heard praises for example about their new 1/32 He-219 Uhu, and the builds I've seen so far were all magnificent, even the test shot model in the German magazine "Modellfan".

The Leopard 2A4 is sadly somewhere in between. I wonder what the Dingo will be like? But always I found the pricing of the kits very reasonable, especially compared to offerings from Asia. The kits are also popular subjects for aftermarket companies like Eduard, to take them to higher levels in the hands of the experienced modeler if they wish to. Very often I hear about modelers who only build kits with vinyl tracks, because it's easier. I hate vinyl tracks! But we should understand there are modelers out there who don't share such high claims regarding details, who like it plain and simple. One has to admit, we got spoiled especially in the last decade by kits (named Dragon) no one would ever have dreamed of in the 70's+80's.

Another point for Revell in Germany (I don't know if it applies also internationally), if you are in need of a spare part, even whole decal sheets, regardless of the reason, you send Revell the instructions with the parts marked, and they ship them to you for FREE! How's that? I hope they can keep it up and the service get's not misused!

That is why so many people in Germany (including myself) are so happy with Revell. First there is their choose of subjects and second, from the beginner to the professional, everybody gets his share and can find his home in the kits, and teenagers can better afford 26,50.-€ for a Revell Leopard than 46,50.-€ for a Tamiya, though this is still an acceptable price. If I look at the 70.- bucks for the new Tamiya M1A2 on the other hand, even I have to hold my breath...

Stay tuned Dicky!

Cheers, Tobi

[Tobi]

Hi Dicky,

forgot to mention one thing! If you were also satisfied with the Bergepanzer 2, German company "Perfect Scale" offers four different 1/35 resin kits with and without interior!

www.modellbau-koenig.de/Suche/bergepanzer_2.htm?n_vl=bergepanzer+2

Wait a little longer and they may add the Büffel as well...

Cheers,
Tobi

[Tobi]

...and you're performing outstanding Dicky!

Tobi

[mshackleton]

Dicky
That is absolutely awesome!!!!!!!

Cheers
Mike

[Leon]

What the guys said.That is super splenidosotity.

[Deleted]

Nems you are Mr. Scratch !!!