Empress Release Leopard Tank

[Agis]

...Actually it was a job part completed and left over from the Imprint purchase last summer so we thought we would release it.  When Imprint existed it released vehicles without having figure ranges. 
We have already said that we intend to do Bundeswehr at some point so take this as a declaration if you wish.  No reason to hide this beauty in the sock draw until then.

Yes we will bringing out PLA vehicles in the future. Just need to get sculptor time as he is busy on some other things for us at the moment.

Big thanks for the in depth explanation.

[Brummie]

That is very nice, saw your stuff at WMMS.

May have to get it just on the basis its such a good model.

[Marine0846]

Another great model, love it.
I have got to get painting on all the stuff I have purchased from you.

[FramFramson]

Nice to see everyone asking for Canadians 

[Garder]

The three Danish Leopards often supported the British in Helmand province. So one could easily use this model in a game, without having Danish or Canadian infantry models.

Really great model by the way.

[Elk101]

Cracking model of one of my favourite modern tanks (it's ok to have favourite tanks, isn't it?).

[Agis]

Cracking model of one of my favourite modern tanks (it's ok to have favourite tanks, isn't it?).

IMO yes! And even being German my "favourite" contemporary tank is the T-90...

[carlos marighela]

The three Danish Leopards often supported the British in Helmand province. So one could easily use this model in a game, without having Danish or Canadian infantry models.

Really great model by the way.

At the risk of being a rivet counter, the Danish Leopard's were Leopard 2A5 models (Leopard 2ADK) which have the shorter gun barrel. As it hapoens Siku do a very nice diecast 1/50 scale 2A5, if anyone is interested. Now if Suber would make those modern Spanish hecwas talking about, I'd be very tempted by this, it really is a superb model.

[Garder]

Nothing wrong with being a rivet counter 

I didn´t know that, thanks for pointing it out. Not really an armour guy.

[Pete_Gill]

Witnessed the Danish Leopards in action at FOB Price using firing platforms on the FOB Perimeter wall in a night fight. Reassuring piece of kit.

[NurgleHH]

IMO yes! And even being German my "favourite" contemporary tank is the T-90...

I should say betrayer, but you are right. The design of russian tanks is better. After the second Worldwar we had some problems with the design. The russians became better. But we can come back with a leopard IV...

[Elk101]

I should say betrayer, but you are right. The design of russian tanks is better. After the second Worldwar we had some problems with the design. The russians became better. But we can come back with a leopard IV...

I prefer the Leopard personally!

[carlos marighela]

I'm not sure under what criteria anyone could describe a Russian tank as 'better', except maybe a personal aesthetic. Cramped, of variable reliability, ammunition poorly stowed, awful ergonomics and general habitability, plus, as experience has shown, an awful tendency to act as a mobile crematorium when hit by the vast preponderance of AT projectiles.

I love the look of the older T-54, T-55 and T-62 series but I am grateful I never had to be part of the crew of one. The Leopard 2 may look like a block of cheese with a door wedge glued to the turret front but rather one of those than anything Soviet made. The T-90 is after all merely an upgraded T-72, with most of its faults intact.

[Mathyoo]

As far as I know, west had nothing to compete with T-72 when it came out.
The whole idea of soviet/russian tanks being bad comes from the lack of success arabs had with them, but this is all debatable.
Cramped might as well be called "compact" and thus smaller target (but when people that crew russian tanks sit in a tank of a western design, they are all surprised to be able to stretch their legs ) and the rest is "simply" an adoption of a different fighting doctrine. Just because something is different, it isn't necessarily bad. Then again, this is a wargaming forums, so I believe most of us judge by the looks and in that respect, Leopard is a winner for me, too 

[carlos marighela]

As far as I know, west had nothing to compete with T-72 when it came out.
The whole idea of soviet/russian tanks being bad comes from the lack of success arabs had with them, but this is all debatable.
Cramped might as well be called "compact" and thus smaller target (but when people that crew russian tanks sit in a tank of a western design, they are all surprised to be able to stretch their legs ) and the rest is "simply" an adoption of a different fighting doctrine. Just because something is different, it isn't necessarily bad. Then again, this is a wargaming forums, so I believe most of us judge by the looks and in that respect, Leopard is a winner for me, too 

Well, actually Chieftain would have given the T-72 a run for it's money when it first came out. Of course it was rapidly overtaken by Western tanks like the Challenger, Abrams, Leopard 2 etc. M1s and Challengers demonstrated their superiority in the Gulf as did even the old M60. Same deal in the Lebanon. Merkavas and M60s blitzed T-72s.

Crew comfort and ergonomics aren't an issue of luxury, it goes directly to the efficiency of the crew. Bad designs, complicate operation, bad habitability increases fatigue. Compact, smaller target? Yes but it also contributes to the horrific lack of survivability of Russian vehicles. That's before we move onto the better armour thermal imagery and optics of Western tanks or their superior ability to utilise ground by adopting hull down positions.

The monkey model myth and the inate inferiority of Arab crews are something that have largely been dismissed. You know, Soviet crews didn't receive a lot of actual track time, at least not compared to their Western counterparts and when they did, it was often in obsolete model tanks held by training companies. I doubt there were any ex-NVA crewmen bewailing the loss of their T-72s.

Chechens were able to punch holes in T-72s with relative ease. Syrians are doing so seemingly on a daily basis jdging by the number of jihad videos, showing blazing T-72 hulks. If memory serves, there's only a singular instance of an Abrams being taken out in Iraq by a penetrating round, as opposed to a massive IED. Again from memory, no pentrating hits on any Challengers.

Western tanks are technologically superior. Crew training was on a different planet and frankly Soviet doctrine and tactical methods, whether practiced by Russians or Arab armies have not shown themselves to be world beating.

Still, like you, I like the look of Russian tanks.