Empress Release Leopard Tank

[Arrigo]

I have to agree with Carlos.

There are several issues here. The soviet designs were weak in close quarters (but as Allen Curtis pointed out in WSS tit was for a precise design trade off). Certainly the T-72 was not that good. It was a back up design for the T-64/80 combination. Ended up being produced en masse due to the crappiness of the the early -80  (more a product of bad industrial policy than anything inherently bad with the tank, but the -80 has been designed without a proven powerplant and that created problems, lot of them). 

Another misunderstanding is that the arab crewed soviet produced tanks were inherently bad and dumped to the arabs... well this is largely a myth that was produced in mother Russia about the monkey version. As all myths there is smoem truth somewhere, but not in the way people, even on the PMT bang about it... By 1991 the Iraqi T-72G and M were inferior to the -72B in Russian inventory (but how many -72B were available and operationsl in 1991?), no problem. But it has to be mentioned that the G and M were produced five years before and when they were produced they were superior to the bog standard -72 and equivalent (more or less) to the -72A. The -72A has features that were superior and some inferior. Largely the 72A was desgined to compensate for the problme in the 125mm rifled gun with the additiona of the barrel fired ATGM. Yet these things were not overly reliable (shades of Sheridan) or well appreciated. The G was the first -72 to mount a laser range finder for example. Of course Arab tankers were not at the same level that soviet ones, but the shortcomings exhibited by the soviet designs in combat were also the same design features that allowed the Soviets to produce and field so many of them.  If the russian tanks fight as they are designed for they are scary, if they fight in our envelop they are dead meat, same for our designs. Yet it appears that on average the design features of western MBT and their doctrine allow them to better dictate the term of the engagements.

Said that I love the M1 series, but the Charley 2 and the Leo 2A6 are close seconds. I do not like the 2A5 (the guns looks too stubby) but the 2A1/4 exercises a certain fascination on me. I also like the new Japanese and ROK mbt (the Type 10 is quite sleek) and the 96G and 99A1 from the PLA, the Ariete is nice... but the best of the best is still... the Chieftain Stillbrew!

[peachy rex]

From the aesthetic point of view, I'm a big fan of the T-90 - just so mean-looking, which I think we can all agree is a major aspect of tank design. The 2A6 is pretty good-looking - better than the 2A5 and its stubby gun (le mot just, Arrigo) but not as good as the early marks; the elongated turret throws the proportions off.

From the practical point of view, the main reason to buy T-90s is that the Americans, Brits, French, Germans, Israelis, South Koreans, Japanese and Italians won't sell you their tanks instead. That's not the only reason, certainly - if you already have a bunch of T-72s then upgrading to T-90s might be a more sensible solution than buying a completely new type, particularly if your neighbours don't deploy anything better.

From the wargaming point of view, of course I'm going to buy both (eventually). 

[gimzod]

Looks great. Are there any other vehicles in the works? There's a lot of british machines that need to be made.

[Ilhan]

Got mine yesterday.

Quick delivery (I'm in France), great product.
It looks awesome.
No miscasct or anything, well protected, everything perfect!

It was kind of a test to see Empress products in real, and I'm impressed!

[Paul @ Empress Miniatures]

glad we passed 

[grant]

glad we passed 

Not yet... Modern Canadian infantry, a proper LAV III, and G-wagen are needed. 25% success. 

[Ilhan]

Not yet... Modern Canadian infantry, a proper LAV III, and G-wagen are needed. 25% success. 

And modern spanish troops 

[commissarmoody]

And just to be petulant, Some American 75th Ranger Bat boys. 

[Doomsdave]

And just to be petulant, Some American 75th Ranger Bat boys. 

Seconded.  Sua Sponte.