Review

This offering from Vespid Models of a Leopard 2 A7V arrives in a cardboard tray with a card lid, the parts are packaged in bags with no more than 2 sprues to a bag. An examination of the contents reveals no moulding issues and the packaging has done its job of protecting the model. If you wanted to be particularly picky you could say that the gates between the sprue and the parts are perhaps larger than needed. The kit is provided with the usual plastic sprues, which are enhanced via the application of photo etch, metal cables and a turned aluminium barrel. 

This release has been provided with link and length tracks that are a good compromise when it comes to providing detail. The moulded on detail is crisp and I cannot fault it in any way. The use of photo etch for areas such as air intakes is very thin and care will need to be taken when removing it for application. Many of the photo etched elements are by their very nature and requirement small in size. It is the small size of these parts that enhances the model kit as a whole, but at the same time will mean that some will struggle to accurately apply these parts. I know that my hands and eyes will not cope with this photo etch, but I wish to emphasise that that is my failing and not the products. The metal barrel is in turned aluminium, with a good level of detail, but does require some plastic parts added to it. If you prefer, Vespid Models has supplied an all injection moulded option for the main barrel. Other details that stand out to me are the defensive MG on the turret, that has some exquisite detail on it, the armoured plate that fits on the underside of the hull, and the overall level of detail on the turret. This release represents a Leopard 2 A7V as in service currently I believe, where as the previous option I am reliably informed represents a pre-production version. 

Vespid Models has provided 2 finishing options for this release which are for the most part identical and no data is provided on the service of the finished vehicle. 

Conclusion

I really wish that my eyesight and the steadiness of my hands was up to tackling these models, but that is just not the case. The detail throughout is of a very high quality, and makes it very difficult to find any negatives to complain about. The only aspect that I can critique is the fact that the finishing options are not provided with specific detail of what they represent.