Tamiya 35064 - 1:35 German Kampfpanzer Leopard

1:35 plastic model kit of the German Leopard 1 main battle tank

Tamiya 35064 depicts the Leopard 1 – the tank that took the Bundeswehr into a new era in the 1960s and became, for decades, one of the most widely used armoured vehicles in Western Europe. The model represents the early version with its distinctive cast turret and is produced from 1975 tooling. It measures 267 mm when assembled.

The kit captures the tank's low, slender silhouette, with the long 105 mm gun and flat hull. Vinyl band tracks simplify the running gear, and the included commander bust fills the turret hatch. Decals allow you to reproduce Bundeswehr markings.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, cast turret and fittings
• Vinyl band tracks
• One figure – commander bust
• Waterslide decal sheet – Bundeswehr markings
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35064
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 267 mm
• Skill level: beginner

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

A simple, classic kit – the good fit of the hull and turret and the vinyl band tracks mean that even a beginner will have no trouble completing it. It is worth painting the road wheels before fitting the tracks, as access between them is limited afterwards.

Early Bundeswehr Leopards wore a uniform yellow-olive finish (gelboliv). A wash brings out the texture of the cast turret nicely, and light drybrushing in a paler shade emphasises the edges. Pigments suggesting training-ground dust work well on the tracks and lower hull. Military vehicle models are usually finished with a matt varnish.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate detail and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust effects

About the vehicle – Leopard 1:

In designing Germany's first post-war tank, the engineers adopted a premise that sounded bold at the time: if modern shaped-charge rounds will penetrate any realistic armour, it is better to make sure the tank is not hit at all. Hence the relatively light Leopard 1 of some 40 tonnes, with an outstanding power-to-weight ratio and high speed.

Its armament was the British 105 mm L7A3 – one of the finest gun barrels of its era, used by other NATO tanks as well. Power came from an 830 hp MTU MB 838 diesel. The tank entered service in 1965 and quickly became the Bundeswehr's standard main battle tank.

Early versions were distinguished by their rounded cast turret, later replaced in subsequent variants by a welded turret of different shape. The Leopard 1 also proved a major export success, serving with many European armies and beyond, remaining in front-line use in some of them well into the 21st century.

Original vehicle specifications (Leopard 1):

• Length with gun: approx. 9.5 m
• Width: approx. 3.25 m
• Height: approx. 2.6 m
• Combat weight: approx. 40 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 105 mm L7A3 gun
• Powerplant: MTU MB 838 diesel engine, 830 hp
• Top speed: approx. 65 km/h
• In service: from 1965

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company started out in the timber trade, but by the late 1940s it was producing wooden models, and in 1960 it released its first plastic model kit. Two years later came a 1:35 tank kit that established the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this Leopard 1 belongs, runs to hundreds of items and is one of the most comprehensive catalogues of 1:35 military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries today and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.