Tamiya 35112 - 1:35 Leopard A4

Plastic model kit of the German Leopard 1A4 main battle tank in 1:35 scale

The Leopard 1A4 was the final production batch of the Leopard 1 and the first version to carry a welded turret with spaced armour — an angular shape clearly different from the earlier cast turret. Tamiya 35112 reproduces this Bundeswehr tank in 1:35 scale from 1979 tooling.

The kit comprises around 185 parts and captures the vehicle's key features: the 105 mm gun with its thermal sleeve, the angular turret, the sloped hull and the torsion bar suspension. The road wheels rotate once assembled, and a commander figure in the open hatch brings the finished model to life. The decals cover three specific Bundeswehr vehicles of the 1970s and 1980s.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and running gear parts (approx. 185 parts)
• 105 mm gun with thermal sleeve
• Vinyl band tracks
• One commander figure
• Waterslide decal sheet for three Bundeswehr options: 2./PzBtl 293 no. 554 (Heuberg 1975), 3./PzBtl 304 no. 745 (Münsingen 1981), Armour School Munster no. 575 (1975)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35112
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 267 mm
• Parts count: approx. 185
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (detailed running gear, a fair number of small parts)

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This is a kit for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The build goes smoothly thanks to the excellent parts fit, although the number of small details on the turret and fenders calls for a little patience. The vinyl band tracks shorten the work on the running gear, and the rotating road wheels make fitting them easier. The stowage baskets and grab handles on the turret are best left until last, after the main body has been painted.

Bundeswehr vehicles of this period wore a uniform yellow-olive finish (Gelboliv); in the Tamiya range XF-62 gives a close match. Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish makes a good final coat. A wash will bring out the turret welds and engine grilles, while pigments can suggest dust on the lower hull.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out detail
• Optional: weathering pigments for dust and mud

About the vehicle – Leopard 1A4:

The Leopard 1 was the first main battle tank designed and built in post-war West Germany. Its designers chose mobility and firepower over maximum armour protection — the tank was light, fast and agile, and its 105 mm L7A3 gun was among the best of its class.

The 1A4 was the last production version: 250 vehicles were built between 1974 and 1976. It was the first to receive a welded turret with spaced armour, offering better protection than the earlier cast turret, along with an integrated fire control system with a commander's sight and rangefinder. Leopard 1A4s served with the Bundeswehr for many years, and the experience gained with this version fed into the later Leopard 2 programme.

Original vehicle specifications (Leopard 1A4):

• Type: main battle tank
• Main armament: 105 mm L7A3 gun
• Crew: 4
• Combat weight: approx. 42.4 t
• Powerplant: MTU MB 838 CaM 500 diesel engine, 830 hp
• Turret: welded, with spaced armour (the first such Leopard 1 version)
• Production: 250 vehicles, 1974–1976
• Operator: Bundeswehr

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 and made wooden models, releasing its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960. Two years later came the 1:35 tank that established the world standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise tooling and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of releases covering vehicles, artillery and figures. Tamiya instructions are clear and well illustrated, with painting guides referenced to the company's own paint range. Besides kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.