Customer Reviews

Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank 1979-98 (New Vanguard)

5 star:		(1)
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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

There is nothing wrong with this Osprey title if you are paying original list price or less and you just need a short well written general history of the vehicle through 1998. However, you would be insane to pay the current lowest new/used price of close to $50(as of 7Aug09). A 2009 Tankograd book by Frank Lobitz "Kampfpanzer Leopard 2: Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank Development and German Army Service" covers the Leo 2 in much better detail and includes the most recent variants. Frank Lobitz's new book lists at $85US, which maybe more than some can budget, but at 320 pages with 679 photographs, 97 graphics and 2 four-view 1/35 scale drawings and with coverage from the earliest prototypes to the latest A6Ms + future modernization efforts as currently displayed by the Demonstratoren and the PSO/UrbOps, the new Tankograd book is a better value.

Another hit. Packed full of detail with unique photos and beautiful illustrations. I love these books.

I have not yet seen a detailed book on the Leopard II (or LeoI for that matter), so in the meantime, this is about as good as you can get, covering a lot of territory in 48 pages. This is a good book, covers the background leading up to the Leo II, its main versions, good B&W photos.

Its not perfect for modelers, but I'm not sure what else is out there that would satisfy the requirement for lots of photos from many angles. The color plate drawings are informative and do show different markings used on the several versions, camoflague schemes.

What I did not like about this book was the cut away drawing. The centerfold interrupts some of the details, and the overall drawing lacks detail. Having been inside of a Leo II, I would really like to see interior shots as some books show of the M-1 gunners station, TC station, loader's station.

Overall, I would recommend this book.