Fans
of modern German Armour can only look with their eyes filled with tears
to the broad selection of
books available about Wehrmacht panzers or modern allied equipment -
this is no news. But it is a rela pitty that is true for one of the
most famous modern tanks - the Leopard 1 - as well. What could we use
as reference material so far ? Now, you probably all now the Spielberger
series. Some might remember the old Waffen-Arsenal/squadron signal in
action dealing with the Leopard 1, real hardcore fans might also know
a book from 1977 "Kampfpanzer Leopard" which was published
by "Wehr und Wissen". Both books ended with the A3 version
of the Leopard, versions like the Dachs (Badger) or the enhanced Bergeleopard
(ARV) 2A2 didn't even exist by then. No wonder at all the Spielberger
book was THE reference book for years. This has finally come to an end
and I can confidentaly say that there is a new reference dealing with
this topic!
British
publisher Barbarossa Books started
delivery of ist "Leopard 1 Trilogy"
these days. The Leopard 1 Trilogy is written by author Michael
Shackleton who was assisted by Frank Lobitz as technical
director. After reading the very first chapters, one sees clearly this
is not a typical boring special topic book like others, these three
books have far more to offer.
Next to a complete description of the Leopard tank's development and
all it's variants, we also find a detail and scale drawings and function
principles. The photos are a good mixture of action photos and - specially
to the modeller's needs - a large variety of in detail images. The credits
for the photos and drawings read like a who-is-who of european modelling:
Dirk Degenhardt (1/35 scale views, well known from the Elite kits) and
Jan-Willem DeBoer of the Dutch Twenot (detailphotos) will be found as
well as Ulf Koeppen (www.daseisenschwein.de
- the homepage of former PzBtl. 74) and Peter Blume (known from several
Fahrzeug Profile publications) who provided several action photos. Quality
is guaranteed!
The
three books aim at both the modeller as well as fans of military technology,
author Michael Shackleton made a good balance preventing the book from
drifting too far to either side, both groups will be totally satisfied.
Some purist might miss a detail or two, like the diameter of the screws
holding the tracks leading teeth... Personally I also like the basic
layout of the books. The chapters are interupted by the so called "Leopard
Tales" - short (true) stories and anekdotes all around the Leopard,
sometimes interesting, sometimes humorous - but never boring!
Those
thinking a Leopard book will only be interesting for fans of the German
Army are equally wrong as those thinking the Leopard family is confined
to Leopard 1 to 1 A5, Biber (AVLB), ARV and Dachs (badger) - the books
will show!
Leopard
1 Trilogy - Volume 1: Prototype to production (ISBN
0-9538777-5-2)
Voume
1 contains the complete development history of the Leopard 1 rank
ranging from the very first designs to the 1A6. Next to action
photos "in details" are shown of: Series II prototype,
Leopard 0-series, Leopadr 1, Leopard 1A3, Leopard 1A4, Leopard
1A1A2 and Leopard 1A6. 1/35th scale drwaings are provided for:
Leopard 1. and 3. Batch, 1!, 1A2, 1A3,1A4, 1A5 and 1A1A1.
Moreover the volume offers a desprition of the Leopard's use within
the German Bundeswehr, technical data, a complete list of chassis
numbers, articles on the Leopard's technical details and - modellers
attention! - a almost complete list and review of Leopard modelkits
ranging from 1/300 to 1/16!
|
Leopard
1 Trilogy - Volume 2: Special variants (ISBN
0-9538777-6-0)
Volume
2 is dedicated to the special variants of the Leopard family.
This includes the Begrepanzer 2 (Taurus), Pionierpanzer 1 and
2 (Dachs/Badger), thebridgelayers Biber (Beaver) and Leguan, the
complete anti aircraft family around the Gepard, driving school
version, Artillery oberservation tank, the BARV variants Hippo
and Bulldog as well as a variety of mine clearing versions like
the Minebreaker depicted below.
Close-up photos are provided for: Bergepanzer 2, Pionierpanzer
1 and 2, Gepard A1/A2, Biber, Leguan, Driving school tank, oberservation
tank, Leopard 1 AEV, Leopard 1 AMCV, Hippo, Bulldog, Minebreaker
and the Bofors Demining machines 1 and 2.
1/35th scale drawings can be found for: Bergepanzer 2, Pionierpanzer
1 and 2, Gepard, Biber, Driving school tank, Leopard 1 AEV, Leopard
1 AMCV and Hippo.
The volumes ends with the technical data and a listing of the
production numbers for the special variants.
|
Leopard
1 Trilogy - Volume 3: Foreign users (ISBN
0-9538777-7-9)
In
the third volume our readers from Belgium and the Netherlands
as well as from Canada and Australia will fully come to their
costs. Michael Shackleton introduces all foreign users of the
Leopard 1 family including the variants they operate: Australia,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands,
Norway, Turkey and Romania and Great Britain. On this occasion
the author also brings to an end rumours of libyan Leopards and
takes a look at possible future Leopard users.
Like the other books, also volume three contains several nice
close-up series: the Australian Dozer device, Leopard 1A5(BE),
Leopard C1A1 and C2, the Canadian mineroller, Leopard 1A5DK and
1A5DK-1 including the mine plough, Leopard 1-V and Cheetah.
The volume ends with a complete listing of all Leopard 1 and derivatives
used worldwide and - as in very volume - a table of glossary terms
and abbreviations.
|
A
few additional informations on the books: each volume consists of some
180 pages which have pictures throughout - mostly colour images of high
quality. The Trilogy can be ordered as single books or as a complete
set, which is delivered in a stable and attractive black box. The price
for the complete "Leopard 1 Trilogy" is 90
british pounds, thus approx. 128 Euros.
The Trilogy can be ordered directly at Barbarossa Books (www.barbarossabooks.co.uk),
credit card and cash are accepted as payment. The ISBN number of the
complete set is: 0-9838777-8-7.
As
a final conclusion I can say that these books set the new reference
when it comes to Leopard 1 literature and they should not miss in any
well sorted book collection of Bundswehr or Leopard fans, no matter
whether they are interested in the model or in the real thing!
Special
thanks go to Mr. Russel Hadler von Barbarossa Books for the review samples!
Barbarossa
Books
Zhukov House
14 Maldon Road
Tiptree
Essex CO5 0LL
United Kingdom
Telephone:
+44 (0) 1621 810810 / Fax +44 (0) 1621 810888
E-mail
to sales@barbarossabooks.co.uk
zurück zur Übersichtsseite
|