Introduction

Danish Leopard 1 tanks have deployed on UNPROFOR, IFOR, SFOR, and KFOR missions. The Danish Leopards changed paint schemes and markings over the course of these deployments as well as received upgrades and modifications in order to keep them functioning and capable of dealing with all threats encountered.

Luckily for the 1/35th scale modeller the Leopard tank has come to the forefront of many model producers’ production lines providing the modeller with a plethora of new kits and conversions.

This new decal set produced by the Leopard Workshop was designed specifically with the new Danish Leopard 1A4DK1 conversion from Legend Productions for the Meng Leopard 1A3/A4 kit in mind.

The decals focus on the Danish tanks as they appeared during deployments to Bosnia with SFOR and Kosovo with KFOR.

What is unique about these decals? The decals are based on real vehicles and the proof is in the instructions.

Review

The instruction sheet provides the modeller with a large amount of information in a small compact package:

• Overview history of the Danish Leopard 1
• Description and marking layout for seven distinct Danish Leopard 1A5DK1s
• Additional detail and marking information for glacis stowage box and an optional unit marking
• Options for creating a paint mix for the Danish camouflage colours

The images provided in the instructions to indicate the placement of the decals on the model are done with images of the actual tanks. Ensure you study both the images and the decals to ensure you know which decal goes in which location.

Some of the tanks shown have either a mine plow or a dozer blade fitted. There is currently no 1/35th scale Leopard 1 mine plow and the current available 1/35th scale Leopard 1 dozer blade produced by Mouse House Enterprises may not be correct for the Danish tanks as depicted. With that in mind, the plow and dozers may have been removed at some point so accuracy would be fine with a standard Leopard 1A5DK1 build.

There are five SFOR Leopards and two KFOR Leopards depicted in the decal set. None of them look the same and selecting which specific decals you will use will be your personal choice. As some of the images of the tanks provide only partial views some of the decals and placement locations are listed as “possibly” on the instructions sheet. Additional research or faith on placement will depend on you and what you accept for standardization on the tanks as far as accuracy.

I did note one detail on a rear turret inverted triangle type marking missing on the decal for tank 62.479. The circular detail inside the triangle is visible in the instruction image but not on for the decal. This may have been an oversight or simply a high resolution image of the specific detail as not available to create an accurate decal.

The decals look very sharp with limited extra decal film. The thickness of the decal film is visible but as the decals are applied to flat surfaces of the Leopards they should seat nicely. The colours are vibrant particularly in both the red and yellows. Additional registration numbers are provided to create other tank numbers. Decals for a Danish National Dannebrog flag tied to an antenna are provided in two halves. Care will have to be taken to ensure you mirror the halves together or you will have the white Scandinavian cross facing the opposite direction one side of the flag.

conclusion

This looks like an excellent decal set and overall very well researched and delivered by the Leopard Workshop. Add these decals to a completed build of a Danish Leopard 1A5DK1 conversion and you will have a great looking model.