If you build modern Bundeswehr vehicles, then you know the Leopard 2 as a perennial favourite on the shelf and at shows. Our Revell Exclusive Edition picks up exactly there but turns two knobs at the same time, since it combines the 70 Years of the Bundeswehr anniversary with a previously unpublished Leopard 2 A6A2 variant and adds a complete all inclusive package with paints, glue, brush and a hardback companion book created in cooperation with Motorbuchverlag.
The appeal for model builders lies not only in the contents of the box but also in the subject itself, because the Leopard 2A6 is often defined in perception by its firepower whereas the A6M A2 perspective focuses much more on protection and operational reality. This is exactly what makes this model an ideal project if you do not just want to build a tank but a piece of technology history that is closely linked to the experience gained on overseas deployments and to the ongoing development of modern protection concepts.
The Leopard 2 and the road to the A6 line
The Leopard 2 has been in service as a German main battle tank since the late 1970s and has been further developed in stages over decades, which explains why there are so many variants that look similar at first glance but differ in their detailed priorities. An important milestone was the introduction of the A6 configuration as part of the combat effectiveness upgrade programme in which the longer 120 mm L 55 gun played a central role because it was intended to increase effectiveness at greater ranges.
For you at the workbench this is a gift, because especially with Leopard variants you can show very clearly that model building is more than camouflage pattern and tracks. Anyone who reads up on the subject quickly realises that each upgrade stage was a response to specific requirements, namely to threats, ammunition, sensors, weight and logistics, and it is precisely this way of thinking that makes the finished build more convincing because you can justify your decisions for the final finish much better.
A6M and A2 and why mine protection suddenly changes everything
With the Leopard 2A6M the focus shifts significantly towards protection against mines and similar threats underneath the vehicle. A well documented overview from the specialist community describes that from 2004 onwards a first lot of 70 Leopard 2A6 was made mine protected through extensive conversion work and introduced into the Bundeswehr as the Leopard 2A6M, with the new additional belly plate being a visible external feature.
This kind of conversion has consequences that you can tell very effectively on the model, because mine protection is not just an extra plate but also affects the interior and crew protection since seats were among other things decoupled and further modifications were carried out inside the vehicle. Even if a 1:35 kit does not show every interior detail, this background knowledge will influence your presentation, for example if you plan a small scene that hints at an operational context or shows the tank in a modernised configuration.
And the further developments derived from the need for mine protection in deployment scenarios led to existing A6 tanks being modified to A6A2 standard. The A6A2 experience in turn flowed into later programmes and a modular protection concept is based on these lessons which creates the bridge to the later evolution within the Leopard family.
Seventy years of the Bundeswehr as a framework
The 70 Years of the Bundeswehr anniversary gives the model a clear historical framework because it is not about a single combat mission but about continuity, training, alliance defence and the changing reality of deployments. That is why we highlight aspects ranging from production through digital fire control systems to mine protection and later development programmes, giving you a strong narrative thread that you can use in a small accompanying text on the base or in a blog post if you have a diorama in mind.
Precisely because modern Leopard vehicles are often depicted in a very clean state, subtle choices can have a big impact on the model. If, for example, you want to show a vehicle in a realistically used condition then finely dosed dust layers, discreet running marks on the tracks and light wear on edges will help without overdoing it, because modern maintenance often keeps vehicles looking better than we know from earlier eras. This approach suits an anniversary model very well, which does not necessarily have to end as a battle diorama but can also work as a technology exhibit.
Here you can find the JubiLeo in the Revell shop
Kit data and contents for your planning
This Exclusive Edition is conceived as a package that lets you get started right away, since paints, glue and brush are included as well as a hardback book in German and English that was created in cooperation with Motorbuchverlag. And: This previously unpublished Leopard 2 A6A2 version, which is available only in this edition, is of course particularly interesting for collectors and for everyone who likes to build something that does not sit in every display case.
To round things off, here are the key data you provided, so you can quickly decide whether this project fits into your building schedule:
The scale is 1:35 and results in a finished model with a length of 31.3 cm. The recommended age is 12 years, the kit contains 265 individual parts and at Level 4 it is something for advanced builders.
Here you can go straight to the Leopard 2 A6A2 in the Revell shop
and here to our special page for the 70 Years of the Bundeswehr anniversary
