Vespid – VS720029 – Panther KF51 German Main Battle Tank

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a German Panther KF51, an ongoing Rheinmetall development based on the hull of the Leopard 2A4 with a new turret and an autoloader 130mm main gun.

The Panther KF51 can be considered either as a next-generation tank or a Leopard2 evolution ending up on a hybrid develop capable to modernize existing hulls or produce new tanks, with some different variants proposed/planned including KF51-U with an unmanned main turret and just a crew of three men, all allocated in the main hull. Secondary armament consists usually of a 12.7mm coaxial machine gun and a 7.62 mm machine gun mounted in a remote weapons station over the turret.

One of the limitations of the Panther KF51 is the ammunition capacity, limited to 25 rounds for a gun that is capable to fire 3 rounds in 16 seconds and performing automatic security checks in the time between the rounds.

Hungary, Italy and Ukraine has expressed his intention or signed contracts to develop to KF51 and acquire it and Rheinmetall acknowledged purpose is to sell the type to all current Leopard 2 customers around world. The Hungarian variant is fitted with a 120 mm L/55A1 main gun similar to Leopard 2A7HU guns and based on the Bergepanzer BPz3 Büffel ( a Leopard 2 derived recovery vehicle) chassis.

Kit features usual Vespid quality and characteristics, include some 3D printed parts, metal barrel and PE (photo-etched) parts. Tracks are link-and-length type and though not real markings exists for the KF51 the brand proposes 3 different paint schemes based on what Rheinmetall has shown on defense exhibitions.

This is the first 1/72 scale plastic model kit depicting the Panther KF51.