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Strv 121 in Detail
HistoryThe Leopard II was developed in the seventies after the joint US/German effort to develop a new main battle tank, the MBT-70, was brought to a halt and the project cancelled. The new main battle tank was developed by Krauss-Maffei AG, now Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), of München, Germany. The first production Leopards were delivered to the German Army in 1979. Over 3000 were produced. The tank is in service with the armies of Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and Spain.
Stridsvagn 121 is the Swedish designation for the Leopard II, of which Sweden received 160 as the first part of an agreement on purchasing the new Leopard Improved (Stridsvagn 122). The vehicles arrived in Sweden in 1994. The tanks originate form different production series (losung) meaning that there were (and are) a number of external differences between specimen from each series. Among the vehicles shipped to Sweden there are vehicles from losung 1 manufactured in 1979 up to losung 5, which rolled off the assembly line in 1987.
Paint SchemeSwedish Leos are sometimes painted in a single Dark Green shade but often finished in a standard Army three-color camouflage of Black, Dark Green and Light Green. The running gear is always painted overall Dark Green.
Strv 121 in Detail
It should be noted that the Italeri kit is not 100% correct and there are a few details that were changed during the modernization roundup done to all vehicles between 1995 and 1998. Quoted part numbers refer to parts of the kit.
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If
you would like to model the Swedish vehicle, be aware that there are
external differences in detail and equipment between the Strv 121 and
Bundeswehr Leos. I'll try to point out all the necessary modifications
using some close-up photographs and Italeri Leopard II kit as a reference.
On the right side (part C23) each of the second and third
handles should have three small pieces of plasic rod added. The
full-size device prevents one from climbing the vehicle with the risk of
injury, should the driver simultaneously open his hatch.
A notch should be cut out from both of the rear side plates (parts C22 and
C23). This prevents snow and mud from clogging the drive
sprocket.
On the left front fender a few spare parts for the tracks are missing.
They should be located between the rear view mirror and the ice cleats
(parts B44). The same goes for the right front fender.
The front needs three white reflectors, one on each fender and one
placed in the middle on a small bracket in front of part B37. A bracket
for the id number plate should also be added to the right fender. As with
the rear plate, identification numbers are painted in yellow and range from 210801 till 210960.
If you want you can substitute both front fenders and use the
Swedish variant show here. These fenders have a more rounded appearance and the real ones are made of
rubber. At the moment of writing, this particular modification has not yet
been performed on all vehicles.
Some more work
will be required on the turret. The left side of part C49 has
a small box that needs to be removed, and four brackets attached where the box was
located. 
The
antennae (parts
B79) are exchanged for new mounts and new rods. Length of the mounts are 7 mm and the antennas are 60
mm - in 1/35th scale, of course.
On the other side of the turret
there is a circle-shaped plug on the lid below the antenna mount.
A driver's visual aid is mounted on the rear right side of the hull. The knob is
often white, sometimes red.
The object shaped as a half-circle is part of of the small wading
equipment and is usually located on the rear right side of the turret. The
correct 1/35th scale dimensions are approximately 17 mm wide and 9 mm
high.
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