I find it interesting that other Countries have a driver training tank. When I was in the Army my first tank was an M60A3. They gave us a brief introduction on driving then we got in the seat and started driving. No trainer just the real thing. With a Drill SGT in the Cdr hatch yelling at us LOL.
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The German Leopard 1 Driver’s Training tank, or “Fahrschulpanzer” even has a dummy gun.
Same with the leopard 2 CTT
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But then again, others did not have the dummy gun in them…
It’d be fun to own one to drive around. Though maintenance will be a dog.
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CTT was the first real purpose built wagon for driver training , they were ordered in 88 but the first was not delivered until late 89 and CTT production finished in 1990. I think about under 20 were built. Before these, Cr1 driver training was carried out on a normal gun tank. When I learnt MBT, it was a 2 week course on a Chieftain in Germany.
CTT were the same weight as a gun tank and gave the exact same feel as you would get on the real thing. It does not take long to get adjusted to driving with a barrel over your head and this was usually done at Bovi as well before you went back to your unit so you had a bit of experience with a gun tank…
The good thing about the CTT was the instructor could introduce various driving faults from his panel in the crew cab, and also, importantly, he had an emergency stop button …
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John what does the kit give you for the glass in the cab?
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The second one, with no additional armor… here:
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Sadly nothing. Which if I’m honest I found odd, as to me it’s part of the cab, so in my mind, there should be something included, even if it’s a token gesture … Like I said though, I asked in another thread and will take up on one of the answers about the clear tubs that grapes/ fruit come it. On the the instructions there is a template with the sizes needed, so that’s a help.
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Cheers Russ, that’s the bad boy …great reference pics for me to work from 
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Bit more reference searching and some minor bits done.
Had another more detailed look at the resin conversion and the individual parts earlier. There is a lot of flash on probably 60% of the parts, some heavier than other bits.
A fair few bits have resin overspill/lumps (I imagine where it’s been poured ?? ) that will need a very gentle hand when they get removed, as some of them are on very fragile parts.
There is also more warping than I originally thought, and the upper part of the crew cab is going to need a fair bit of very very gentle trimming/surgery to get into fit into the lower tub with the ballast shell. I will probably try and do the surgery on the lower tub first as that can easily be hidden as the upper part is crazy fragile …
While scouring the tinterweb, and the Cr1 Tankograd book, I found the images that I mentioned where it has the modern large green Extinguishers on the crew cab either side at the front on each corner, and none fitted to the hull, or I can go early and do it with the smaller hand helds, either way, I will need to get the Accurate Armour ones to replace all of them.
Also I realised that (and by what I can find out) the Cr1 CTTs, didn’t have any resilient railing on the engine decks, only the mounts for it… So I decided to go full in and remove it all from the hull.
This also meant I had to make the mounting plates for the resilient rail that sits on the hull side and straddles one of the fuel cell access plates. Used white plasti strip, cut to length and sanded which you will see in the images.
Resilient rail removed and sanded.
Doing this means that I then had to mark up 51 holes that needed drilling for how the rails get secured into
The added mounting plate, same on other side straddling the access plate
The 51 holes drilled out. Used HGs @HGBARNES method of using a No11 blade tip to make a pilot hole as there isn’t much room for error
Have the holes on the white strips until they are fully set, and I may need to use a smaller drill bit as well.
Also got all the parts off I needed to on the front , and don’t forget the slope glacis in front of the drivers cab is being cut out to level that section. Also managed to get the upper glacis lifting eyes off without damaging them.
And bits off the back I needed to, the LH fuel can holder snapped, but it’s an easy fix.
Also sorted the gun clamp as per how it was on CTTs , basically the clamp part is removed, but the mount stays
This the chaos that is my bench lol… It pains me to look at it lol .
Also found my old PE set from an old Cr1 kit with the splash plate piece and a few other bits I can use.
All decent progress and pleased with how it turned out
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Good work! I do love seeing the white stuff come out.
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Wow John that’s one hell of a post! I expected this was going to be a quickie build. Just ditch the turret and slap the cab on and Bob’s your Uncle. But Nooooooooooo. Not John. He’s physically incapable of quickie builds. Everything has to have problem A which leads to situation B followed by solution C which requires ordering bit D from vendor E…and on we go…
Great work so far buddy, looks like you have quite a bit of delicate work on your hands!
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Haha … you know me Matt, never a dull moment 
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Russ @rfbaer , this is entirely your fault !!!
I have never been so panic stricken making cuts into a kit …
This is the most worrying thing I have done !!!
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And done …
Russ, you’re forgiven lol… Needs a bit more tidying up.
Am also going to order another Cr1 PE set as I want to show it with no hand tools, and replace the track tool holders… That’s your fault Matt @SSGToms 
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Multiple PE sets! Your journey to the dark side has begun!
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That Leo 1 Driver’s Trainig Tank w/o dummy gun is a Dutch one, see yellow license plate and “NL” on the lateral stowage boxes. And its tracks are mounted in a rather unusual way, with the chevrons pointing up on the idler - something no competition judge would let pass on your model.
I never leave here lol
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I am now a relatively happy chap ( apart from my Sith dark side) …
Now Russ, @rfbaer this is no where near as tidy as your lovely work you showed us with your Chally… But I am so relieved it’s over lol…
I have only been this nervous doing surgery back when I did my Striker and the AFV club hull I had to butcher… Anyway, the result
The main thing the front slope is level. It still needs some filler work on the joins, and the front leading edge needs about 1mm ish sanding back…
The gaps you can see on the top edges have actually been back filled with super glue gel…
Will let it all set then start the sanding and filling and more sanding …
Time to order some PE …
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Your workbench is neater than mine has ever been!
Ken
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