The fun times of track building, getting new tracks built before sending our tanks over to Afghanistan in 2006…..
11 Likes
Man, with that extra armor removed and the mounting bosses still on, those Leos look like a teenager’s face; spotted and full of pimples. 
1 Like
Thanks for posting the photos, Andrew! Especially the 2nd is very helpful for me. I will use a mix of Red Brown, Black and Steel, the running surface for the road wheels and teeths will be painted with Steel. All trackpads will be brushpainted with Anthracite. 
I remember in 1989, during my last year in the Bundeswehr, when I drove a MAN 5t mil gl, we had to bring some old tracks of our Leos (we had the Leo 2A4 back then) to the depot for repairs. In the morning our BPz Bergeleos (ARV) loaded one on the truck and one on the trailer. That was quite a drive over the highway with such a heavy load.
Jay, the extra rubber “armor” would have helped against medium calibers but not against high power KE ammo. It was made by Blohm & Voss.
3 Likes
Doing track hung over is a real bear…
3 Likes
332 trackpads brush painted with Revell 36109 Anthracite. The other colour is a mix of Red Brown, Black and Steel, all paints from Revell …
Same here. Steel is Revell 36191 …
83 links fit well around. I think, the real Leo 1 has 88. Some touch ups later will be obligatory … 
So, this part is done. Now I can care about the upper hull next.
Torsten
12 Likes
Keep going
2 Likes
I thought there was a rubber insert on the inner face of the tracks.
Very nice job so far.
Olivier
2 Likes
Thanks for your feedback, Olivier and Jason! Much appreciated. 
I didn’t know about this until you mentioned it. Too late to change it here now, but the next Leo sure will land on my bench sooner or later. I have a few in my stash.
Torsten
1 Like
Looking forward to see the progress!
As a side note, some time ago I picked up a selection of the AK Real Colors markers and I’ve been using the rubber black one a lot to do rubber track pads (and rubber tires on road wheels). Works very well and made what I used to think of as a chore much more quick and easy.
5 Likes
Further progess on the Leopard!
Though I found a few flaws in the intructions I finished assembling the upper hull yesterday and this is how the C2 looks right now … 
First test fitting looks good …
Next steps are degreasing the hull, white primer and painting Bronze Green RAL 6031. That will hopefully all be done by next weekend.
But don’t think I was laying lazy on the couch, eating chips and watching stupid TV series in the last few weeks. No, of course not! I have finished my other build, the SAAB J 21 A-3 from Pilot Replicas in 1/48 scale. So it can fly to my first model show in 2 weeks in Thionville/France 
I guess, not many of you have followed that build, so I show you 2 pics here …
8 Likes
Great progress on your Leopard.Looks very neatly done.Well done.
Richard
2 Likes
Thanks Richard! Glad you like it
Fresh from the paint booth this morning comes the C2 upper hull with primer over all. Maybe I can spray Bronze Green later today …
… and no, it won’t become this famous White Leopard …
I also started with the turret and noticed that the Takom guys can’t count … 
I didn’t trust the intructions and better trusted the photos that Anthony @AD_Sewards showed in Post 15. They were of great help! Thank you! Hopefully I’ve got the “warts” right …
As you can see, I’ve lost one of the “nipples” to the carpet monster. I crawled on the carpet on 2 days for about 30 minutes and couldn’t find the part, though I saw it fall down … 
Most likely I find it next time I vaccum clean the carpet cling cling 
So I used a left over from an air duct on a sprue. Not nice but better than nothing. Unfortunatly I don’t have an Evergreen profile which would suit …
Question to all: How are the tools painted? Also in Bronze Green or Wood/Metallic?
Have a great Sunday!
Torsten
6 Likes
If it’s not too late, before you base coat, try to sand and eliminate the vertical seam on the front rubber mud guards. They are a one piece part on the real tank with no seam.
The pioneer tools could be seen with natural wood handles, painted flat black, painted green, or a combination of all. The crews repainted the tools to keep them in good condition…and of course for inspections.
4 Likes
Thanks for your comment, Jason! Well looked! I should have seen it also but somehow didn’t 
Your comment came a little late because I already sprayed Bronze Green yesterday afternoon. But not too late because I had to do some correction today, so I sanded that part slightly. Same on the other side.
Just sprayed another layer over all and leave it to dry over night. Will see tomorrow how it comes out.
6 Likes