So that’s a no on the kit tow cable then? 
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Well, I’m not sure if you can categorise clambering all over one on a railway flat at Bremerhaven docks in 1974 direct experience - but I suppose it is in a way (!)
God knows I’ve seen enough on various exercises.
I do like the Leopard as a tank species and have built a few, but anyway, glad to help where I can.
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The kit tow cables are definitely useable. Meng provides some soft wire etc.
I dislike tow cable ends with slots in general. If they are flat against a surface where the slot won’t be visible that can be OK. With the wire in the slot, it can be filled in with CA and sanded etc to get rid of the slot.
Given at the rear these mount on the tow pinnacle they are exposed to some degree in open space. The ends that mount on the side of the hull are less exposed but also need the same TLC. So the slots in my opinion need to be filled otherwise it risks an eye sore equal to a punch mark being exposed.
Basically, I’m lazy taking the easy way out by replacing the ends.
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All good.
Have you thought about slipping a tube over the wire and end connector, than smooth/sand near clip.
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Ryan, that’s an excellent idea 
Worth testing.
I’ve done the sleeve with tow cables scratch built before but hadn’t thought about using one on the Leopard tow cables.
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Thanks to the dehydrator, both the oil wash & oil drybrushing are complete.
Gloss coated and back in the dehydrator for decals tonight.
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There are two lengths of tow rope, you need to check the picture for which one, longer cross over at the back, the short as vodnik photos of 1a1a2.
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Frank, thank you for the heads up.
Wire cutter handles repainted red brown & decals added.
Needs mirrors, periscopes, tow cables, flat coat etc…
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Headlights looking Hillbilly Ghetto…
Hillbilly Chic by a sucky acrylic metallic (Tamiya silver or gunmetal?)
Discontinued enamel Model Master Chrome Silver
Unlikely to use the clear plastic lens provided for the headlights because they will likely look duller w/lens in my opinion.
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Wade your Leopard looks excellent, great build and beautiful finish. I always wanted one of these but held off.
You may have mentioned it in a previous post and I missed it, but what are those X shaped things on the front hull slope? I know next to nothing about Leopards.
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X-grips (my name for them).
Attached to a few links per track to get better grip on ice and hard packed snow.
Wheeled vehicles use chains, tracked vehicles use these ice claws.
I believe they replace a track pad and there is some rule as to how thay shall be spaced.
Swedish Strv 121 (Leo 2) but the concept is the same
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They are called Schneegreifer and yes, they replace some track pads per track. But they are not only used in snow but also in mud, if it helps. No easy work. You don’t need a gym after that … 
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@metalhead85 Richard, thank you!
Pretty much the same here. I like the way Leo’s look but know very little about them.
As Robin (thank you) mentioned traction in show & ice and I just learned from Torsten’s post also in mud. Schneegreifer @BlackWidow thank you, had no idea what they were called!
I bet swapping those things onto the tracks is a royal pain.
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Thank you for the reply gents
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Wade,
Just so you get your rear lights in order (and I appreciate you may well not have finished such details yet) I’ve just filched this off prime Portal (I’m sure they won’t mind):
For the large orange/red light within the sort of housing I use a gloss orange, but for the lower half I use a crimson - as opposed to a red); you may well wish to consider something along those lines perhaps. Just for info really, I’m sure you’re ahead of the game.
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Brian, Wow talk about timing! Kali-Kat just reminded me to get after those tail lights. I was hunting for a good reference picture, so, thank you!
Added a thin touch of Gunzy Clear Red over the yellow to make the orange 
.
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Well, that’s a tad spooky! Some sort of Leopard-modellers’ karma?
Anyway, 'glad it helped.
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Couple of questions for the knowledgeable and folks good at research:
What’s the lenght of a Leo 1 antenna? Not sure about adding antennas but considering it.
What’s the color of the armored glass for the Leo 1 periscope? Black doesn’t seem quite right.
What are the red caps and white cap on the engine deck? Fuel (red)? Coolant (white)?
Thank you
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They are called Winkelspiegel in german and are clear. You mean the colour of the frame? I would go for RAL 6014 Gelboliv on the earlier Leos and RAL 6031 Bronzegrün on the later ones. Interior of the Leo 1 and Leo 2 is White.
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