I suggested the 105 mm mainly because the M1 Abrams had that initially, and early Leopard 2 prototypes did as well (though a Rheinmetall gun rather than L7 — the tank gun, I mean, not the band 
).
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That’s true Jakko - I’d forgotten that (even the though the Panda M1 is calling to me, “Finish the build, finish the build!” It looked a bit weedy on the the tank then, it would look similarly puny on a beast like the MBT-70 that’s for sure. The more I gaze at my built GVT-70, the more I like the brutish look of it. I’m almost tempted to start the German version with a 120mm, not least as I’m awaiting a further consignment from Sylly’s Models (even that’s an excuse, there’s nothing to stop me completing the C&V, or the DAF). But regarding concurrent activity, I’ve too much piling up as it is.
I was unaware that early prototypes of the Leo 2 also sported a 105mm; everyday a school day.
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Received today from Roger at Diaccs Diorama Accessories, after being tipped off by Frank that they even existed. Possibly only of interest to Brit modellers – I’ll have to refresh my memory by looking at his site, but what fantastic stuff he does. So, shown is a Brit Army sleeping bag – I can almost smell it from here(!), No 2 Mk 2 Cooker stove with windshield, to go with it a Dixie set, and most exquisite of all, a 58 pat mug and water bottle – I mean how they hell was that printed?
Figure added for size and context.
what’s not to like?
His site is here:
Military Scale Models in Various Scales 1/16-1/35 | Diaccs.co.uk
I’m a fan; such great prices too: the sleeping bag, the largest item, was only £2.50.
I forgot to mention, he does other scales.
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Only the very early prototypes, with the 1A3/A4-style of turret, sloping hull sides and wedge-shaped hull front. Of the 17 built, ten got a 105 mm smoothbore gun and the other seven a 120 mm. The two Leopard 2 AV tanks that went to the USA for trials were also initially fitted with 105 mm rifled guns, but swapped for 120 mm smoothbore during the trials.
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I always thought that that prototype with the turret etc as you describe would look really good as a model; unfortunately, I do not possess the scratch building expertise required(!)
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Let’s just say it’s also rather more work than I would want to put into most models 
I suspect you could use a few parts from a Leopard 2 kit, likely the suspension, hatches etc., but that pretty much the whole hull and turret need to be scratchbuilt.
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Sadly, even if I had the inclination, it would in all likelihood, be beyond my skill set. I do remember it well though, touted in all the defence magazines of the time, and we all thought it was the definitive Leopard 2!
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Sorry for the thread drift but my, how we forget! I had planned build an M548 with pods on the back. But time and evolution has changed that load to bladders, a pump and hose. All items to be 3D printed except the bladders which came from fellow member 18bravo.
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Getting a bit off-topic but this is the one we’re talking about right?
It would look just so different in any 1/35 line-up.
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Those are so muscular! Not sure if a kitbash would do it justice…
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That’s the one, yes. You’ve got a 120 mm version there, of course, in both photos.
You can’t really kitbash this, as pretty much every dimension of the turret at least is different compared to the Leopard 1A3/A4:
Black is a Leopard 2 prototype, blue is a 1A3 turret. (See also here.)
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Oh well. I wonder how long we’ll wait for a kt?..
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That’s the thing isn’t it; whilst I don’t really want to model prototypes or anything that esoteric (says he with a TV-8 and a T-74 behind him) these 2 Leopard progenitors made such an impression on me back in the day as a young soldier; I eagerly pored over the defence magazines of the day and thought “Wow – look out T-64s and T-72s, you’re going to get your rear end kicked” – in due course.
I have to ay though, I’d be pushed to ignore them if say, someone in China saw fit to 3D print them in 1/35, no matter what the price. Imagine either of them on the display tables at a show. I mean, “Wow” again, even after 50-odd years.
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Well done Ivan, I’ve only just discovered them, and also plan future purchases. Their 58 pat mug is sublime!
The sleeping bag they do has been incorporated into my most recent vignette as it’s so good.
I mean, I’ve wrestled long and hard making the early pattern SR6 respirator case for the same model, and he goes and produces one(!) I mean, what the hell? Let alone sets of 58 pat webbing - even hanging up.
For anyone else:
Military Scale Models in Various Scales 1/16-1/35 | Diaccs.co.uk
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