Uugghh!! I'm having serious paint issues. I love their colours, but mig ammo paint sucks. paint separation/adhesion issues are making a mess. not going to be able to finish my Leo. sorry.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_NTXxG1KUhTVnJsNXJRdVBmMkE/view?usp=sharing
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Leopardmania 50 replacement campaign
ArtyG37B
British Columbia, Canada
Member Since: August 13, 2009
entire network: 420 Posts
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Member Since: August 13, 2009
entire network: 420 Posts
KitMaker Network: 3 Posts

Posted: Saturday, July 02, 2016 - 05:22 AM UTC
ArtyG37B
British Columbia, Canada
Member Since: August 13, 2009
entire network: 420 Posts
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Member Since: August 13, 2009
entire network: 420 Posts
KitMaker Network: 3 Posts

Posted: Friday, July 01, 2016 - 09:48 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Thanks guys - now I'm embarrassed!![]()
I was just hoping I'm not the only one still building this late in the campaign...
Don't worry you're not alone. I've primed mine but cant seem to get time to actually put down some paint.

barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
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Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts

Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 11:46 PM UTC
Thanks guys - now I'm embarrassed!
I was just hoping I'm not the only one still building this late in the campaign...

I was just hoping I'm not the only one still building this late in the campaign...

bwiber
Washington, United States
Member Since: August 03, 2008
entire network: 436 Posts
KitMaker Network: 15 Posts
Member Since: August 03, 2008
entire network: 436 Posts
KitMaker Network: 15 Posts

Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 10:38 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextFeels like I'm on a monologue, but anyway here's the latest on my artillery observation vehicle.
It must be because everybody is left speechless!Seriously, I'm absolutely amazed by the idea itself and by how well you have implemented it. Great work! I'm surelly following this with a lot of interest.
I am with Cristian on this one. Definitely a learning experience watching your model come together. Might have to put this on the To-Do list. Hope you can sling paint at it soon.
Will be checking out your store too....
Bob

Armored76
Bayern, Germany
Member Since: September 30, 2013
entire network: 1,615 Posts
KitMaker Network: 60 Posts
Member Since: September 30, 2013
entire network: 1,615 Posts
KitMaker Network: 60 Posts

Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 05:11 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Feels like I'm on a monologue, but anyway here's the latest on my artillery observation vehicle.
It must be because everybody is left speechless!


barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts

Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 05:04 PM UTC
Feels like I'm on a monologue, but anyway here's the latest on my artillery observation vehicle. I'm ready to paint it, if the weather ever dries up so I can spray a primer coat! (Halford's grey auto primer is my rattle-can of choice...) The only missing details are the mirrors, but those come after painting.







barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
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Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts

Posted: Saturday, June 25, 2016 - 09:33 PM UTC
Seeing as I'm a lone voice here at the moment, let me show y'all some of the printed goodies that turned up at my door this week!



I've put them up at my Shapeways Shop in a number of configurations that should be useful to most Leopard modellers. The full sets are the most economical for anyone with an old Italeri/Revell kit, but I offer the individual parts in case anyone wants to add internal details to the otherwise nifty recent Takom & Meng releases.



I've put them up at my Shapeways Shop in a number of configurations that should be useful to most Leopard modellers. The full sets are the most economical for anyone with an old Italeri/Revell kit, but I offer the individual parts in case anyone wants to add internal details to the otherwise nifty recent Takom & Meng releases.

barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts

Posted: Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 03:40 PM UTC
This week's progress is the rectangular box on the left side of the turret. Came out better than I hoped, given that I was "measuring" from photos...




The final piece of "conversion" is the antenna mount on the left plated-over rangefinder socket - the rest should be straight-forward kit assembly. So hopefully paint will start being thrown by month's end!
(Hope this takes everyone's minds off the current UK politics - we live in interesting times indeed...)




The final piece of "conversion" is the antenna mount on the left plated-over rangefinder socket - the rest should be straight-forward kit assembly. So hopefully paint will start being thrown by month's end!
(Hope this takes everyone's minds off the current UK politics - we live in interesting times indeed...)

barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
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Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts

Posted: Sunday, June 19, 2016 - 09:33 PM UTC
Thanks! Just hope I get more build-time this week...

LeoCmdr
Alberta, Canada
Member Since: January 19, 2005
entire network: 4,085 Posts
KitMaker Network: 160 Posts
Member Since: January 19, 2005
entire network: 4,085 Posts
KitMaker Network: 160 Posts

Posted: Sunday, June 19, 2016 - 09:28 PM UTC
Nice work on the mantlet and the turret bins.

barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
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Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts

Posted: Sunday, June 19, 2016 - 09:25 PM UTC
...and today I finally got time for the camera! First up - the mantlet welds, from 0.005" strips, sanded almost flat:

Then the new bins:



They aren't glued on yet, and I still need to make the long box on the left side (plus add a ton of details to the turret) but it's getting closer to completion!

Then the new bins:



They aren't glued on yet, and I still need to make the long box on the left side (plus add a ton of details to the turret) but it's getting closer to completion!

barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts

Posted: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - 09:19 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Tom. his is loking good. What about all of the Leopard C2-lookalike boxes on the back of the turret?
Hi Mike, made progress on the boxes - need to take pics though. It worked out better than modifying the C2 boxes, as I picked up a few oddities.
BTW the antennas and plugs arrived today - thanks!
mshackleton
England - South East, United Kingdom
Member Since: December 16, 2007
entire network: 559 Posts
KitMaker Network: 40 Posts
Member Since: December 16, 2007
entire network: 559 Posts
KitMaker Network: 40 Posts

Posted: Friday, June 10, 2016 - 07:22 PM UTC
Hi Tom. I can't answer that one I'm afraid. With two armoured mantlets at the front and extended boxes at the back, I can only imagine that the balance is much better without the main gun:-) it would be nice to see interior pics but I've never found any.

barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
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Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
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Posted: Friday, June 10, 2016 - 06:21 PM UTC
Hi Mike,
Haven't got to them yet! I can't find any spares, so will have to scratch them up - so I needed the basket built first to work out the angles. Lots of the more fiddly detail has yet to be added, like the searchlight hooks on the mantlet, but that's partly for their own safety while I wrestled with the armour mounts.
BYW, how did they compensate for the turret weight imbalance when they deleted the main gun? The plastic is certainly tail-heavy - I assume the real thing was too. But there's no sign of added ballast lumps up front, and it would be a shame to waste all that free space inside the turret...
Haven't got to them yet! I can't find any spares, so will have to scratch them up - so I needed the basket built first to work out the angles. Lots of the more fiddly detail has yet to be added, like the searchlight hooks on the mantlet, but that's partly for their own safety while I wrestled with the armour mounts.
BYW, how did they compensate for the turret weight imbalance when they deleted the main gun? The plastic is certainly tail-heavy - I assume the real thing was too. But there's no sign of added ballast lumps up front, and it would be a shame to waste all that free space inside the turret...
mshackleton
England - South East, United Kingdom
Member Since: December 16, 2007
entire network: 559 Posts
KitMaker Network: 40 Posts
Member Since: December 16, 2007
entire network: 559 Posts
KitMaker Network: 40 Posts

Posted: Friday, June 10, 2016 - 06:15 PM UTC
Hi Tom. his is loking good. What about all of the Leopard C2-lookalike boxes on the back of the turret?

barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts

Posted: Friday, June 10, 2016 - 06:05 PM UTC
Looking good, Cristian!
I made progress on my own build - the hull is nearly ready for paint (save for some mantlet plugs & chains). The traverse lock was a fun challenge to scratch, and the tow-cables reflect the arrangement in photos from Mike's books. (Drilling out the cable-ends was fun!)


The turret has been started, with the changes to the mantlet done, and some proper attachments for the applique armour panels where they are most visible. There's still a lot of work to do up here...



With luck and a following wind I may be throwing paint by month's end!
I made progress on my own build - the hull is nearly ready for paint (save for some mantlet plugs & chains). The traverse lock was a fun challenge to scratch, and the tow-cables reflect the arrangement in photos from Mike's books. (Drilling out the cable-ends was fun!)


The turret has been started, with the changes to the mantlet done, and some proper attachments for the applique armour panels where they are most visible. There's still a lot of work to do up here...



With luck and a following wind I may be throwing paint by month's end!

Armored76
Bayern, Germany
Member Since: September 30, 2013
entire network: 1,615 Posts
KitMaker Network: 60 Posts
Member Since: September 30, 2013
entire network: 1,615 Posts
KitMaker Network: 60 Posts

Posted: Saturday, June 04, 2016 - 09:35 PM UTC
A bit more done on mine over the weekend. Getting there bit by bit 






Armored76
Bayern, Germany
Member Since: September 30, 2013
entire network: 1,615 Posts
KitMaker Network: 60 Posts
Member Since: September 30, 2013
entire network: 1,615 Posts
KitMaker Network: 60 Posts

Posted: Monday, May 30, 2016 - 12:15 PM UTC
Great news on the extension! Thanks for that!

dexter059
Region de Valparaiso, Chile
Member Since: July 28, 2005
entire network: 1,569 Posts
KitMaker Network: 188 Posts
Member Since: July 28, 2005
entire network: 1,569 Posts
KitMaker Network: 188 Posts

Posted: Monday, May 30, 2016 - 04:23 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Well, with the extension my own Leopard should get done! Got some bench-time on it this weekend, so the hull is mostly there - just need to sort out a few details like tow cable (need to make from picture wire) and a new travel lock on the glacis (Beob has no main gun). Started the turret too, blanking off the mantlet and doing a few basics - there's a lot more to come.
In the meantime I managed to CAD up some turret details. I needed a new TC MG ring and periscopes, and while I was at it I did the non-A5 version for all those other Italeri/Revell kits in my stash. I also did some interior parts for the scopes as seen through the open TC hatch! And another big issue with Italeri/Revell Leo 1s and 2s is the spring for the Loader's hatch - I did these both open and closed. Most of this is redundant if you have any of the newer Meng or Takom kits, but I'll need them for all my "heritage fleet". And while Mike's Leo1 upgrade set looks great, it doesn't address the wonky periscopes on those older generation kits...
The cross-shaped thing with the TC rings is a hole-drilling template, designed for the pegs under the periscope heads. (It drops into the open hatch, and takes a 1mm drill bit at each of the four holes.)
I am still waiting on test-prints of these, in case there are any adjustments needed. (And I know PE would get a thinner ring etc, but these should at least equal the kit parts for finesse...)
Wow! I can use one of those for one I have in the stash!
Great work Tom!
Also nice looking Leopard Kenneth!

keo
Nordjylland, Denmark
Member Since: January 30, 2006
entire network: 613 Posts
KitMaker Network: 82 Posts
Member Since: January 30, 2006
entire network: 613 Posts
KitMaker Network: 82 Posts

Posted: Monday, May 30, 2016 - 02:07 AM UTC
I'm getting ready for painting. However, with the time extension I've decided to creat a look through drivers compartment as well as a crew actually cleaning the barrel.







barkingdigger

England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts
Member Since: June 20, 2008
entire network: 3,981 Posts
KitMaker Network: 574 Posts

Posted: Sunday, May 29, 2016 - 09:39 PM UTC
Well, with the extension my own Leopard should get done! Got some bench-time on it this weekend, so the hull is mostly there - just need to sort out a few details like tow cable (need to make from picture wire) and a new travel lock on the glacis (Beob has no main gun). Started the turret too, blanking off the mantlet and doing a few basics - there's a lot more to come.
In the meantime I managed to CAD up some turret details. I needed a new TC MG ring and periscopes, and while I was at it I did the non-A5 version for all those other Italeri/Revell kits in my stash. I also did some interior parts for the scopes as seen through the open TC hatch! And another big issue with Italeri/Revell Leo 1s and 2s is the spring for the Loader's hatch - I did these both open and closed. Most of this is redundant if you have any of the newer Meng or Takom kits, but I'll need them for all my "heritage fleet". And while Mike's Leo1 upgrade set looks great, it doesn't address the wonky periscopes on those older generation kits...





The cross-shaped thing with the TC rings is a hole-drilling template, designed for the pegs under the periscope heads. (It drops into the open hatch, and takes a 1mm drill bit at each of the four holes.)
I am still waiting on test-prints of these, in case there are any adjustments needed. (And I know PE would get a thinner ring etc, but these should at least equal the kit parts for finesse...)
In the meantime I managed to CAD up some turret details. I needed a new TC MG ring and periscopes, and while I was at it I did the non-A5 version for all those other Italeri/Revell kits in my stash. I also did some interior parts for the scopes as seen through the open TC hatch! And another big issue with Italeri/Revell Leo 1s and 2s is the spring for the Loader's hatch - I did these both open and closed. Most of this is redundant if you have any of the newer Meng or Takom kits, but I'll need them for all my "heritage fleet". And while Mike's Leo1 upgrade set looks great, it doesn't address the wonky periscopes on those older generation kits...





The cross-shaped thing with the TC rings is a hole-drilling template, designed for the pegs under the periscope heads. (It drops into the open hatch, and takes a 1mm drill bit at each of the four holes.)
I am still waiting on test-prints of these, in case there are any adjustments needed. (And I know PE would get a thinner ring etc, but these should at least equal the kit parts for finesse...)
bm4247
Scotland, United Kingdom
Member Since: December 29, 2014
entire network: 88 Posts
KitMaker Network: 4 Posts
Member Since: December 29, 2014
entire network: 88 Posts
KitMaker Network: 4 Posts

Posted: Sunday, May 29, 2016 - 09:16 PM UTC
Fantastic news. I got caught up in real life and never went near my bench for three months. This will allow me to get my Leopard finished.
Thank you.
Thank you.

dexter059
Region de Valparaiso, Chile
Member Since: July 28, 2005
entire network: 1,569 Posts
KitMaker Network: 188 Posts
Member Since: July 28, 2005
entire network: 1,569 Posts
KitMaker Network: 188 Posts

Posted: Friday, May 27, 2016 - 04:20 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text.... All original entries may be valid to continue work plus anyone else who wants to join, we can include Leopard II this time ....
Cheers![]()
Yes, Klaus, great idea! When? I surely will join as I want to build a polish 2A5 next year ....
Torsten![]()
Excellent, after this one finishes I'll submit the proposal...could be named "Leopardmania 2, Return of the Cats"
Vielen Gruß


Thudius
Uusimaa, Finland
Member Since: October 22, 2012
entire network: 1,194 Posts
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Member Since: October 22, 2012
entire network: 1,194 Posts
KitMaker Network: 96 Posts

Posted: Friday, May 27, 2016 - 12:03 AM UTC
Hmmm...maybe I can get something done after all.
Kimmo
Kimmo

BlackWidow

Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 11:16 PM UTC
Quoted Text
.... All original entries may be valid to continue work plus anyone else who wants to join, we can include Leopard II this time ....
Cheers![]()
Yes, Klaus, great idea! When? I surely will join as I want to build a polish 2A5 next year ....
Torsten

![]() |