Hi...

Now i have started a build of a danish Leopard 1 A3..It will be fitted with 2 speed transmissions from AFV, Graupner Speed 400 motors and elektronics from Elmod.

Looks like you have a good start.

Nice!

Hello JB,

How does the 2 speed transmission work, servo shift? And you can go from overdrive to lower higher torque? I cannot wait to see & hear this in action.

Thanks,

The Blitz

Phil

Well...maybe it was time for a update... ;-)

First Blitz: it shifts by the servo between the two TUs...it got low, neutral and high...in low the speed is half of a standart Tamiya TU and in high it is the same...but I think it was to slow so I fitted it with Graupner 400 which are a bit faster than the standart motors...the neutral gear is for towing the tank in case of a "breakdown" ore pulling it up on my lowbed trailer I got for my truck...

It is possible to shift between the gears in motion but it is a bit hard on the TUs, so I see it as the low gear is for rough terrain and the high gear is for light terrain and road use...

As for the build it have suffed a long stand still, because of work. So there have not happend so much...it have been fitted with toolboxes on the side...like the real thing.

A couple of pics that show mine and the real thing...my plan is to make as the one on the pics...that Leo is placed at a memorial ground for lost danish troops not far from where I live...and my Leo will be my tribute to the danish troops that fights for peace a long way from home...

Those with good eyes will notice that there is some other tanks at the memorial ground, there is a M113 APC, a M10 "Achilles" TD and a M24 Chaffee. ;-)

I JUST LOVE LEOPARDS. ALL OF THEM. I think my favorite i the 2A4 the best though. I just think it looks mean with that big flat turret face.

Very nice! i was going to go with that 2 speed tranny for mine, but opted for the dsingle speed in the end. I would love to see this thingh in action when it's done.

I like the pictures of the real Leo. Looks like it has its baby close too.

It got its base collour on...it look a bit greyish on the pic but it is NATO green...must be the light... ;-)

I also have cut off the rear part of the sideskirt, I don't really knows why that has been done on the danish Leos...maybe it is to make it easier to maintain the drive spocktets....

Now up for next is the cammo...but thats gonna be a while..because of my job going to take all of my time...

Well time for a little update on my Leo project...now it is allmost finnished...I am still missing the lights and some markings on it...mud and scratches comes when used... :-)

That turned out beautifully. How are the 2 speed tranny's working. I would love to try a set of those in one of my modern tanks. i think that would add some really good realism to them considering the speed of modern tanks.

That's a cool Leopard!

The tranny works fine, it is a bit noisy until it have been run a couple of times...I don't think it is wise to shift between gears in motion, it is possible but it dos'nt sound to good...as for the speed it is the same as a Sherman tranny when it is in second gear and first gear is the half of a Shermans speed...so the two-speed dos not make it faster but it gives alot of torque in first gear...what I have done is changed the motors to 6 volts Graupner speed 400 they make it run faster...I hav'nt messured out the road speed yet but I would say it about 5-6 mph...in second gear and 2½-3 mph in first gear...

I have thought of fitting it with Jamara 480HS Pro motors, they are longer but I think they can fit and they run at 22500 rpm instead of the speed 400s 17500 rpm, that would give the extra speed on road in second gear and still maintain great power for off-road use in first gear...

it's a great tank, considering only Tamiya is offering in 1/16, too bad it is static kit.
but it will be great when upgraded with electronics of your choice.

Unfortunately, Tamiya tries to save some cost on the tracks, which is the wrong version (is it becoming normal for Tamiya to make mistakes?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e67-XOB5mAE

http://www.afv-model.com/4711shop/pr...epard-Kit.html
http://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de/k...ale::6948.html
http://www.kennysmodeltank.com/photo...6%20Leo1A4.JPG

Yes I know it got the wrong tracks on and when the money comes it is my plan to get the right tracks for this baby...

I had her out on first run a couple of days ago...must say it really is a runner, it only miss some ekstra weight in the front...with trannys and all the other stuff in the rear it tends to run with the nose a bit high also it don't have to much traction on the front half of the tracks when driving over obstacbles...

I got those Jamara 480HS pro in the mail...I am really looking forward to try and fit them...I think they will give the last bit of missing road-speed...

It was tight but the Jamaras fitted in the TUs, I have just tried them out on the floor of my workshop and it looks like they gave the Leo the last kick now it runs with a good road-speed in second gear and still have alot of power for off-road use in first gear... :-)
Next on the list is a complete new set of Elmod, because I have borowed the Elmod from my Sherman Calliope to get the Leo running also the new type of Elmod supports recoil with servos wich I have in my Leo...second on the list is getting the right tracks for it...