Earlier this week i finally got my replacement tracks in and gotr the Leopard going again. While it was down i rechained the drive motors with a more robust chain and refined the tension adjustment on it. Touched up some paint spots and installed the simfire device on the turret. It was near the 70s here in Salt Lake City and the perfect day to take the Leopard out for a run. I went to the mudhole nearby and had a good run there. No track issues. But i forgot the camera and the tanks batteries ran out. So i brought her home and charger her back up. My wife took these pics while i was driving. She also snapped a shot of it next to the 21cent 1/9 M1A2. Its amazing the size difference between the scales.

Enjoy!

Video to come soon too

And heres the link to the Vid too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L984vEpqUjg

Looks like fun.

Does it have a simulated track noise that plays with the sound? Or is it the actual sound of the tracks I'm hearing in the video?

Just can't get over how big it is. The thing looks like it would really tear up the yard.

that is the ACTUAL sound of the tracks. Gotta love it. Also yes i hae torn up the yard some with it.

Looks damn nice especially the fact that is the real track sound, now all you need is a front plow and you can use it to dig up the garden

Modern tank with the speed of a Tiger 1 or King Tiger.

Oh it can go faster but it isnt wise to do so on grass. The grass isnt in scale with the tank. It grips too much on the rubber pads in a turn.

Would love to see it flat out on the street!

I saw a video of a 1/6 Challenger earlier, it could not run any faster than a 1/6 Tiger 1. It is
quite obvious that the tank is underpowered. They are all made from GRP & the same
manufacturer.

Yes but that challie was also running on the 12 volt system. Mine runs on the new 24 volt system. Has an actual speed of 7MPH which when scaled down comes near the 45-50 MPH that the real thing can do. Also speed for a model tank with "dead" track is not wise. To maximise the system someone would need to devise a 1/6 scale "live" track which is what all new generation tanks use.


I know the person who owns the challie 2 and he has ,since filming the video, already refit his challie with the 24 v system and has ordered a Leopard 2 as well.

Hi LEO2OWNER

The tracks, drivesprockets and roadwheels look perfect. (so does the rest, but it's the running gear i'm interested in)
Who made your tracks, wheels etc. ??
I'm asking because i'm building an STRV 122, also 1/6 and could really use some sturdy stuff.
With the hull made out of 2mm steel plate and a nitro engine to power the beast it needs to be top notch[8D]

By the way, what do you do for turret rotation ? i was thinking in the lines of an axle down the middle of the hull attached to a worm gear or timing belt.

I will include you in my evening prayer to the great tank commander in the sky's for some inspiration. [sm=regular_smile.gif]


thanks in advance
soon to become a leo owner

The whole tank was bought from a distributor for a russian firm. Go to www.mark-1-tank.co.uk . The rotation os handles by a rotator on the rim of the turret hole. Theres a spring tensioned bearing and to solid bearings. One of the solid bearings drives the turret. Its something you would have to see in person to get a feel how it works.

Leo2A6owner

Thanks for the input.

I was a leo 1 a5 driver in my young days, 15 years ago, so i have seen the real deal. No punt intended.
Only thing i was worried about was "cluttering" up the turret with motors and gears, especially since i intend to install a paintball gun in it.
The turret on my shoulders will have to traverse a bit about that.

Regarding the tracks, i heard Marks trackpins have a tendency to work themselves loose during operation, ever had that happen to you ???
I plan on visiting him in the UK some time this autum, so i'll have a good look at it at that time.

again thanks for the input.

I wouldnt blame mark. He just sells the stuff ita all made in russia. The Leo/Challenger2 tracks are problematic in that they are multipart assemblies like the real thing. a pad and 3 linkers for each full track link. The pins are quite tight honestly. Its the linkers that work loose or crack. Mine had a peculiar issue which aggrivated the problem but that is fixed and i havent had a problem since. Just check over the tracks before and after each run and give them a little look while its running. I wish the end linkers worked more like the real thing where a bolt in the center of it clamped it tight onto each pin.
My only gripe is that they arent "live" track like the real thing.

Hi Leo2a6 owner

Everything aside, can you tell me a bit about - How did you fix it ??

Does anyone reading this have any experience with http://www.giesswerk.de/. It looks they make some cool tracks.

Well the problem was the track catching on the front idler mount then being forced under and bending the pin. This was then shearing the pin through the track itself. I dremeled out the offending area and havent had an issue since.
To keep the linkers on i just hit each one with some CA glue and let it soak in. This tightened up the tolerance fine. I just do an inspection before and after every run and reglue the 3 or 4 linlers/pins that show signs of shifting.

Thanks

That defenantly helps a lot, now i know what to look out for.[8D]
Amazing what a little CA can do.

The leo is coming together nicely, getting the swingarms machined as we speak.
think i'll be using 1/8 shock absorbers from some buggy hardware supplier. (perhaps a combination job with torsion bars as well)

What are you running in yours ? it certainly looks like the roadwheels act naturally going through your garden.

Again, coooool tank, can't wait to get it finished.

all the best to ya.