The hatches on the Leopard seem strange to me since they do not function (mine don't, anyway-one glued, one screwed). [] All of the other Tamiya tanks that I have owned had hinged hatches. [sm=50_50.gif] So, I drilled out the base and glued in a stainless pin/shaft, painted the top flat black (different color than Tamiya NATO black [:@], but I have paint ordered) and used an 'e' clip to keep it from coming all the way out. It isn't perfect, but it functions. Some of you other guys may have come up with something better, but this is the best that I can do with my own brain. Now, I have to figure out how to hinge the loader's hatch, if that is even possible.

Two questions:

1) My tank is missing a part on the rear of the turret that apparently holds the spool drum when in use...mine is mounted inside. Has anyone else mounted theirs outside of the turret, or does it stay 'stowed' most of the time?

2) Is there an aftermarket part for the Hoffman mortars or do I have to scratch build it?

Thanks!
Chad

StoneColdFreak:

Looks like the Leo 2's hatches operate the same way they did on the older 1A4. That said, I could send ya some close-ups of the ones from my Leo and you might be able to craft yourself up a hinge mechanism. Faster yet is me uploading the assembly page for the Leo's turret hatches:








As for the smoke pots, AFV-Model has them, but they ain't cheap.

Thanks, WWM! The pictures are a great help. [sm=thumbs_up.gif] I'll check AFV-models for Leo parts.

Chad

How many smoke dischargers you need? I have maybe 4-6 spares.

I'm embarassed to say that I don't know what I'm talking about. [sm=red_smile.gif] I said Hoffman mortars, but this is the part that I want to add to my tank and I don't know the name of it. Does it have to be scratch-built?

Thanks for the offer, heavyaslead!

Chad

oh fudge...

Sorry SCF, wrong parts ID'd by heavyaslead & I

Think we both thought it was the things down either side of the unit. You might have to buy the right sprue to get the parts for that. Anyone know which ones its on?

I ain't seen a scan of the manual yet, so I can't help ya.

StoneColdFreak,

As far as I know, no one makes a commercially available piece for the part you circled in the picture. So, yes, you probably have to scratch build it. I still think it should have been part of the kit. I believe it is called the 'DARKAS' and serves the same purpose as the Hoffman tank fire simulator on U.S. tanks.

I scratch built one for mine, using real tank pictures, as well as pictures from another modeler's scratch-built item found here:

[link=http://www.rb-modelle.de/bildergalerie.htm]http://www.rb-modelle.de/bildergalerie.htm[/link]

Scroll down to 'Bilder vom Umbau auf einen Leo 2A5 mit DARKAS' and click on the 'mit DARKAS' for pictures of the unpainted raw piece.

deleted

Thanks guys. [sm=thumbs_up.gif] Since I'm not much of a scratch builder, I guess I will just wait for someone to produce one.

Chad

Chad

As others have suggested, the 16th Leo kit does not have this accessory. It will have to be scratched. This item seems more common on the Canadian and Swedish Leo's than the German.