It's Here!
 

My leopard 2 A6 Has arrived!!! First, I like to thank tomzag for his expeditious service and good price. He's as solid a seller as everyone said. Thanks again. I hope that my excitement is not interpreted as gloating. I just wanted to share my excitement with you all.

Initial impressions of the kit? Speechless.

I saw the Fedex person carrying to my door. The box was so big that I though I purchased the real tank. I've owned many tamiya products from R/C cars to models and Leo just blew them away. The Leo is a hybrid between a model and a R/C vehicle. Not easy to pull off. But, not surprisingly Tamiya has managed to do it. I now understand what everyone was raving about! What struck me about the kit is how much it reminded me of Bandai's 1/60 scale Gundam perfect grade kits. It is the combination of various types of plastics and screws to create a durable yet realistic representation of the actual or fictional subject. Initially, I was worried about the suspension arms until I actually saw them. They are large and robust and should never be a problem on light to medium surfaces. I love the fact that you can build the speaker box! Cooool. I was thinking of replacing the speaker with a better one, if it will make a difference. There is so much good stuff to mention that it will take to long.


Here are some minor gripes (I'm sure there isn't many):

1) The kit's gun barrel is great. But, for the price big T should have included the detailed one. Same goes for the stabilization unit. No big deal. I already spent a small fortune why stop now? By the way is there Tamiya rehab?

2) The annoying little hole on the top of the turret where the hazard light goes. Filling it is easy, recreating the no slip surface texture to match is not!


Overall this kit is a ten! I still think the price is a little too high, but the quality smacks that thought out of my head with ease.


I snapped a photo after I wiped the drool off the floor.

RE: It's Here!
 

My friend, so glad to hear you got it no problem.
if you want to seal the hole and do not use the hazard light, I want it. my Gepard is in need one.

good luck with building and painting. tom

RE: It's Here!
 

Congratulations! [sm=thumbup.gif] Keep us updated on the build.

Jason

RE: It's Here!
 

Awesome! You will not be disapointed. A little frustrated, maybe, but not disapointed. [sm=lol.gif]

The speaker? While it doesn't rattle the next door neighbor's windows, it is surprisingly loud and deep throated (much like a subwoofer).

Agree 100% about the non-skid texturing, although I have seen everything from spray on stuff from the hardware store, to lacquer with very fine sand sprinkled on while still wet used for it.

The hole in the roof could actually just be filled with a removable styrene rod and painted, as the real ones have a mount in this area for it.

Save the kit gun tube, even if you buy the detailed one! You could saw it off and make the barrels interchangeable to simulate an A5 or an A6!

Happy Building!

RE: It's Here!
 

Amuro:

Someone elsewhere mentioned that instead of gluing the light staff down, to use piece of steel rod in the base, and then a magnet under the styrene so that its easily placed and removed.

But I think Crunchie's idea is best... use a dummy partial post in the spot when you atren't using the light, and then just pop it out, and pop the other one in. You may have a problem with the post staying in place, but a bit of something sticky on the inside of the post-hole might cure that. Carmatic swears by blu-tac... :D

RE: It's Here!
 

WhiteWolf McBride
do you have a Leo2? sounds like you know what you are talking about.

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Ron, thank you for that reference picture.

RE: It's Here!
 

Thanks for the response guys. OHH, I see what you mean. So the training light post and hole is actually there on the real tank. No problem then. I like dummy post idea and I rather not get rid of the light completely. It will be awhile before I can get started on this behemoth. I plan on extensive upgrading on any weak points and such. Can anyone say carbon fiber? for now I'm going to study the manual which is like a novella. I'm way ahead of you capn, I do plan on converting the original gun tube to the L45. :D I will take picture of every major step of the build, including mods to share for ideas and reference.

Big question! Do you build first and paint latter with these kits, or paint first and build latter? I've been building models since I was a 12 and the leo has me stumped this time.

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Tom everything is fine. The box was a little dented in the corners, but that is to be expected. Until they invent "transporters" standard shipping will have to do. I was afraid some of the sharp parts on the turret and hull might have broken because there little puncture holes in the cardboard. But, all is well they are not broken! About the light: I miss spoke I did not want to remove it completely so I will be using it.

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I don't think the hole is there on the real one, but I know what you mean, tho' (welded on top).

As for painting, that will be something you will probably have to decide on yourself, personally. There will probably be many comments for or against either way, and most likely alternatives to those! Decisions, decisions. [sm=lol.gif]

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Good luck and best wishes!

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Congrats! Yuo will need a lot of patience but in the end it's all worth it! Before you paint or finish your model make sure you check the following website as reference:


http://www.primeportal.net/the_battlefield.htm

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i always tot the training ligt on teh real leopard had a magnetic base. A friend of mine is thinking of sddinga rare earth magnet to the base of the light and then a thin metal plate underneath the turret plastic in the region where the light is supposed to go. Thus you can position it anywhere in that area (between the 2 hatches).

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It may well be magnetically attached. Not sure if that is how it attaches to the mount in that photo, or if the mount itself is magnetic. I have seen a lot of pics where that light is in that same place, and even ones on the site Silent Death pointed out that have taller posts, too.

RE: It's Here!
 

congrats!!!!!!:D