HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

Hi all. Started the upgrade of my Hobby Engine Leopard2-A5 this morning.
I was hoping the metal gearboxes and Pershing tracks would arrive yesterday, but this didn't happen so I'm going to replace the electronics today and use the stock runing gear.
First a word of warning, make sure your screw driver is an exact fit or you will strip the heads of the screws holding the hull sections together. They are made of very soft metal as I have found out to my expense. [:o]
The hull is held together with six screws. When you eventually get them out you will find, considering the size of this beast, a very cramped interior.
The main board is fitted just forward of the battery box and held in place by 2 small screws, the receiver board is fitted just below the main board and is also held in place by 2 screws. The battery box top cover is held in place by 6 screws. As all of these pieces are redundant I didn't bother with any pics and discarded them.
It is my intention to mount the HL main bord and receiver board inside the cavernous turret, therefore negating the need to make the lower hull watertight. This will involve lengthening the power feed wires to the main board but that isn't such a big deal. At this time I have simply connected up the HL electronis temporarily to the stock motors to make sure all is well. And it is, I have proportional control. :D:D:D

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

In case it isn't clear from the pics the wiring sequence to the motors from the HL bord is as follows:-

Red to Purple
Black to Green

Red to Brown
Black to Blue

Now that I have the Leo in bits I am tempted to fit an airsoft unit while retaining the gun recoil system which is very realistic. This will still leave plenty of room for the HL boards. The turret is 10" long, 6.5" wide and almost 2" deep.

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

Have fitted the HL main board receiver board and power switch to the turret base. Attached the turret top to make sure I hadn't boobed and all is well.
Well that's it for today, the sun is well over the yard arm and I'm off to the pub. (It's a traditional English thing and has to be done on a Sunday)
More tomorrow............

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

Nice, like the idea putting the HL board in the turret.

I got the same tank, and also a Pershing. I'm just about to buy me some metalgear and tracks (not shure if I buy metal or plastic tracks).
I got both RX13 and RX14, and one will be use in the Leopard.

Keep up posting pics, as you go along.

BB

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

Thanks Beachboy. Progress on this upgrade has been slow. But thanks to some help from members of this forum I am hoping to have it completed in two weeks, when I will post a complete run through of the upgrade with pics.

The list of completed mods is as follows:-

All none-slip panels on upper hull and turret roof detailed
All moulded on grab handles removed and replaced with metal
Solid plastic turret stowage baskets replaced with scratch built items
Drivers hatch opened up for charging jack
HL S&S main board and receiver boards fitted in turret
Battery box removed to accomodate twin 7.2v batteries

List of mods awaiting completion:-

Fit HL gearboxes, Pershing drive sprockets and tracks
Fit airsoft unit
Fit laser diode for target designator
Modify commanders main sight to work as three way power/charge switch
Tidy up and secure all wiring

I used a S&S bord as I wanted proportional control, I'm not going to bother with the smoke unit.

Thanks for the encouraging remarks
John

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

I think it's a waste of time to fit the laser. I did this on my bulldog and the laser was straight but the BB didn't "fly" that straight out of the barrel.
Better to get a camera to see where your aiming...

:D

But keep us posted with some pic's, loved Wackywheelz conversion and maybe you can do a similar good job!!

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

Thanks for the info, I'll give that some thought. [sm=thumbs_up.gif]
Progress is slow at the moment, believe it or not I'm having a problem locating male/female electrical connectors. ????????
Will post upgrade pics soon, I hope. Don't know if it will be up to Wacky's standards though.

PS: Next project is the Abrams :D:D:D

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

Hang on a sec, my standards are low... aim low, avoid disappointment lol!! :D

Get some molex-style connectors, available at just about any electrical store. Failing that, "Chocolate blocks" (terminal strip) are handy.

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

Maplins is probably best bet for the parts, they sell the tamiya female/male connectors or you can get a terminal block from wilkinsons for about 80p

Also Mackem have your tracks turned up yet? they were posted on friday via First class

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

Hi Norse, yes the tracks arrived on Saturday, many thanks. ( will post feedback today )
The trip to maplins will have to wait till the wekend. The nearest one is in Newcastle and I'm working 2.00 til !0.00
Can't think of anything more frustrating than not being able to progress a project due to the lack of a few bits and pieces.
I've read a few threads on upgrades now and it seems that my project planning isn't up to scratch.
Next time everything I need will be acquired prior to starting the project.

Thanks again for the tracks and speedy delivery.

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

Maplins will be handy for a cooling fan too btw, get one there "Hard drive coolers" and just nick the fans from it, the hard drive coolers are like £7 but have 2 fans in them but to buy fans themself they are bout £5 each :P

RE: HE Leopard2 Upgrade
 

dont worry mackem your not alone on that one [:o][:o];):D:D:D:D:D



Kind regards Rob