Leopard 2a6, right tracks, slip ring and new headlights

[Darkas]

Good -morning, -afternoon, -evening, -night, wherever you may be

Finally I have the tracks that makes the tank drive like I want it to drive.
Much, much better than the tracks with the rubber pads.

Lots of spare parts now

I had to buy a new slip ring too because the old one had only 7 wires but I need 9.
This new one has 14 (also for IR, but I do not need them) so there are more possibilities to play with.
I had cut off ALL the connectors because they did not fit.
That also gave me the opportunity to clean up the wiring inside.
Since there is no slipring with a Leopard 2 turret ring, I used a piece of the included Tiger ring.

I made some little chains to the smoke granate launcers too.

Next:
I want to get rid off the screws that are for mounting the upper to the lower hull, but I don't kwow what to make as an alternative.
I thought about hairpin cotters, but I don't know where to put them. (yet)
Maybe some very strong magnets.
I have some but they are too strong, can't get them apart without the use of a screwdriver.

And of course some pictures:























? ?

[ALPHA]

So no more rubber pad trails eh Darkas ...looks good with all the new bits on it....with that said...have you given any thought to bracing the lower hull now?....I know on my M1...I had to put metal braces strategically along the top and where the battery pack box is...the metal road wheels put such a load on the plastic hull..it started to bow inwards ...not sure if you have enough space...and your telescopic rods might get interfered with...but you really might think about doing something because of the added weight

Carpe Diem Darkas

ALPHA

[Darkas]

Well, it's not needed yet, I think...

But yes, my baby is getting heavier and heavier.
I will put 'm on the scale to see what the total weight now is with the new tracks.

The rubber pads are now solid metal pads.
Comparing the track weight to the old ones it's about 50% extra.

.......

OK,
I'm 81,2 KG
Picked up my tank and it's 88,8 KG
So my Leopard, with everthing on and in it, weighs 7,6 KG

Not bad for a HL 1/16 "plastic" tank...

? ?

[ALPHA]

Keep an eye on the upper part of the hull where it flares out for the fender well....that's where mine started to cave in...this was only two days after I took it out of the box...didn't want it to get worse...so I braced it right away

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Darkas,
Your big Cat just gets better and better! Now, order the Tamiya clear parts sprue for this tank for a couple of bucks and get some proper lenses for your headlights on the cheap!
regards,
Painless

[Darkas]

Ow yes, overlooked that one...

You're definitely right about the headlights.
I indeed have to change those not good looking things.

Have to see where I can get some.

? ?

[PainlessWolf]

Darkas,
Your headlight shells are fine and are the same size as the Tamiya pieces. Just sand the glass led bulb down a little until it is flat on the end and add the clear Tamiya lenses to your existing lights. Perfect lights! The clear Tamiya parts sprues can be found at sites like JC's-RC in Japan or Axel's Modelbau in Germany or the AAR Museum in the States, just to name a few.
regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

I have a slightly ghetto way of making light lenses Darkas...not sure you want to try it...but it's very economical ...I use the top part of a HL TX antenna...heat that a little with a lighter...then press it into some blister pack material...makes a nice rounded form if you do it right...then you just trim it off and glue it on with household cement

ALPHA

[Darkas]

If PW means:

http://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de/kata ... ::956.html

Only for 1 euro a set, then I will get this.
But the drawing tells me nothing, can't see what it is... ok, I see 4 little round pieces. Are they crystal clear?
If a "Poly Cap" is for the headlights then it's ok.

Need two sets then, I have 4 backlights.
To make them red is no problem.

? ?

[Darkas]

I have a slightly ghetto way of making light lenses Darkas...not sure you want to try it...but it's very economical ...I use the top part of a HL TX antenna...heat that a little with a lighter...then press it into some blister pack material...makes a nice rounded form if you do it right...then you just trim it off and glue it on with household cement

ALPHA

I don't have a HL TX antenna but I have thousands of shell cases of you name it what caliber.
I'm a manager of a Indoor Shooting Range with ranges 6x10, 6x12, 6x25, 6x100m and a 25m range for dynamic shooting.

So everthing below .50 caliber I can get. (used and EMPTY of course)

Made my Leopard ammo from of a .223 and a memo board pin. (see show off pics)

? ?