Canadian Leopard C2 Mexas MBT - Afghanistan 2006- Build

[lmcq11]

Louis, you‘re talking about a more complex project...what are all the others you made?!? Despite I‘m not into modern warfare, this build of my interest!

Oh, since the Ludwig TPz-1, i have mostly done summer kitbashing on the outside deck; a Tamiya Sheridan, WSN M16 and a 1/10 Jeep. Small 2-3 week projects if it had not been for the extended mail waiting for some parts to complete the models. For me, the Leopard 1 tank is like a Panther III...

I am quite sure I will be shamelessly stealing many of you ideas and solutions. Making the turret functional will require so imaginative ideas and solutions but it is a beautiful kit in itself.

Half my fun in the hobby is to post my experiences, hoping it can inspire others and push it further. It also makes me want to do a better job.

That is a fantastic new project. The tracks look promising. I was looking for those as well, but I couldn’t find them on the website under Leopard tanks anymore.

True !, they're gone... Its similar to the disappearance of the MLRS tracks that i used for the M41. I sent them an email if they were planning to build more, no reply. I also sent them an email if they would start shipping to America again, no reply.

I see however that they have a major new item, its a early Leopard 1A1 turret, plastic body with some metal, resin and brass. A bit more RC friendly than the resin turret i have, but this is expensive.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

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RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

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[BarryC]

WOW, the note in red at the top of the listing google translates to:

"Note: This article is below the minimum order value of 5,800.00 EUR"

Hinweis: Dieser Artikel liegt unter dem Mindesbestellwert von 5.800,00 EUR

Not looking to sell many of these, if fact all the "Neu" items say the same!

Barry

[jhamm]

WOW, the note in red at the top of the listing google translates to:

"Note: This article is below the minimum order value of 5,800.00 EUR"

Hinweis: Dieser Artikel liegt unter dem Mindesbestellwert von 5.800,00 EUR

Not looking to sell many of these, if fact all the "Neu" items say the same!

Barry

This is because:
Achtung Betriebsferien vom 13.07.2020 bis zum 14.08.2020 in diesen Zeitraum werden keine Bestellungen bearbeitet.
Aufgrund des hohen Bestellaufkommens können Bestellungen ab dem 04.07.2020 nicht mehr angenommen werden erst wieder ab dem 14.08.2020! Bitte haben Sie dafür Verständnis.
Wir wünschen Ihnen schöne Sommerferien!
Ihr AFV Model GmbH Team

Attention company holidays from 13.07.2020 to 14.08.2020 in this period, no orders will be processed.
Due to the high volume of orders, orders from July 4th, 2020 can no longer be accepted until August 14th, 2020! We ask for your understanding.
We wish you a nice summer vacation!
Your AFV Model GmbH team

[BarryC]

Ha! I missed that, I was sure there had to be something or they wanted to go out of business, not likely!

Thanks,
Barry

[lmcq11]

the message about the 5,800 Euro minimum has been there since at least March. It pop up on me when entering shipping address. No way to order anything if outside of EU since that time.

[lmcq11]

Hi,

Presenting the lower hull Mexas, minus the hundreds of micro nuts and small details that will be done later, with a cooler head...

Even with a good 1/35 model to help provide shapes and dimensions, It is a good challenge to recreate the Mexas in 1/16. Need to have some good skills and experience with 3D scratchbuilding. This armor has lots of parts, various facets, angles and intricacies. A builder really needs to be committed to start and finish this model, and need to put in the hours.

The interior of the side armor is reinforced before closing.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Their base in 0.5mm plasticard is installed on the tank where it should. Spacers are required for the front and bottom because the top is resting on a raised section of the armor. I did make some compromises for solidity and simplicity purposes. The module attachment points on the real armor has reached a threshold of complexity that i choose not to repro because it was either hidden or too weak for plastic RC modelling.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

The Mexas side armor modules are ready for installation. Do not under estimate the number of parts and amount of time required to achieve this. The stress level was also higher than normal.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

After dry fitting and some minor adjustments where there were pressure points in mid section that needed some space, i was really happy to see the side Mexas modules installed, strait and looking good. That's a load off. Although i was constantly checking the integration, I did not know how it would come together when i started this build. The two modules were installed with about 1mm of play (up, down, left, right, sideways, etc..). Not bad.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

The little module is a joint between the side and frontal armor. Probably thanks to the Meng kit and measurements, it somehow fell in place correctly, at the right angle.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Capture6a.JPG (79.42 KiB) Viewed 3719 times

The lower frontal armor is duplicated. Front face.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Interior. Extra re-enforcement will be made later. I have seen that when the upper hull is removed from the lower hull, some pressure is being applied to the front. I will need to add some more and bigger anchor points with the aluminum chassis.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Frontal Mexas armor module is installed.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Continuing on following post.

[lmcq11]

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

The standard Leopard rear hull storage box next to the exhaust has been replaced by a new model, which is a extension of the Mexas side armor shape.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

If i had to do this again, i would build them at the same time as the Mexas side modules. It is complicated to reproduce exactly the same shapes and angles.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

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The rear of the chassis has a section of side skirts in a newer style, again need to be scratch build.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Parts are created and made ready for assembly.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Side skirts installed. Not too complex but still need to put in the hours. I also made some compromises for solidity and simplicity purposes. The are glued in place and not made to be raised. There are limits to my patience.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Continuing on following post.

[lmcq11]

Overview of the Leopard C2 Mexas hull as it stands today.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

It is important to keep the upper hull removable, the original latch at the front can be retained. Later, magnets will be used at the back.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Interior view of the Mexas. You can see a couple of adjustment plasticard needed to position the side modules. Further reinforcements between the Mexas modules and the upper hull will be added later.

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Capture23a.JPG (96.49 KiB) Viewed 3714 times

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

RC 1/16 Canadian tank Leopard C2 Mexas - Afghanistan - build

Regards, Louis

[Jimster]

Good Lord! You’re building your own jigsaw puzzle! And I thought installing my DKLM 2A7+ kit was difficult. You are a true Zen tank master. It’s turning out beautifully!

[BarryC]

Bravo Louis, it looks awesome!

The side armor gives the tank a real menacing look, something you just don't want to mess with.

Barry