Canadian Leopard C2 Mexas MBT - Afghanistan 2006- Build

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 12:11 am

The construction is pretty much finished. I will do a final walk around to ensure nothing important or visible is missing.

: 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

Next step is the electronics.

Louis

Post by **Jimster** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 12:23 am

Most impressive! I don’t think I could’ve completed that bolt task. They look perfectly applied.

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:26 pm

Hi,
This is the Mato gearbox and AFV-Model metal track initial running tests with a Clark TK60. Interestingly, the whole arrangement makes a pretty strong squeaking sound.

Short Youtube video below;

https://youtu.be/CknnGiS1Jkg

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

And highlighting my negligence of leaving a small loose metal screw inside the hull during the build, one of the gearbox suffered a major failure when the screw got between the gears, resulting in a wasted 40$ Mato gearbox. The gearbox was repaired from cannibalizing a spare one on inventory. The good thing about Mato gearbox is that they are easily taken apart for modifications and repair, and the gears are pretty standard from one model to another.

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

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

Louis

Post by **Jimster** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:50 pm

Wow! Good save.

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Mon Sep 14, 2020 12:40 am

Hi, and here is a short video of the turret rotation, gun elevation, DKLM gun recoil, flash and sound. I am satisfied with the scratch built integration of the Perfect Scale Modellbau resin turret, everything is working well with the Clark TK60 control board. Its a heavy turret so the stronger and high torque metal rotation unit makes a big difference. I just need to make some minor adjustment to the elevation gear so that the gun can elevate higher, and not depress so low because it is pressing against the deck at maximum depression.

https://youtu.be/gub-QHkgqVA

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

View of the interior electronic. Its quite roomy. I put in the electronics that i am familiar with and that i can get functional with little work: Clark TK60 board, Flysky 10 channel receiver, Heng Long speaker and Mato gearbox.

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

Headlights and tail lights were made functional.

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

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

Next step, the painting and weathering phase.

Regards,

Louis

Post by **Jimster** » Mon Sep 14, 2020 2:32 am

Looks great. Thanks for the turret video. I wish more people would post videos.

PainlessWolf · Post by **PainlessWolf** » Mon Sep 14, 2020 3:26 am

Good Evening, Louis!
Spectacular work and Build Details as usual. Looking forward to seeing this masterpiece in paint!
regards,
Painless

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Thu Sep 17, 2020 12:45 am

Thank you Jimster and PainlessWolf, and everyone who left a quick message here and there throughout the build, your encouragements are really appreciated. This one was tough. I counted the bolt heads on this model,,,

As seen in the book Leopard C2 Mexas in Afghanistan, the Leopard were usually covered with layers of dust, in some cases, thick as cake. Representing such weathering, although accurate, does not necessarily look good and might not be the best for an RC tank. My idea is to keep the dust application light. I did not create and detailed this beast for 45 days to drown it in mud.

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

Canadian Leopard markings in 1/16 scale are also non-existant,

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

Here, after application of a primer, the tank is applied with a coat of Nato Green. It does not really matter to have the exact color and tone, the dust pigments applied later will blend in and change it all.

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

African dust pigments were applied freely over the vehicle with a thick brush, like if it was going through a sand storm, (a 20 minute operation really), pressing the stuff against the green paint, making sure the dust pigments goes into every possible crack. Then a coat of pigment fixer was sprayed directly over the tank with the airbrush. That's it. This is what it gives. Here is an exterior photoshoot for checking the results. Some small improvements are still required but its almost finished. The tracks are also not yet weathered.