Heng Long Challenger 2.Metal Tracks and Sprokets etc.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"The auxiliary fuel tanks are seldom seen fitted onto the BATUS Challenger 2 tanks... " This makes sense to me, zooma, and I see that it is so from books on the Challenger 2. However, working on my Challenger 2, I went to the usual to make the seams on the auxiliary fuel tanks invisible, so mine are going on.

[zooma]

"The auxiliary fuel tanks are seldom seen fitted onto the BATUS Challenger 2 tanks... " This makes sense to me, zooma, and I see that it is so from books on the Challenger 2. However, working on my Challenger 2, I went to the usual to make the seams on the auxiliary fuel tanks invisible, so mine are going on.

The auxiliary fuel tanks will be staying on my other Challenger 2 model - only this BATUS version will be run without them.

Some pictures of the de-seamed tanks on your Challenger 2 would be nice to see......I must admit that the poor fit of the two halves of these fuel tanks could be improved !

[Pavel]

Beautiful!

[tankme]

I know I've personally ripped the external tanks off of my T72 while bombing around the battlefield. Entering a ditch with too steep of an exit angle will do the trick nicely.

[Meter rat]

I too have lost the external tanks off my T72. Never from the Challenger. There is however a lot of detail missing from the Challenger rear end.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Pavel: I see that those photos are "8 of 32" and "10 of 32." Are there more? I have four books on the Challenger 2, but I am always hungry for details, even if I cannot replicate them.

[zooma]

I too have lost the external tanks off my T72. Never from the Challenger. There is however a lot of detail missing from the Challenger rear end.

It took some effort to remove the external fuel tanks from my Challenger 2 - they were very well fixed on and unlikely to become detached in normal use.

Extra detail for the Challenger rear end...now thats a thought - it looks quite bare without the fuel tanks or the fuel tank brackets.........

I haven't blocked the four elongated tank mounting slots yet, maybe when I get around to working on this area I could see what's missing that can be added to make it look a bit less bare. Rear light clusters for starters perhaps?

Meanwhile, I have decided on the shape of the engine deck camouflage so once those unwanted mounting slots are filled-in I can get some decent paint coverage added to smarten it up a bit.

[Meter rat]

Extra detail for the Challenger rear end...now thats a thought - it looks quite bare without the fuel tanks or the fuel tank brackets………

Tail lights, spare track hangers, hangers and mounting points for the spare fuel tanks, for a start.

[zooma]

I think the frame that holds the spare jerry cans and cable reel was also removed on tanks that were used on BATUS duties.....and most seem to have the radio unit that is mounted next to it removed as well!!

This gives a very "clean" look to the rear of the BATUS Challenger 2's.

I will check some more pictures to confirm, but it is looking like I need to remove these two items from my BATUS Challenger as well as the auxiliary fuel tanks and mounting brackets.

[zooma]

Extra detail for the Challenger rear end...now thats a thought - it looks quite bare without the fuel tanks or the fuel tank brackets………

Tail lights, spare track hangers, hangers and mounting points for the spare fuel tanks, for a start.

I will check to see what's left on the rear of the BATUS Challenger 2 tanks Ian - maybe the parts you mention are all that's left ?