Aussie Leopard

[Andy in Cheltenham]

It is a bit short on space, i've crammed the servo and the microswitches as far back into the bustle as it will go. I've put the steering servo on the bracket above the gearbox. It works a treat there, that will save space for what I finally do regarding the turret rotation. I have in mind a large bearing to keep it stable and smooth. I'll put another RX and batery pack in the turret so I can rotate it to my hearts content. Don't suppose you have some spare track links? I need to get the back end finished so I can then start on the paint job. I found a good method (I hope) of making the rear mudflaps.

Thanks for the comments
Andy

[xrad]

Andy, NICE work there. I like all your details and especially the nice wiring.

HL stuff is nice to work with because it is cheap and easy to get.

[BigPanzer]

Hi Andy,

sorry, I can't help you with track links. The Geppy came with a set of ally tracks with stick on rubbers. Unfortunately the moron who got hold of the tank before me had stuck the rubbers on with epoxy and every time I run it more rubber vanishes!

I think the original Leo came with Sherman type tracks, but they should look more like the Leo2. Please can anybody tell me if the standard Tamiya Leo2 tracks will fit the Leo1 sprockets?

One mod that might help you - cut a couple of strips of plastic wide enough to fit between the horizontal lip on thetop of the chassis and the inside of the hull moulding. I found that the tracks chucked up loads of crap and this found its way into the tank internals. Puttng this plastic strip above the tracks keeps the interior one hell of a lot cleaner.

Sory if some of this post doesn't make sense. I've just opened the first bottle of last years blackberry wine and its bl**dy lethal!

Peter

[Yellowshaker]

Guys, I just purchased a Leo 1A4 and am looking to make it full option. Any help would be appreciatde. How are you using t he servo? What electronics are you using to conbtrol it?

[Andy in Cheltenham]

Hi Yellowshaker.

Glad to hear you have made a nice purchase. I'm not going for a Full Option as they say.
It's a noisey beast with out adding sound effects, probably wont hear much above the sound of metal tracks and a lot of whizzing gears inside. I'm just using a four channel RC unit. My enjoyment is coming from scratch building the mechanisms for driving the gun (up/down) and the turret rotation. As you will see I've nearly completed the gun elevation. I don't mind passing on the info on what I've done. Don't suppose you have any spare bits of track?

PM me we'll have a chat off line.

[Yellowshaker]

I am happy to hear it was a good purchase. I am excited about this tank and hope to learn about it as I go. I am having trouble trying to send a pm. If you can send me one, perhaps I could reply to yours...

[Andy in Cheltenham]

I spent a few hours again on the turret on Friday. On the roof is a periscope that rotates, I've attached a servo to it just for the hell of it. What I've actually done is use two recievers in my tank running on the same frequency. the turret is now idependent from the hull, The hull will control motion, direction and turret rotation. The turret has gun elevation and on the same channel as direction is the rotating of the periscope. The periscope now moves in unison with direction. The turret weighs a decent amount now and this should should help with how it behaves in motion.

[BigPanzer]

Hi Andy,

I like the idea of a second Rx in the turret. You must have worked minor miracles to get everything you need into it. No wonder you were saying things were tight!

Cheers

Peter

[Andy in Cheltenham]

tiny servos are a Godsend. Still got to get the battery pack in there. Then I think it will be full.

[Andy in Cheltenham]

Well I've had a bit of Tank-time (as the missus calls it) Spent the day geting some work done on the Glacis plate.



I've been working on the gun elevation too. I took it all out and now I have micro switches that cut the power to the Heng Long doobrey. All I have to do with the gun now is locate a spring at the back of the gun so that it runs against the cam all the time.

I cant believe I've made such an ellaborate method for just raising the gun, I could have just used a servo and an arm to raise it, but my aim was to have it driven to the elevation I want and for it to stay there until I want it to move again.

Andy