Leopard 2A6 Restoration

[KTRob]

Hi Guys,

Now the P4's done, I need something else to get on with, I bought this from Tomhugill a while ago, my first piece of modern armour.

Its all there and runs well, just needs a few details fixing and a repaint.....in typical fashion though I have managed to find new ways to empty the wallet and decided on a few upgrades, in no particular order:

Afv Tensioners
Afv Swingarms
Ball bearing set
Will fit a battle system of some sort
Afv Tow hitch, shackles and MG3

Starting point:



Ball bearings going in:



Swing arms on:



I need to charge the camera up, I have the lower hull done and have stripped the upper down. I have just got done repairing the fibre optics at the back....fiddly job

More to follow.......

[DNAR]

Looking good! Will be very interested in following your re-build.

[KTRob]

Thanks DNAR, done a bit more:



The wheels have all had the bushings replaced with ball bearings. I gave the tyres and tracks a good wash and they came up pretty well.

The wheels and lower have been painted Nato Green (Think I will go for a standard NATO camouflage scheme).

One tip for anyone doing the fibre optics, do not allow any form of solvent glue (extra thin cement, etc) to touch the fibres. I glued mine in with the tamiya cement and the next day they had all broken off at the join. On testing I found the cement makes the fibre go brittle. I used a hotglue gun in the end

Just finished up replacing detail parts on the upper hull, will put up a pic tomorrow.

[Ad Lav]

Fibres are fairly difficult, I didn't end up using glue, just persevered and got them sitting right.

Not another green one

Nice re build, I need to get the mg3 for mine.

[KTRob]

Thanks guys,

It is a bit too green

I think the trouble I had with the lights is that I was using non tamiya Fibre optic, perhaps their stuff is more flexible?

Done the upper hull, had to replace a few handles, etc. and also painted the turret lower.

I can't progress much further as my airbrush is knackered and am waiting for a new one to turn up...

[KTRob]

My new airbrush came last week (A Draper gravity feed single action, dead ringer for an Iwata but made in china )

It works really well off my spraywork compressor, just had to remove the air stop and soon had the top and turret done:



Next job was to install a set of DKLM metal gears:





Good timing too as the small gears had started to mash the flats up:



Photo etch grills:



When I tried to install the turret, it was hitting the fan covers and intakes, so I cut out a shim from 0.3 plasticard and placed on the turret:



All together:



I have hooked up the DMD and had a drive round to make sure it all works OK:



Just working on the main gun now....

[KTRob]

I am getting near to finished on this refurb now,

My brother bought me an airbrush booth for xmas, so I don't end up fumigating myself and the house!



I have to say now I have one I wouldn't be without it, no fumes, no spraying bits of the house that don't need spraying....

The overspray cleans off easily with a drop of soap and water.

Once I had the painting done, it was the joy of squeezing all the electricals into the turret, this is how she looks now:





I scratch built the left turret basket out of brass scrap as the frame was missing, but the PE mesh was present:



I have developed a bit of a problem with the gun though, once I put it back together the gun wouldn't lift to clear the rear deck when the turret is turned. (It did before I took it apart).

On checking through, the "turret limiter switch" had a broken wire which I resoldered, but it still won't work....

Everything else works OK though

[KTRob]

Pulled the turret to bits last night and I think the limiter switch is dead, the elevation servo didn't react when I pushed it...

Just ordered another one, so won't be finished for a few more days.......

[Ad Lav]

Very smart. Must play with mine again soon, forgot about the gun lifting!

Does it only do it when the barrel is low?

[KTRob]

Hi Ad Lav,

It only works if the gun is set low enough to catch the rear of the tank. What should happen is at a certain point in rotation, the switch runs onto a ridge in the inside of the turret ring, the turret motor stops for a moment to give the servo time to lift the gun to level then it carries.on rotating.

I think my resoldering might have damaged the switch (melted it inside?).

Just another little problem to solve...