Leopard 2A6 build series has begun!!

[pitstain]

Hi Pit,

You could solder them in place, you would just have to ensure you have the polarity correct..

Cheers!

sounds good just need guess i would need 4 red LEDs I am ok with keeping the tiny fiber optics for the white markers.

[pitstain]

So I drilled out and replaced the broken fiber, all good there.

then while preparing to paint the lower..."Houston we have a problem!"

REALLY crooked idler wheels!!

Turns out the Tamiya stock ABS lower has a bit of an inward slope where the idler arms attach but the King Kong is dead straight up and down, so the Schumo as well as Stock (to a slightly lesser extent) Idler arms are expecting that slope end up being super off kilter once tightened down. I just ordered the Henntec idler system from Robert at ETOArmor as that system will keep the idler wheels level since it is a straight tube running side to side, I will grind down or fill in as needed for final cosmetic satisfaction.

did the best I could with pictures.

[pitstain]

I have too much ocd for crooked idlers, if you look close you can see the paint rubbed off on the inboard side of the one I had the track on and didn't even drive it at all.

Heaven forbid I ever put metal tracks on, yikes to the binding and wear that would happen.

I don't mess around when I find design flaws, I fix them, period.

[pitstain]

part 7, showing the King Kong chassis issues.

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[pitstain]

Hey Pit,

Good video..

I can feel your pain, when you get into something so far, chomping at the bit to keep going then "Snafu" grinding halt because something is designed wrong or you need a part! Good diagnostics on the problem, wondering what King Kong will do? Maybe when they pulled the first mold and tested it they saw the issue and said "oh, that doesn't look right, maybe they won't notice or care"

At any rate, can't wait to see the Hentec unit installed, they are real nice so it will cure the problem I am sure.

I think you should have painted your shocks prior to install, now you will be painting the shock shafts (chrome looking) and they will come out green instead of bare metal to simulate the shock shaft. I am sure you will figure a way around it.

Great build, dying to see the paint! I have the one in Nato, but my previous one I did in desert for Afghanistan...

Cheers!!

King Kong RC is already playing games, saying I didn't order their idler wheels, I forwarded them the receipt and wll the photos and youtube link, haven't heard back since then.

My Henntec setup is shipping today. (Thanks Robert and Daryl!)

I am going to mask the shock shafts, honestly thank you for mentioning that or I would have forgotten with all this build drama.

The paint job will be, umm, different than most previous builds....

easter eggs are there if you look hard!!

[pitstain]

PART 8 !!

Turret sag mod done!

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[pitstain]

Part 9!!!

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[pitstain]

Part 10 is up after finally getting bits from Germany!

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[pitstain]

part 11 is up, we hit the last page of the manual, paint is next.

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[pitstain]

Part 12, time for PAINT !!

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