RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hmm... I am easily confused nowadays. But, hey, take the compliment and run.

Hello All,

While I am waiting for electronics and other mechanical parts to arrive, I've been doing some test work for the 1:10 scale Saab Barracuda mobile camouflage system.

Before fully committing to the conversion, which will involve cutting up parts of the turret etc (the point of no return), I want to make absolutely certain that I have a scale solution for the camouflage.

I have a quantity of the vinyl garnish which was cut to about 1:10/ 1:8th of the real materiel. Simply draping the vinyl over the tank will not accurately replicate the camouflage system.

The Saab Barracuda mobile camouflage is made from a number of components to form tailored panels that are attached to the tank by large strips of Velcro. The underside of the panel is a made from a material that is designed absorb heat and reduce the tank's interior temperature. This material is covered in tough vinyl and garnish is stitched to the vinyl layer.
To replicate the camouflage accurately, I am using a 1mm thick thermoplastic sheet. This sheet becomes highly malleable when heated. This will be used make the individual panels that cover the tank. Because the sheets can be molded to tightly conform the shape(s) of the tank, the final result should look like the real thing.
It took a couple of goes to figure out the best way to attach the garish is a realistic way. I am using Mod Podge Matte (a highly tacky pva glue that dries clear) to glue the garnish to the thermoplastic sheet. In the first attempt I covered all the garish in glue on both sides. This resulted in something looking like fish scales - fail!
The following pictures show how I finally attached garnish to the thermoplastic.
In addition to the camouflage tests, I have started to prepare the Leopard A4 to A4M conversion parts.

I am using parts from 1:35 kits a general scale reference.
The next step will be to laser scan the 1:35 parts and re-render the resulting CAD models and enlarge them by 350%. Once the parts have be correctly scaled, they will be 3D printed in resin,

Hi,

I suggest you ask one of the moderator to move your build to the "Other builds" and "Modern build" sub section of the forum instead of the general Modern tank discussion. I was earlier looking for your build and could not find it.

This is a most demanding build. The method of using a good 1/35 kit as reference has proven to be very most efficient and accurate, much better than trying to eyeball pictures. I used the same method on my 1/16 Leopard C2 Mexas using the Meng kit as a model for all the Mexas armor (dimensions, all angles, positioning).

One 1/35 resin model on the market that could be very useful for 2A4M specs and Barracuda layout is the Perfect Scale Modellbau below. I did not check for accuracy though but it looks good.
I did purchase the 1/35 Black Dog Leopard 2A6M Barracuda conversion kit a while ago. I have not build it yet. I was surprised that the kit is offering a full replacement of the Barracuda exposed turret and upper hull (almost everything other than the lower chassis...) instead of trying to provide a thin add-on layer of Barracuda in resin or plastic sheet like we get for Zimmerit (ie Atak). But your real skin method will look much better, provided you can support the fact that you will be hiding most of your hard 2A4M turret and hull conversion. I suggest you keep it simple under the Barracuda and concentrate detailing only on the exposed areas.

regards, Louis

Hello, Louis. Thanks for your useful advice! I have, in the past built the Perfect Scale Leopard 2A4M CAN and it will be useful as the build progresses.
On the topic of moving the thread, yes I have already sent a couple of messages to Admin but for some reason my IMs have stayed in the outbox....something else to look into!

Thanks again, Inger

Pm just arrived to me. I will get it moved tomorrow morning folks .

Or now !!

You are doing a grand job Mr inger

As for trying to contact the admin, in future, don't waste your time, contact one of the mods, they're the ones that do the real work anyway

Hey, thanks for that.

A bit more work planned for tonight and tomorrow. A couple of gears arrived which I need for the new barrel elevation servo.

Hello, in order for the barrel stabilisation system to work properly, I needed to replace the OEM elevation drive motor with a servo.

To mount the servo meant using the original mounting bracket for the elevation and attaching new aluminium servo mount.

Some progress rendering bar armour for printing.