Scratchbuilt Leclerc

[MonsieurTox]

Thank you very much for your kind words!

I built the AC box on top of the turret.
I luckily had fine metal mesh from a past project (was going to use to build the catwalk of a 1/200 aicraft carrier but ended using PE). It's the perfect size and I have enough to do all the mesh screen of the Leclerc.
The vents are not made yet, I'm going to 3d print them and will go in the recessed areas on top.

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[MonsieurTox]

Hello guys,

Some progress has been done.

Initially I was going to use the Leopard wheels as they were since they'll be mostly hidden by the side skirts. However I'm no longer sure to put the rubber lower skirts so they will be shown much more.

I'm not intenting to make 100% accurate Leclerc wheels (it would have been easier to 3D print them for that), but I had some fun trying to get them more accurate.

First I had to remove on the lathe the inner details :

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The result :

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All 12 wheels done :

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Then I had to make the kind of star like washer :

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Adding the nuts :

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In place :

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The hub covers will be 3D printed, I wanted to use the Leopard one, shortening them, but I found the diameter was wrong.

[MonsieurTox]

Ive also worked on the hull.

Masking for the anti-slip stuff :

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Driver's episcope :

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Panoramic sight view :

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Vents on the AC compartment :

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Brake heatsinks :

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New idler :

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General views :

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120mm smooth bore :

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Rear engine vents :

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Thanks for watching.

[MonsieurTox]

Hello guys, I'm now working on details, this is the visor doors and the the frame for the optics.

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[jhamm]

Excellent!

[Jimster]

I’m always astounded by the excellent modeling displayed on these build threads. Your modeling definitely makes for a nice build thread. Nice progress photos as well.

[BarryC]

Awesome work!!

If I may ask, what did you use for the Non-Slip?

Barry

[Ecam]

If I may ask, what did you use for the Non-Slip?

Barry

Great question, looks like a cork material.

[MonsieurTox]

Thank you for kind words guys!

Awesome work!!

If I may ask, what did you use for the Non-Slip?

Barry

Hello Barry, I used the same stuff that the one I used for the turret, it's from MIG. They don't do this paste for 1/16 so I used the one for 1/35 models which works just fine for our scale. May be overscaled for 1/35 (I bought the one for 1/48-1/72 too but I haven't tried yet as I was satisfied by the 1/35 version of it).
It takes a few tries to get use to how how to apply it but once you understood how to do, it's pretty easy and in case of any mistakes you can wipe the paste and clean the surface with water (it's an acrylic product).

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[BarryC]

Thank you sir!

That is what I've bought to use on my Abrams. Happy to see how nice it looks.

Barry