Aussie Leopard

[Andy in Cheltenham]

Hopefully I've posted below an image of my partly restored vintage Tamiya Leopard.
It's going through quite a hefty rebuild. I have the means for raising the barrel, the turret is taking a bit longer to work out due too a lack of space to put something chunky in to do the task.



I'll put some more up later.

[Andy in Cheltenham]

I'm having trouble posting, forgive me or give me clues. I've used photobucket before without trouble.

[Andy in Cheltenham]

Ok I've managed tosort it out.

Here is the turret and this is where most of the work is neded. The left hand rangefinder is blcked off. the weld lines are missing. the circular item behind the loaders hatch is now there. Antennas are changed as is the gun sight. The wind sensor has now been fitted (not shown)



This is the uncompleted "all new" rear end. Yes there is now plenty of brass for better strength. I need spare track links to finish it off as well as better detail on the left hand box. Also desperatley need mudflaps.



This is just a shot of the tank with primer on it, note Jerrycan fix points. I would like to scratch build the mesh turret basket with the aircon installed.



Hope you like.

[[ICE]monkey]

great work done there , very nice detail, keep it comming
regards, ice

[Andy in Cheltenham]

Thanks [ICE]monkey.

I'm wandering if anyone else is playing with an older Leopard on this forum. If there is anyone that can pass on any parts or better still another leopard (I'm quite fond of the 1A4's) at a good price. I have some more pics that I'll try and post later. As I've stated in another post I intend to get the barrel raising and the turret rortating. I have the original type of battery that Tamiya reccomended for this tank (a large 6 volt item) this does not leave much room for a turret rotate mechanism. I can see that this will have to change to make way for turrret moving. Knowing my tank like I do I cant see how I'd fit a DMD or anything else from a modern kit.

Andy

[Andy in Cheltenham]

Hi
I've been through my pics and found more stuff.
I've altered the wheels. hours of use had them wobbling in a weird way. the brass should firm things up a bit.


This shows the frame for the wind sensor and the new gunsight my dad made (he builds O guage trains you know).

[Andy in Cheltenham]

Had a good weekend, I found a nice 4 channel TX on ebay and on Sunday (missus was at the super market) I charged up a battery.......unwrapped the RX........plugged in the ESC........connected the battery.......turned it all on........YES! it works. I just trundled back and forwards on the garden. I need to sort out the steering now.
I'm getting there eventually......
Andy

[[ICE]monkey]

its great when you fire them up after a rebuild ,
regards, cliff

[Andy in Cheltenham]

Hi

Build update! After busting my gut with house moving and DIY and a load of other stuff I've finally spent a productive day on the Leopard. My fiance and nipper are away doing stuff with her sister. She knew I needed a break. Sunday I'll be out on my bike with mates.
I worked on the gun elevation. I designed a means of controlling the power to the little Heng-long gearbox. I had to use 3 microswitches mounted on plasticard and activated by a micro servo. I wired it correctly first time (phew) and then mounted it far back in the turret. It releases with just one screw. Then it was a matter of mounting the gearbox, also removable. I'll find a small bearing now and fit it onto a shaft mounted from the back of the barrel and spring load it to the turret roof. I also fitted a steering servo in the hull and had a bit of a play.





Andy

[BigPanzer]

Hi Andy,

Its coming on nicely. I would love to do a Leo rebuild to go with my Geppy!

You seem to be having issues with space. I found I had loads in the Gepard and the only thing in the turret is the gun elevation servo (apart from all the gubbins that works the front & rear radar, which doesn't apply to the Leo anyway) but my approach has been somewhat different.

Keep the pics coming!

Peter