Weathering, the Belgian Leopard Conversion Continues
This article is part of a series:
- 1/35th Leopard Line Up
- Leopard 1A5 Bundeswehr
- Weathering, the Belgian Leopard Conversion Continues
- Leopard AS1 Aus Cam Update
- Leopard AS 1 Olive Drab Lusterless Update
- Dutch Leopard 1
- Australian Leopard AS1 Dozer
- Danish Leopard 1A5DK
- Takom 1/35 Canadian C2 Leopard Mexas
- Australian Trials Leopard Tank
- Australian Leopard AS1 with drivers and engine compartments.
- Leopard AS1 Engine, Engine Bay and Drivers Compartment Latest Progress
- Unfinished Business – Finishing Off the Belgian Leopard
- Trying New Techniques On Tamiya Leopard A3/A4
- Revell Leopard 1 A1A4 Weathering And Camnet
- Leopard 1 A1A1 With Peddinghaus Turret
- 1/35 Camouflage Nets
- Camnet Construction continued...
- Schutzenpanzer Marder 1
- Meng C2 Mexas with Dozer Progress
- Meng Leopard C2 more progress
Well, I'm now getting on to my favourite stage of the build, the weathering! There are still details to add, such as the tubular "thingies" that go on the bottom of the side skirts (can someone please tell me what they are and/or what they do!) as some of these items are very delicate and I wanted to add them last because of how clumsy I am. I'm sure we've all been there... The conversion set is from Legend and very nice it is too. The base kit is the new mould Revell. I've heard the casting detail being criticised for being too prominent, but after the painting phase I think it looks very good indeed. One man's meat etc.
The reason that I used the Revell kit and not the recommended Takom was based around cost, but also the work that would need to be done to the turret remove the A5 armour locating points. Using the Revell kit did mean I had to adapt, improvise and over-come in some areas, but the work involved was very minor. If you can manage the conversion itself, the necessary work will be no problem at all...
Nicely done.
Many thanks Robert
This is looking great ! What exactly are the “tubular thingies” you mentioned that go at the bottom of the skirts ? Can you add a picture of exactly what you are talking about ?
I might be able to help explain what it is if you can.
Thanks
Thanks Louis. Here's some images of actual Belgian Leopards. The "tubular thingies" are the items on the bottom of the side skirts and are aligned with the 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th road wheels. Are they "stirrups" to help the crew mount the tank?
5 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Yes Ian, that's what they look like to me too. On our M-1's we had a small cable that was connected to the first side skirt. You can see it in these next two pictures. That's what we used it for to as a crew entry access aid. Occasionally we stepped on the cable and then climbed up on the tank.
2 attached images. Click to enlarge.
1. Foot cable
1. Foot step cable
I used the cable "stirrup" to get on my M1s almost every time. Like Louis stated, that's likely what those 2 "thingies" on the Leo are.
Great looking "Leo", Ian!
Thanks Jeff, much appreciated
Honored to see a Belgian AFV here. Sadly, the Belgian army no longer has MBTs but your modeling crafts did the good times revive shortly Ian! Liked!
Thank you Michel. I think that getting rid of MBT's might prove to be a big mistake, the Canadians did the same for a while and then after an ambush in Afghanistan realised that they needed the extra firepower of the MBT, so have reintroduced them...