Thanks all! Next will be two builds (I think): I have a Trump Ch2 that I'm itching to get started on and I snagged a Tamiya LeClerc too, very futuristic looking. The French camo should be fun on it as well. I'm also continuing to finish fully assembled but stalled shelf queens. I have two Shermans, a T-62 and an M3 Lee to knock out as I can. One of the Shermans has been in OD and decals for maybe three years but I shelved it when the DS tracks started breaking up, even though I only used acrylics on them. It's back in the rotation now with Tamiya tracks. Pics as it happens.

Nice work! I always felt that models like these, that put you through the ringer and they come out looking great are the ones you appreciate more when they're done and sitting in your display case. BTW, love the camouflage.

Very nice Leo II.  Despite your misgivings about the kit, it turned out great!

Now you are ready to tackle the KF51 Panther next gen German MBT.    I wonder who will be the first to market with a kit?  I don't know how much of a performance leap it will be over the current model of Leopard, but at least it looks more intimidating that the US Army's MPF.

Another winner there for you show case!

I need to build another Leopard II, such a beautiful tank.

Another one for the display case, Leo2A4 done. While it has a few little hickies here and there and missed opportunities to correct a designed-in flaw, in general I'm happy enough to put it ine the case, at least until I decide it's time to put it on Ebay anyway.

IMG_3572 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3571 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3568 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3567 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I think the biggest hurdle, aside from trying to cover up booboos in the kit itself, was representing all the small bits that serve asfront skirt mounts and their hardware. 

IMG_3570 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

The camo was kind of fun, and like the Challenger I kept weathering to an absolute minimum, for me anyway, so as not to totally obscure it.

While I was psinting the road wheel tires on the Challenger the other day, I mixed up a little too much gray, so I painted the tires on the M60, had to mix more paint to finish and mixed a little much, so I painted these too.

IMG_3502 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Start to finish, I painted 42 sets of double-wheel tires. In one sitting, 88 tires. Fun!

Thanks!

She is loooking really nice .....Cheers mark

I was lucky yesterday, my first day back after three months. I got all my assignments done in the morning while it was still tolerable, but it still took it out of me. 

So, once I get the second Challenger ready for paint, I'll be on a painting binge for a while. I'm actually looking forward to doing this one, my first build after the surgery, still in a fog.

About 95 here. To heck with painting, I'm coming in from work, taking a shower, and collapsing to read or watch a movie... 

It was about a hundred and three, no breeze, so I painted... a lot. 

Whoa! Nice to see you getting all this painting done! 

In green, with the side skirts/armor ready to go too....

IMG_3284 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Looking back, I'm glad I decided to use the side armor/skirts. Once the missing detail is added, they do a lot for the model. Next, more color.

It's a shame that the Leopard Club.ca has reviewed all Leopard kits. Meng and Takom Leopard kits are not strongly thought of. Italeri Leopard kits, although not perfect, are well-thought of.

Bill

I've heard the same, and oddly enough am currently looking for one. I also have decided to "fix" the side skirts on this one and use them. They're just too integral to the thing to omit.

You are doing a great job on the Leo II A4, but I will mention a little sacrilege. It seems that most builders ignore Italeri.  I built several of their Leo II A4 kits and they were terrific. I had no fit problems, they are reasonably well-detailed, and www.leopardclub.ca does claim that the Italeri kits are quite good. I recommend them highly.

Bill

Thanks G, and yeah, it's got a certain look.

She's coming along great! 

The Leopard is such a good-looking tank. 

Something I noticed when looking for things I'd missed: ther should be two end connectors and two center connectors, minus guide teeth, stored under the folded in mirrors on each side. I used some old AFV Club bits from the M26 track set so do them, and moved the mirrors to the proper location as well,

IMG_2869 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I feel better now.

Howdy!

Okay, done except for tow cables (working on them currently) and antennae, which I willl do shortly, or hold off until after painting. I'm still on the fence as to whether to continue with the mods to build it as a Turkish tank or just do it in German NATO colors.

IMG_2867 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_2866 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Hi old friend.... its looking good.

Right side (left in pic) is done, pending final cleanup, other side has pieces freshly attached, but I'll need to wait until tomorrow to clean it up and blend the pieces. 

IMG_2865 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Regarding the anti-slip: I'm gonna let it fly as-is. I'm getting exhausted with this thing.

Yeah, that's some thich stuff, more like the "pebbles" the IDF used for a while on Merkava hulls. Ouch. I think it needs taking down a bit too. 

In the meantime, I started the detail on the skirt/side armor hangers, working off pics the the Sabot Dutch Leo book. The lower parts are mostly done, upper parts which look like big cam locks are gonna be a bit more difficult, but here it is as of now:

IMG_2863 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I also had to slice off the final drives and reposition them, HB has them about 2-3mm too far back. Gee whiz Wally.

Good luck with the back surgery, I hope you're on the mend! 

As thick as I sometimes lay on the paint I think I'd probably end up covering up the raised areas. Can you lay a couple of good layers of primer over the over-done areas of the anti-slip coating to tone it down? 

RBaer

I'll take a look, didn't realize they were overdone.

Look at your first photo from your opening post. 

Above the first two road wheel stations, the three rows of three raised areas, the row of four inboard of those (also repeated on the other side) and a host of raised areas on the engine deck (and some other areas) are HB's representation of anti-slip coating. 

I'll take a look, didn't realize they were overdone. And believe it or not, I had no idea what a rat of a kit this was when I started, but it only took about 10 miutes to have that sinking feeling.

Brave of you to attempt this.

One of the absolute worst aspects of the HB Leoaprd 2 kits is the horribly overdone anti-slip textures. Seriously, they look like applique armour or access panels. Are you going to try to sand/scrape them off or leave them as is?

Thanks all. Yup, no painting yet, still just building for the pleasure of it....  well, mostly. I've become determined to get this thing at least ready for paint. My doc says modeling is meditation, so now I have a medical reason to model. Perfect!

Rob, I'm a fan of recent Tamiya stuff too, but still sticking to 1/35.

And yes, it's not a Magach, but more to come for sure, once I'm off the meds. 

You are doing a great job on the kit/kit bash.  Believe me, I know the difficulties involved in trying to recover from surgery and still trying to build.  Knee problems are keeping me from my airbrush. So I build with the idea of painting later.

Keep up the great work!

Bill