Hi guys! Here is the first instalment of Leopard II's taken on my my trip to Wolfhagen. I'll spare the small talk and get straight to it. This first installment is of the Leopard IIA6 exterior details, and some other related items.
Wolfhagen--"Home of the Wolf"--photo from the van...
The Leopard 2A6
One happy doog...
Gettig the "tour"--"I'm goin' in!"
"Y'all better just clear on out of there; I just might hit some buttons in here and I've got nooo idea what they do!!" LOL! (Do I look like a Panzer Commander?!)
Gunner's hatch--look at the "chipping" around the AA ring! Proof of "weathering"!!!!
The commander's 360 targeting thingy..note the reddish hue to the glass
The gunner's hatch..
Looking down the Commander's hatch...
Gunner Doog and Commander Beam...anyone for a co-ed turret?! LOL! (Actually we're both in the TC hatch)
The muzzle reference sensor...
Light detail--note the little chains on the tow hooks, and the method of securing the track cleats...
Mirrors...
I found this interesting--many of the hull/turret bolts are safety wired--just like my dirt bike grips..
Driver's periscopes--note the greening tinge...
It was a tight fit going in this way! I'd hate to have to bail this way!
BRAAAAP!!!!
Here's one of the reasons I paint my tracks off-the-model; to get the proper weathering inside the tracks! Check out the color and wear of the tracks and teeth!!! There's no reason you wouldn't extrapolate this to just about any tank with similar wheels/tracks set-up! And remember--these are rubber-rimmed wheels, too!!!
They have some Leo 2A4's out back too...
Here's an interesting weathering shot of ust around the spare track on the front of one of the A4's...note that there's rust spots also in various places
and some rear details...
One of the A6 turrets removed, with some really neat shots of the attachment points for the add-on armor.
This really surprised me--check out the "woven" texture of the fume extractor here! To my knowledge, this has never been accurately represented in molding of these kits? Those "velcro" slabs there are attachment points for a unique Canadian camo covering which the Canadians use which I didn't get to see but which apparently can be used in-situ while the tank is moving as well as stationary? Cool!
Last shot for now--the gas filler cap...
I'll have another one up sooon of the interior shots I took. And then another of some of the Leopards "in the sheds" with some interesting mods and details. ENJOY, Guys!