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Tamiya Leo2A5

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  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 3:12 PM

Hello Russ!

Nice Leopard - and I'm glad you're enjoying your build.

Polish Army also uses those babies, in case you would like to go for some less usual paint scheme!

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Springfield, MA
Posted by TigerEP1 on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 2:23 PM

Looking forward to progress on this!

I built a Leo a few years ago, tamiya West German Leo A4 , great kit :D

On the bench:

1/35th Tamiya Willi's MB

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 12:47 PM

Looking great.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 11:13 AM

More brass last night, and the commander's ITV (I think).

I still like this kit, things fit as they should, something I appreciate. And kudos to Eduard here, the etch for the turret baskets fit well, nicely done parts.

I'm still plodding along through the brass, and once again I'm glad of the ease of assembly of the kit, otherwise I'd be back in one of my tedious pits.


Apprentice rivet counter.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Monday, July 13, 2015 3:01 PM

That's a good shot of the turret Karl, but there's nothing minted to either lifting lug. I'm thinking it's part of the gunfire simulator.

And now I'm off to peruse your album, thanks!

Apprentice rivet counter.

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Monday, July 13, 2015 11:12 AM

Russ,

If I read your question correctly, here's a view of that part. Hope this helps...

And by the way, there are more pics that might help you in my photobucket album.HERE Smile

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Monday, July 13, 2015 10:32 AM

I got a start on the brass, and what little bit I did took me as long to do as the entire rest of the kit assembly so far. Sheesh......

Two pics of the back of the turret, where I started, and one pic of a shot of the Eduard instructions, for a question: The part in the top of the frame, showing a piece built up on one of the turret front lifting lugs is shown with the "front" pointed out, but no mention of which side. Anyone? Prime Portal no help.....



Apprentice rivet counter.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Friday, July 10, 2015 10:59 AM

Yeah, I'm really enjoying the kit, very refreshing.

I bookmarked the Leo pics, fabulous, thanks Karl!

Cliff, this is a pretty new kit (2000) and is supposed to be very accurate, with very few simplifications. No retail on the backs of the road wheels is one, but I can live with that easily. I also just received the Eduard etch set and some AFV Club reflective lens cover stickers, so I'll be adding some AM.

Anthony, thanks. It's a pleasurable build, no doubt.

Chris, I'm in the same boat. Tamiya kits are hard to beat for good engineering and relative easy of assembly. I think the M51 Sherman is their best example of superb detail and easy assembly, but this Leo kit may even be easier to put together.

Apprentice rivet counter.

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Friday, July 10, 2015 8:01 AM

This kit is an absolute stunner. I built it years ago, and it's a great build.

This link might help you, Russ. Time I spent out at the Wolfhagen Leopard base while on tour. Leopard 2A6's are the same as A5's but with the bigger gun. Everything else is basically the same. Paint schemes, details, etc,

Wolfhagen Leopards

Enjoy!

  • Member since
    December 2011
Posted by Chrisk-k on Thursday, July 9, 2015 6:10 PM

Gamera

Cool, those vintage Tamiya kits may not be the most accurate anymore but you can't beat them on ease of assembly and in some cases just plain fun.

I agree 100%.  I love new and vintage Tamiya armor kits.

Iwata HP-CS | Iwata HP-CR | Iwata HP-M2 | H&S Evolution | Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax Tank

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Thursday, July 9, 2015 3:48 PM

Nice start Russ,looks good.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, July 9, 2015 10:20 AM

Cool, those vintage Tamiya kits may not be the most accurate anymore but you can't beat them on ease of assembly and in some cases just plain fun.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 12:22 PM

Thanks. It's one of the best kits I've ever been into, makes it easy.

Apprentice rivet counter.

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 11:55 AM

Some great movement on getting it done!

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 10:30 AM

More fun with Leo last night: some small seams filled with Vallejo acrylic putty, gun tube  and mantlet started and a few teeny bits built up. I have some Eduard PE on the way, so I don't want to get into the teeny detail bits yet, but it's still going together like a dream. The seams I filled (then wiped with a damp Q-tip) are very small, and most likely due to my assembly rather than any fault of the kit.

Pics:



Apprentice rivet counter.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Tamiya Leo2A5
Posted by RBaer on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 1:24 PM

I bought this kit at a recent show, mainly because it was priced to sell, and I had heard good things about it. I have zip for Leopard knowledge or references, so my intention was to build it OOB, enjoy the process, and experiment with the camo. I'm a rattle-can user (Hi, my name is Russ and I use rattle cans) so the camo will have to be done with cans or a brush. I've done a few hard-edged schemes using both, so it's not a first, and all the pics I have of both the real thing and other models show a fairly tight line on the different colors, so I should be okay.

The build began as usual, lower hull, wheels and suspension, which I had done in a couple of hours, absolutely lovely fit. I had a slight gap at the front of the upper and lower hulls when I mated them up, but a little tape and some time got everything in touch.


For you Leo people: should the front of the hull have a weld where the upper and lower glacis meet? Pic below:

And after taking two links out of the tracks, I have a nice fit. Any looseness will be hidden by the skirts, but I have a good fit on the sprocket.

Super-fast progress for me, all this happened in a couple of hours. I ordered a couple of goodies this morning that may slow me down a bit, but the kit is great, almost falls together so far.

Apprentice rivet counter.

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