Meng Leopard 2 A7+

[Hawkmoon]

Next build on the go from Meng and another first in building kits from this company.

The tank is really a maybe tank as a private company decided to upgrade the armour to make it more capable of surviving IED blasts buts its main difference is the 50 cal auto machine gun pod on the turret roof. The company showed off there new beast to the German army and painted it in a desert camo scheme as thats where the tanks were playing in the dessert at the time. Apparently 20 upgrades were ordered at the time but have yet to happen. Im more of an older type of armour builder this will be my first modern tank apart from the IDF Merkava.

The kit box is very sturdy and everything sorta survived the postys best efforts to break it in transit but nothing that cant be fixed and extra armour is added to cover the damage. the instructions are typical Meng and the color paint scheme is good. The parts are crisp and there are lots of small parts all in a dessert sand styrene. The working tracks are of the bronco construction type but they give you templates and a system where you can do six at a time so 84 for each side shouldnt take long Asmall etch and wire set along with four transphers are also included. All in all a nice kit to get started on

PC315657 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
PC315659 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
PC315660 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
PC315662 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
PC315665 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
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PC315669 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
PC315670 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
PC315672 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
PC315675 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
PC315677 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
PC315680 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

[Kevthemodeller]

I built their A4 version, which was a lovely build see my build Log which may be of use to you as they're very similar.

Looking forward to following your build mate

[Hawkmoon]

Thanks for looking in and your comments Kev. I had a look at your build diary and you did a great job on her. I can also report the ejector pin problem you had is still present in this kit

[Hawkmoon]

Progress has been made. The wheel sets were made up 1st then the lower hull tub first had its extra armour below the crew area fitted to it . Next came the running gear for the tracks and the working torsion bar suspension added. The rear bulkhead was assembled and prepped for the etch set to arrive soon.

The upper half of the hull was then joined to the lower half and then the engine covers added along with the front extra armour panel. Still quite a lot to add to the hull. The last two pics show how the side armour upgrade dry fitted and how it marrys up with the extra armour added to the front

P1015682 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1015683 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1015685 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1015686 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1015688 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
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P1015691 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

[Kingdan]

Be interesting to see what you do with this mate

[Hawkmoon]

Be interesting to see what you do with this mate

Thanks for looking in and your comments Dan

[KalebB]

This is going to be a sick build to watch.

Leopards are beautiful tanks

[Quax]

The corn is popped

Paul

[Hawkmoon]

This is going to be a sick build to watch.

Leopards are beautiful tanks

The corn is popped

Paul

Thanks for looking in and your comments both

[Hawkmoon]

The turret has been assembled along with the main bang stick. The main gun is only dry fitted for now and still lots of detail to add

P1025697 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1025693 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1025695 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

[Hawkmoon]

The build continues with more bits added to the hull and then the turret the armour upgrade certainly enlarges the the turret and hull. I have been working round whats yet to be added with the etch kit and am about at the point where I cant do much more. Guess I will have to assemble the tracks

P1045698 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1045700 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1045702 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1045704 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1045707 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
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P1045711 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

[Kevthemodeller]

Coming along very nicely mate

[Hawkmoon]

Thanks for looking in and your comments Kev

[Hawkmoon]

The workable tracks have been assembled then undercoated and the top coat is on . Now all I have to do is paint all the pads with rubber paint

P1055712 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1055714 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

[Hawkmoon]

After the pads were painted with track pad rubber black paint a mix of MIG enamel wash was made up consisting of 50% dark wash,fresh engine oil and good dollop of black iron oxide powder. This was liberally applied to both sides of the tracks. When the enamel washes were nearly dry MIG modelling pigment European Earth was sprinkled over the tracks and worked in with a dry brush to get the dusty track look

P1095716 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1095721 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1095718 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P1095719 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

[Hawkmoon]

This ones going on hold until the etch arrives by snail mail

[Meliodas2019]

its come together well, looking forward to seeing the painting start

[Hawkmoon]

Thanks for looking in and your comments

[Oddball007]

Looking Great, I've got this kit on my need to buy list.

[Hawkmoon]

thanks for looking in and your comments

[KalebB]

Great job on those tracks, the effect you went for really shows through

[Hawkmoon]

Great job on those tracks, the effect you went for really shows through

Thanks for looking the tracks turned out better than I Thought if a little darker than I would have liked.

still waiting for the etch set

[Hawkmoon]

After what seamed an age, over two months waiting for an etch set from China that got canceled and the same set was ordered from Germany. It would seam nothing is moving in China right now and things are in lock down over there so be careful what you order untill things get back to normal.

The etch set did arrive from Germany very quickly but I only used a small part of it in the end and now she is about ready for paint

P3016252 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P3016254 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
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P3016259 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

[KalebB]

She's starting to look quite the beast Hawk

And oh yes everyone is in a tizzy over the whole virus thing right now. My work is having problems getting stuff in as well because of it

[Hawkmoon]

Thanks for looking in and your comments Kaleb.. It didn't help that they blamed holidays ect for the delay until I said I would escalate it then they admit it was due to virus lockdown.

[Quax]

its a good looking build and some very nice PE work , looking forward to seeing the paint go on!

Paul

[Hawkmoon]

its a good looking build and some very nice PE work , looking forward to seeing the paint go on!

Paul

Thanks for looking in and your comments Paul im about to test the new AK Lacquers on this beasty

[Hawkmoon]

Paint has been thrown at the beast and it stuck

I thought the best way to go with the painting was to follow the build on the Modeling News website . The lower half/wheels and upper side armour/hull/turret sections are painted separately with Sandbeige. The lower hull/wheels were then given some weathering using Kursk Earth oil based wash diluted at 50% and airbrushed on. After the oils were dry the wheels were fitted in place and the tracks fitted.

Next the side armour was added and that leaves the upper half ready for more paint to do the camo detailing and weathering. The lower half will need some masking off for this but its easily done as paper can go between the side armour to protect the wheels ect already done.

P3036261 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
P3036262 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
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[KalebB]

That's a great way to go about dirtying the lower Hull Hawk

Looking like she's really coming together

[Quax]

Glad it went well for you HM, either way the result looks good

Paul

[Hawkmoon]

Thanks for looking in and your comments every one all very much appreciated

[Hawkmoon]

The camo is done. Still quite a bit to do before I can call this done but its close

P3056284 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
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P3056290 by andrew purchase, on Flickr
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[KalebB]

Excellent camouflage job you did Hawk

That leopard is one bad kitty

[Hawkmoon]

Thanks for looking in and your comments Kaleb

[Hawkmoon]

Calling this one done went together well despite the postys attempts to destroy the kit in transit. The tracks went together ok but the joining pieces can be on the fragile side. All in all a nice kit from meng. There are tow decal crosses to add decal wise but I did'nt add them as this was a prototype tank.

Link to finished build pictures- viewtopic.php?f=46&t=28193

P3076308 by andrew purchase, on Flickr