Stokesy's Meng 1/35 Leopard 2 A7 MBT

[Stokesy44]

Greetings All

Having finished the build phase for the Comet I need a new kit for the Tuesday build group. I've had this monster in the stash for about 6 years and it looks a beauty. Based on a new tool Leopard 2 A4 from 2015 the kit came out in 2016.

The box is stuffed with plastic. Workable suspension, workable tracks, some PE bits. Its a big sucker, a reminder of how tanks have evolved since WWII.



Some Wiki blurb for the uninitiated (myself included as all I know about it is its the current Jerry MBT).

The Leopard 2 is a third generation German main battle tank (MBT). Developed by Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s, the tank entered service in 1979 and replaced the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the West German army. Various iterations of the Leopard 2 continue to be operated by the armed forces of Germany, as well as 13 other European countries, and several non-European countries, including Canada, Chile, Indonesia, and Singapore. Some operating countries have licensed the Leopard 2 design for local production and domestic development.

There are two main development tranches of the Leopard 2. The first encompasses tanks produced up to the Leopard 2A4 standard and are characterised by their vertically faced turret armour. The second tranche, from Leopard 2A5 onwards, has an angled, arrow-shaped, turret appliqué armour, together with other improvements. The main armament of all Leopard 2 tanks is a smoothbore 120 mm cannon made by Rheinmetall. This is operated with a digital fire control system, laser rangefinder, and advanced night vision and sighting equipment. The tank is powered by a V12 twin-turbo diesel engine made by MTU Friedrichshafen.

In the 1990s, the Leopard 2 was used by the German Army on peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. In the 2000s, Dutch, Danish and Canadian forces deployed their Leopard 2 tanks in the War in Afghanistan as part of their contribution to the International Security Assistance Force. In the 2010s, Turkish Leopard 2 tanks saw action in Syria. Since 2023, Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks are seeing action in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Its all about the boom stick

The primary armament for production versions of the Leopard 2 is the Rheinmetall 120 mm (4.7 in) smoothbore gun—the same gun later adapted for use on the M1 Abrams—in either the L/44 variant (found on all production Leopard 2s until the A5), or the L/55 variant (as found on the Leopard 2A6 and subsequent models).

Ammunition for the gun comprises 27 rounds stored in a special magazine in the forward section of the hull, to the left of the driver's station, with an additional 15 rounds stored in the left side of the turret bustle, which is separated from the fighting compartment by an electrically operated door. If the turret's ammunition storage area is hit, a blow-off panel in the turret roof would direct an explosion upwards away from the crew compartment. However, the 27 other rounds stored in the forward section of the hull, to the left of the driver's station, do not have this protection and would cause catastrophic secondary explosions if the hull were hit. This is a weakness of the Leopard 2's design.

The gun is fully stabilised, and can fire a variety of types of rounds, such as the German DM43 APFSDS-T anti-tank round, which is said to be able to penetrate 560 millimeters (22 in) of steel armour at a range of 2,000 meters (2,200 yards), and the German DM12 High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) round)

For the L/55 gun, a newer APFSDS-T round was introduced to take advantage of the longer barrel, the DM-53, which is said to be able to penetrate up to 750 mm (30 in) of Rolled Homogenous Amour (RHA) at a range of 2,000 m (6,600 feet). The bore evacuator and the gun's thermal sleeve of the A4 and A5, designed to regulate the temperature of the barrel, are fabricated from glass-reinforced plastic. The barrel has a chrome lining to increase barrel life. The main gun is capable of power elevating from +20° to −9°.

Rheinmetall has developed an upgrade for Leopard 2 tanks to give them the ability to fire the Israeli LAHAT anti-tank guided missile through the main gun. The missile can engage targets out to a range of 6,000 meters (20,000 feet).

So that's the tecky bit out of the way. I plan to build the tracks later today so I can then forget about them. I'll then start work proper at the build group on Tuesday.

[digger303]

Cool.

[cor]

I dont usually build tanks, but if I were to take one on it would be that one.

[Stokesy44]

I dont usually build tanks, but if I were to take one on it would be that one.

I never built tanks until I came back to the hobby 10 years ago. Caught the bug with an old Tamiya Jagdpanther. I'm now about 60:40 tanks v aircraft/Sci-Fi.

Go on, you know you want to!

[Stokesy44]

Tracks done.

Relatively painless. Inner and outer track pieces are a pressure fit and they clamp the connector in for the next link. No glue required





Roll on Tuesday so I can get stuck into the running gear

[digger303]

No glue...how wonderful these new tooled kits can be.

[Stokesy44]

No glue...how wonderful these new tooled kits can be.

Sadly, not all new tools with workable tracks are that easy. RFM Tiger 1 tracks for example are absolute murder with 2 guide horns needing to be glued to every track link. I have 3 RFM Tigers (one is a Sturm Tiger) and I am seriously considering stealing workable sets from kits I have already built or buying metal / resin sets as replacements. I find the thought of working on those RFM tracks completely soul destroying

[Stokesy44]

I'm properly up and running having been at the Tuesday group yesterday afternoon.

Lots of busy work putting the running gear and wheels together. These are end of session pictures only as its not possible to take progress shots during the afternoon itself.

Its going together beautifully so far. The suspension is the torsion bar kind and its workable. I may have to set it at some point if it sits too high or too low once the key is fully built.





Its a big beast. Its easy to forget how big NATO MBTs are.





Next update should be this time next week.

[digger303]

Nice.

[Portman]

No glue...how wonderful these new tooled kits can be.

Sadly, not all new tools with workable tracks are that easy. RFM Tiger 1 tracks for example are absolute murder with 2 guide horns needing to be glued to every track link. I have 3 RFM Tigers (one is a Sturm Tiger) and I am seriously considering stealing workable sets from kits I have already built or buying metal / resin sets as replacements. I find the thought of working on those RFM tracks completely soul destroying

You mean these ones? Someone gave me a set for my Tamiya Tiger I. I'm pleased to say that once you get into a rhythm they actually go together well - I'm sure you'll be fine with them. (edit: This is actually an old Photo - I've since completed this side).

The Leopard is a very cool subject - loving the build so far.

[Stokesy44]

No glue...how wonderful these new tooled kits can be.

Sadly, not all new tools with workable tracks are that easy. RFM Tiger 1 tracks for example are absolute murder with 2 guide horns needing to be glued to every track link. I have 3 RFM Tigers (one is a Sturm Tiger) and I am seriously considering stealing workable sets from kits I have already built or buying metal / resin sets as replacements. I find the thought of working on those RFM tracks completely soul destroying

You mean these ones? Someone gave me a set for my Tamiya Tiger I. I'm pleased to say that once you get into a rhythm they actually go together well - I'm sure you'll be fine with them. (edit: This is actually an old Photo - I've since completed this side).

The Leopard is a very cool subject - loving the build so far.

That picture gives me the shivers!

I'll be dreaming of guide horns when I go to bed now!

[digger303]

I hope their Panther tracks are better, having 2 sets in the stash.

[Stokesy44]

I hope their Panther tracks are better, having 2 sets in the stash.

Sadly, if they're the workable version then they will have separate guide horns too as they are hollow.

I built their Jagdpanther (same tracks) and replaced them with Fruils.

[Portman]

That picture gives me the shivers!

I'll be dreaming of guide horns when I go to bed now!