Leopard 2 Prototype

[Armortek]

Rear light cluster with coloured transparent inserts - will be able to add indicator and running light LEDs.

[Fabian Bekkers]

Hope that front lights will also be with led

[Markus Beer]

Hello Kian

I think it's a pity that they can't change the idler pulley on the Leopard II to the right size during production.
Best regards

Markus

[Armortek]

Hope that front lights will also be with led

Yes - both the headlights as well as the indicators.

[Armortek]

Hello Kian

I think it's a pity that they can't change the idler pulley on the Leopard II to the right size during production.
Best regards

Markus

Sorry Markus but production of the whole lower hull and running gear was finished in November.

[Eric Reinhard1]

I can confirm that on our model the Idler and Roadwheel are the same size.
It is not possible to change at this stage.

Kian

Kian, I would recommend that you change the idler wheel to the correct/proper size, even if it means a delay in the release. I’ve always looked at Armortek as THE preeminent manufacturer of near museum scale armor models, and would rather see a delay to “get it right” than release a model with an obvious scale flaw (unless you plan on producing a correct scale wheel later to ship to customers).

[Mark Heaps]

I suspect that it would be more involved than just machining new idler wheels of the correct dimensions. If they have rubber "tyres", new ones would also have to be produced. Hull sides may also need to be re-drilled to re-position the idler wheel mounting bracket because of the the smaller diameter wheels.

[Fabian Bekkers]

Here it seems that the idlerwheel is smaller indeed.
But I'm more concerned about the gunbarrel to thin and the place of the fume extractor like on the computer drawing. I hope they make it accurately
Best regards Fabian

[Fabian Bekkers]

The shape of the gunbarrel and mounting

[David Merritt]

Is not the large diameter of the gun barrel due the thermal insulation that is applied to the gun barrel to stabilise the temperature of the gun barrel to maintain the accuracy of the gun by preventing distortion of the gun barrel due to uneven temperature across and along the length of the gun barrel caused by firing the gun and the prevailing atmospheric conditions.
This thermal insulation along with other detaling can be applied as required during the building of the Leopard Tank.

[Armortek]

But I'm more concerned about the gunbarrel to thin and the place of the fume extractor like on the computer drawing. I hope they make it accurately

The Whole gun assembly in that image that we posted was incorrect. Solidworks used the barrel from the Chieftain. The actual model is very different.

[Fabian Bekkers]

Thnx for the clarification armortek team

[Armortek]

After all the effort that we have put into the Leopard over the last few months - and it has been quite a slog - I was not happy that we got the idlers wrong. It is a blemish that puts a dark cloud over everything that we have accomplished so far.

I have said a few times now that the Leopard 2 is the most detailed tank that we have made. It has far more parts then any other kit we have ever made and this has certainly pushed us. It can be frustrating at times but at the end of the day our products make us proud. Does that mean that we get everything right - certainly not. But it does mean that we want the kits to be the best that we can produce ... within the economic reality of what is feasible.

So, with all that said - we have made the decision to rework the idlers to the correct size.

The new rubber mould was ordered this morning and we will schedule production of the idler wheels by the end of Jan.

[Peter Quambusch]

After all the effort that we have put into the Leopard over the last few months - and it has been quite a slog - I was not happy that we got the idlers wrong. It is a blemish that puts a dark cloud over everything that we have accomplished so far.

I have said a few times now that the Leopard 2 is the most detailed tank that we have made. It has far more parts then any other kit we have ever made and this has certainly pushed us. It can be frustrating at times but at the end of the day our products make us proud. Does that mean that we get everything right - certainly not. But it does mean that we want the kits to be the best that we can produce ... within the economic reality of what is feasible.

So, with all that said - we have made the decision to rework the idlers to the correct size.

The new rubber mould was ordered this morning and we will schedule production of the idler wheels by the end of Jan.

Hats off Kian, An expensive, but a very good decision. It shows how much you appreciate your customers!! I´m sure this will settle the issue once and for all!! I´m very much looking forward to lay my hands on the cat! Cheers Peter

[Brian Ostlind]

That’s great news!