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Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:59 am
by Armortek
Rear light cluster with coloured transparent inserts - will be able to add indicator and running light LEDs.
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:36 am
by Fabian Bekkers
Hope that front lights will also be with led
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:04 am
by 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
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:49 am
by Armortek
Fabian Bekkers wrote: โWed Jan 03, 2024 9:36 am
Hope that front lights will also be with led
Yes - both the headlights as well as the indicators.
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:51 am
by Armortek
Markus Beer wrote: โWed Jan 03, 2024 11:04 am
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.
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 3:20 pm
by Eric Reinhard1
Armortek wrote: โWed Jan 03, 2024 8:17 am
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. Iโve always looked at Armortek as THE preeminent manufacturer of near museum scale armor models, and would rather see a delay to โget it rightโ than release a model with an obvious scale flaw (unless you plan on producing a correct scale wheel later to ship to customers).
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 4:17 pm
by 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.
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:30 pm
by 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
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:35 pm
by Fabian Bekkers
The shape of the gunbarrel and mounting
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 9:37 am
by 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.
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 10:12 am
by Armortek
Fabian Bekkers wrote: โWed Jan 03, 2024 6:30 pm
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.
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 1:57 pm
by Fabian Bekkers
Thnx for the clarification armortek team
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2024 3:40 pm
by 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.
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2024 4:00 pm
by Peter Quambusch
Armortek wrote: โMon Jan 08, 2024 3:40 pm
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!! Iยดm sure this will settle the issue once and for all!! Iยดm very much looking forward to lay my hands on the cat! Cheers Peter
Re: Leopard 2 Prototype
Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2024 4:35 pm
by Brian Ostlind
Thatโs great news!