I'm looking around at what I want to build for my first real model kit.
I'm thinking of building a CF Leopard, the upgraded version.

What work needs to be done to the Tamiya Leopard 2 A5 to make it the Canadian variant?

Erm, scratch that. I just re-read my info on the C2 . Apparently they are upgraded from old 1s that Germany is selling Canada.

Going to look for a Leopard 1 kit. Any suggestions?

Oh, and any reference suggestions on the Canadian Leopard? Specifically the C2, and also the C1.

Do you have photos of Canadian Leo2? Frankly speaking I thought you had only Leo 1 (used as C2).

Regards,

Michal

Only game in town in 1/35 that I am aware of is the Italeri Leo 1A4. Also Revell of Germany updated the kit to the German Army standard Leo 1A5.

I'm not sure which A* the C2 is made from. It's basically a C1 with a new turret and additional armour. I think it's the german Leopard 1 A5 turret, but am not sure.

My only source currently is www.sfu.ca/casr

here's an image from that site:

Tamiya's Leopard 1 and Leopard 1A4 are to be avoided as should the Heller Leopard 1A4.

Find the Italeri Leopard 1A4, it is one of their best kits they have ever done. It is also packaged in the yellow Testors/Italeri box, this boxing tends to go for next to nothing. As Bob states, Revell of Germany has released an updated variant of this kit (same basic kit with new additions). It will most likely be the more expensive boxing.

Here's another image I found of the upgraded C2:

According to the notes, Canada purchased surplus A5s and based the mods off that.

yes, I believe they didn't change the chassis other then adding armour. Just the turret is from the surplus A5, but I could be wrong as I only have one small source - the afore mentioned www.sfu.ca/casr

As usual, Rob is totally correct. I have built both the Heller and the Italieri and the Italieri is the best, by far. Good detail and fit. In fact, the detail in some cases is so small you have to be careful not to destroy it. The chassis on the Italieri is accurate, too, as the Heller is totally fiction.

The Tamiya kits are crap... at least the Leopard 1 and A4. The 2A5 is a masterpiece and I will be building one soon, as soon as I finish my M47E.

From my source material, Marteinson's Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Illustrated History, the C2 conversions started in 2000. The original C1s were rebuilt with the turrets from surplus German A5's. It looks to me like the armored skirts around the turrets were retained. These are cast-turret tanks, not welded turret ones. I'll be interested to hear how this model comes out; I've been mulling a similar project myself.

Greg

I believe there was an armor upgrade as well. Will look for the book you mentioned, thank you.

Anyone have any sources on modern canadian military equipment, ground mostly, but I may want to build a CF18 one day.

holy crap, Ottawa Public Library has like, 16 copies of that book. I'm putting in a request (because I'm too lazy to look for the 2 copies at my local branch, and would rather them put it on the request shelf for me. Love the online ottawa library page. It's awesome)

Alright, requested that to go along with:
How to paint realistic military figures
The illustrated directory of tanks of the world
Jane's tank & combat vehicle recognition guide

Love my local library

just found this on a website:

Original turret has been replaced with second-hand german Leopard 1A5 turrets uparmoured with MEXAS armour packs and upgraded with the STN Atlas Elektronik EMES-18 Fire Control System.

that's all the site has to say about it. At least we now know the name of the other upgrades, other then the 1A5 turret.

So, basically a C2 is a Leopard 1A5 with MEXAS armour upgrades, and STN Atlas Elektronik EMES-18 Fire Control System. Except it's not a 1A5 chassis.

man, I'm spamming this thread, but as I know of 1 other person making this conversion, and another considering it, I'm sharing what I find.

The Canadian C1 is the Leopard 1A3 chassis with the A5 turret. We kept the old A3 turrets because we had modified them for engineering purposes. Here's a good website.

http://howardhowardfine.com/gizmology/photo/c2conv/c2conv.html

Hello Coyote,
It looks like you found most of the info you need. The C1 is based on the Leopard 1A3 and was modified a couple of times before the C2 program started. The photo of the camouflage uparmoured tank is actually a late C1 with the prototype EXAS armour added. This is what we sent to Kosovo. Use the Italeri Leopard 1A4 to build this one. Trackjam and Maple Leaf Models will be releasing a conversion for the origanal C1 later this year.
The Leopard C2 was originally envisaged as the having the welded turret upgraded to include a Royal Ordnance High pressure 105 gun and TI system. however this wsa deemed to be too expensive so the 1A5 turrets were rebuilt and put on the C1 chassis. There are essentially two variant. The stanadrd C2 looks very much like a 1A5 with the rubber turret armour. the other is the uparmoured version using the MEXAS armour. Use the Revell Leopard 1A5 for this one.

Too bad all of our Leopards are going the way of the scrap yard...... I always appreciated the Canadian C1 and C2 Leopards well over the US's M1s.......don't get me wrong....I like the M1.....but there was just something special about the C1 and C2's......too bad they are going to the boneyard!!!!

I thought the C2 project was designed to extend the lifespan of the leopard for another few years.

fredenburg, thanks for the information. BTW, do you know any resources for the Leopard C and varients that hasn't already been mentioned.

I definately want to get my research straight before starting.

The C2 upgrade was to bring our Leopards up to par with the rest of the world....but the CF has decided to scrap them and go with a light armored fast attack force using LAVs and upgraded 113s call TLAVs or Tracked Light Assault Vehicle....basically a lengthend 113 chassis (one extra road wheel), and a turret with a 50 cal and a 40mm grenade launcher.

Too bad they didn't put the 25mm turret off of the LAV like they they were thinking!!!

The Leopards aren't being scrapped, just mothballed for the most part. Wait a year and see what the new regie in Ottawa decides. I think the tanks will be around a bit longer.

Scrapped, mothballed....same thing in the CF....once the go mothballed......they are pretty much gone....

But I agree....maybe a new minister, hell...possibly a new government....and it could all change in the blink of an eye.....would be ashamed to get rid of the beasts!!!

Well, on the up side, if they get mothballed it'll probably be easier to find one at the new National War Museum and take reference photos.

As for going from LAVs and TLAVs. It definately makes more sense to have them. Our current peacekeeping role makes them less necessary

I just wish we could get some Strykers. 105mm turret wouldn't hurt one bit. Plus GM Canada is already tooled up to build them.

The LAV III is a STRYKER (or if you wish a STRYKER is a LAV III)except with a 25mm chain gun on a DELCO turret. The 105 version may well arrive later on.

Yeah Fredenburg is right...the Stryker is just a modified LAVIII. GM Canada is supposed to be the sole provider for these AFVs as well.....they have been churning them out a pretty quick rate, as they supply the CF with LAVIIIs, as well as the Austrailian military as well as the LAV for the US Marines, and the Stryker.....take a look at GM Canada's web site sometime...they have a good menu on vehicles and weapons that they make.

Some of the weapon systems are pretty cool, for the LAVIII/Stryker series there are 25mm, 30mm, and 35mm turrets, as well as the 105mm gun, also there is the optional add on AT missiles for the 23/30/35mm turrets...it places an AT missile on either side of the turret...similar to the Bradleys.....but instead of 2 in a box on one side...there is just one tube on each side. They also have a 4 AT missile tube manless turret for the LAVIII/Stryker series, basically the 4 missiles is in a turret that can raise over 6 meters in the air.....the turret has all the necessary optics for aiming and such...so the crew can stay safely hidden under cover in the hull, and only the small missile turret is exposed.....pretty ingenious!!!!

Scott, Scott, Scott,

We have had this discussion before.... The Leopards may be "mothballed" but that I don't think will happen for a while yet. gone are the days the Regt's conducted large scale ex's in Gagtown but some of the Sqdns out west are still doing them such as during Prairie Ram.
"Mothballed" has a more polite term here in the forces.... we call it "War Stocked". Either way... if you want new kit too look at and better pay for your Forces members vote Tory in the next election!

Cheers!