PSM/HB Leopard 2A6M CAN w/ Barracuda
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 06:24 AM UTC
For Christmas, I received the Perfect Scale Modelbau resin update set for the Hobbyboss Leopard 2A6M. It includes a resin hull and turret featuring Barracuda MCS.
Turret
Resin Hull mated with kit hull bottom. Only issue was a small gap at the rear filled with a styrene strip
Here is the bottom hull with Eduard PE to correct the rear lower hull which on the kit is actually from the Strv. 122. I just noticed the PE part for the tow cables is crooked. Will fix that tonight
Rear of hull. The nasty airbubbles have been corrected with Apoxie Sculpt, spit and some small tools
Front of Hull with turret on. The turret is not glued together. Just a quick dryfit test run. There is a problem here, which comes from the Hobbyboss Leopard. The turret sits too low, so if it traverses to the right , the drivers hatch blocks it from mooving. Looks like the slat on the rear of the turret will also be too low. Not sure yet on what I am going to do to fix it.
Here is the rear of the turret. I circled a possible clearance issue here, but that might go away once the turret is actually glued together
Last isjust a shot of the dry-fit turret on the hull
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 07:00 AM UTC
I broke down and ordered the Mine Roller too. I thought I remembered someone saying it was missing something....does anyone know anything about it? thanks
Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 08:45 AM UTC
Thanks for posting the images and for discussing what you have discovered. I am in the process of doing a detailed review of the PSM conversion and you are confirming what I am coming across as I go through the parts. All of the issues are fixable and most have been created by the original engineering and design of the Hobby Boss kit. The cast Barracuda is very impressive.
I have the mineroller set and will be going through it soon as well....standby for details.
"We're not the public service of Canada, we're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."
July 2005- General R.J. Hillier (Retired), Former Chief of the Defence Staff
Newfoundland, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2007
KitMaker: 473 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 08:47 AM UTC
Jason to solve the clearence of the turret with almost all the Leopard kits on the market you have to raise the engine deck near the turret ring. To do this I use a tubular peice of plastic cut about 1mm longer then the distance from the hull bottom and the deck. Then wedge it in and glue it in place as close to the turret ring as possible. What this does is lifts the turret ring to a higher point. Works every time.
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 09:07 AM UTC
I am not sure that will work with the resin hull though. It is fairly thick and ridgid. I was thinking about a thin shim on the hull turret ring...not so thick that it is noticeable but help raise the profile a little. I will remember that for the other non-Barracuda Leo I have started.
Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 28, 2006
KitMaker: 2,672 posts
Armorama: 2,475 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 09:28 AM UTC
I can imagine that if PSM used the flawed HB Leo to make their master with it would have the same issues. That's too bad as it will even harder to straighten the resin hull as Jason has mentioned.
I will be following this thread as would like to get this conversion.
cheers
One of the serious problems in planning against Canadian doctrine is that the Canadians do not read their manuals, nor do they feel any obligations to follow their doctrine.
---From a Russian document
------------------------------------------------
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 09:36 AM UTC
I thought about using a hairdryer to warm the resin and then try Chris's trick. I am paranoid about ruining the resin hull though. We shall see which side wins....accuracy or fear of throwing $100 down the toilet!
Georgia, United States
Joined: December 12, 2007
KitMaker: 309 posts
Armorama: 288 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 10:49 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I am not sure that will work with the resin hull though. It is fairly thick and ridgid. I was thinking about a thin shim on the hull turret ring...not so thick that it is noticeable but help raise the profile a little. I will remember that for the other non-Barracuda Leo I have started.
After reading this I pulled mine out and checked; while the glacis is indeed rigid, the engine deck does give a bit, so Chris' suggestion just might work (I know it does for the Tamiya plastic kit
). I have the PSM kit in hand, but am still awaiting the HB donor kit so I can't verify if the following suggestion would work, but if Chris' idea doesn't work, how about thinning the retaining tab on the sleeve that mates the turret with the opening in the hull and raise the turret up in the opening that way?
Georgia, United States
Joined: December 12, 2007
KitMaker: 309 posts
Armorama: 288 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 10:52 AM UTC
Quoted Text
The cast Barracuda is very impressive.
It is indeed impressive, and as I stated in one of the other PSM Leo Barracuda threads I would love to see Gerold do a Barracuda conversion for either the Tamiya or Trumpy Challenger 2.
Newfoundland, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2007
KitMaker: 473 posts
Armorama: 467 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 11:33 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I can imagine that if PSM used the flawed HB Leo to make their master with it would have the same issues. That's too bad as it will even harder to straighten the resin hull as Jason has mentioned.
I will be following this thread as would like to get this conversion.
cheers
Rick the Tamiya Leo and the HB leo kits have the same problem.
Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 28, 2006
KitMaker: 2,672 posts
Armorama: 2,475 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 12:13 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
I can imagine that if PSM used the flawed HB Leo to make their master with it would have the same issues. That's too bad as it will even harder to straighten the resin hull as Jason has mentioned.
I will be following this thread as would like to get this conversion.
cheers
Yes, but the plastic hulls are easier to repair then the resin ones. I'm not saying it can't be overcome, just a bit more work.
cheers
One of the serious problems in planning against Canadian doctrine is that the Canadians do not read their manuals, nor do they feel any obligations to follow their doctrine.
---From a Russian document
------------------------------------------------
Roma, Italy
Joined: April 15, 2010
KitMaker: 163 posts
Armorama: 86 posts
Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 - 02:29 AM UTC
Jason,
as mentioned in my PM's, thanks for sharing all of this with us as it will prove very valuable when I will be assembling the kit.
Keep up the great work and I also look forward to the LeoCmdr review of the set to point out other areas that will require attention.
For those of you that may be interested, besides the HB kit intended as basis, I also own a Tamiya Leo 2A6 kit, as such I offer, if needed, to check the fit of these donor parts with the conversion in object (though I will open another thread for it as I do not want to interfere with Jason's work). Beware it may require some time as I am neither the best nor the fastest modeller...
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
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Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 - 04:09 AM UTC
I was feeling uninspired last night and spent about 3 hours cutting, cleaning and assembling Bronco's Leopard 2 workable tracks. The look nice and after a few, you get into a rythem. They are delicate and a little difficult to clean up the attachment points on the connector pieces. I use sprue nippers on the part with the guide horn as cutting with a knife puts too much pressure on the ends and can cause them to break.
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
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Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2011 - 05:51 AM UTC
Good news- I tried the suggested methong for fixing the clearance problem before going drastic and it works. I just cut two pieces of brass tubing and put them under the front and back of the ring and it (barely) allows the turret to turn without interference. Thanks for the suggestion....I love when it turns out easy!!
Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 28, 2006
KitMaker: 2,672 posts
Armorama: 2,475 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2011 - 07:43 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Good news- I tried the suggested methong for fixing the clearance problem before going drastic and it works. I just cut two pieces of brass tubing and put them under the front and back of the ring and it (barely) allows the turret to turn without interference. Thanks for the suggestion....I love when it turns out easy!!
Glad you got it to work out. So i'm assuming that the brass tubes are placed vertical between the floor and the hull top?
cheers
One of the serious problems in planning against Canadian doctrine is that the Canadians do not read their manuals, nor do they feel any obligations to follow their doctrine.
---From a Russian document
------------------------------------------------
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2011 - 08:41 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Good news- I tried the suggested methong for fixing the clearance problem before going drastic and it works. I just cut two pieces of brass tubing and put them under the front and back of the ring and it (barely) allows the turret to turn without interference. Thanks for the suggestion....I love when it turns out easy!!
Glad you got it to work out. So i'm assuming that the brass tubes are placed vertical between the floor and the hull top?
cheers
Exactly. I will try to get some pictures today
Praha, Czech Republic
Joined: April 03, 2006
KitMaker: 2,450 posts
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Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2011 - 08:42 AM UTC
Jason
I agree with Chris. This problem have HB and Tamiya. I think that for resin producer must add stiffener (rib). I still don't see detail of barracuda. Can you detail with Macro?
Miloslav
Hope you like it and "watch those negative waves"
Georgia, United States
Joined: December 12, 2007
KitMaker: 309 posts
Armorama: 288 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2011 - 09:05 AM UTC
Glad you got it worked out, Jason; only problem I've found with mine thus far is I'm going to have to return one of the turret baskets for replacement, because it apparently didn't form right in the mold and one of the corners didn't fully form
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
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Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2011 - 09:22 AM UTC
Speaking of turret baskets, did you consider how you were going to assemble them? The side frames are modeled in with the resin, but there is no mesh detail. The mesh is supposed to be between the framing bars and the barracuda. The only two choices I can think of is either cutting the PE Mesh and piecing it between the resin frames or stowage
Ontario, Canada
Joined: August 05, 2003
KitMaker: 1,698 posts
Armorama: 1,563 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2011 - 09:39 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I was thinking about a thin shim on the hull turret ring...not so thick that it is noticeable but help raise the profile a little. .
That's what I've done in the past. Some .020-.030, and use an olfa circle cutter to cut a pair of concentric circles to give a 'washer' to glue in. Unless someone brings out the calipers, they won't notice the raised turret.
Why plan when you can react?
Georgia, United States
Joined: December 12, 2007
KitMaker: 309 posts
Armorama: 288 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2011 - 09:42 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Speaking of turret baskets, did you consider how you were going to assemble them? The side frames are modeled in with the resin, but there is no mesh detail. The mesh is supposed to be between the framing bars and the barracuda. The only two choices I can think of is either cutting the PE Mesh and piecing it between the resin frames or stowage
I was planning on going the stowage route myself.
Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2011 - 10:48 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Speaking of turret baskets, did you consider how you were going to assemble them? The side frames are modeled in with the resin, but there is no mesh detail. The mesh is supposed to be between the framing bars and the barracuda. The only two choices I can think of is either cutting the PE Mesh and piecing it between the resin frames or stowage
I was planning on going the stowage route myself.
There is actually mesh cast in with the frames and Barracuda. On mine most of it is not visible and was covered over during the casting but there is still small pockets of mesh. I don't think this was an oversight....just the limitations of casting the Barracuda, the frame, and the mesh all together.
Stowage is for sure the way to go.....some cardboard cases of water, water bottles, and a few little rags or small bags and it will be fine.
"We're not the public service of Canada, we're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."
July 2005- General R.J. Hillier (Retired), Former Chief of the Defence Staff
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 09, 2011 - 03:22 PM UTC
Miloslav..I will get some better pics up soon
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 13, 2011 - 03:28 PM UTC
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 13, 2011 - 03:33 PM UTC
Just a quick update. My good camera isn't cooperating so these are from my Droid. I hope to have that issue corrected soon
THe kit is going together fairy well. There are some gaps in the resin parts that need corrected. You can see two of the gams in the second picture above on the spaced armor on the turret. Also, I am wishing that I spent the extra $50 on PSM's detail set so I could replace some of the under detailed and wrong Hobbyboss parts. First up was the smoke grenade launchers. Hobbyboss has simplified launchers, so I ordered a set from Voyager. They came and I discovered there is only enough for one side. Ordered another, which showed up today. I started assembling them andkept thinking wasn't looking right so I jumped on Prime Portal and discovered that the"holders" for each launcher don't have the "kink" in it. I am in thr process of fixing that. Onto the rack they sit on, which looks wrong. I;ll have to post some pictures of that when the camera cooperates.
