Hi Olivier,
thanks for the compliments. The job would be even better if I hadn't a deadline to meet (September is not that far away ...).
So now I have to work a little bit more on my Leopard to complete the interior parts of her hull that miss me and then dedicate me at the outside, so as to color it and close it as soon as possible (a thought less).
After, I will dedicate to the tower (I will have to reproduce the part of the interior that are visible from the commander's hatch and modify also his outside). I hope that this will be a job a little easier.
Finally, I shall return to Bergepanzer (every time I see him I get the shivers ...).
As you can see, I have to run...
(I wonder me if I can go yet a few more times to fish the trouts before september...? I don't know...) ;o(((
Gianfranco

Hi Craig,
thanks for the compliments. I hope that the rest of my work will like to you and to the friends of Armorama.
At the next time.
Gianfranco

Incredible scratch work!!!

Regards,

Hi Vladimir,
thanks for the compliments, but it is not over yet ... indeed ...
Now I have to work on the basket of the tower of my Leopard and play all those details that you can see thru the hatches open and then stick with his engine and, finally, to end also the Bergepanzer.
As someone has already said: "So many plastic (and resin) and so little time ...".
Greetings
Gianfranco

Hello guys,
I'm perfecting the turret basket and now I have the problem of bending the copper tubing with which I am realizing their supports with the turret.
The folding of these supports is quite complex and this complicates a lot the work that I do. I have chosen the copper to make them because it is the material more ductile and stable during bending, unlike the plasticard that, instead, it breaks easily and does not retain the bending.
But it is very easy to deform it while it bends, and those deformations are besides very difficult to eliminate after.

Now I think I've found one solution, or at least I hope, so I can continue with the work.
Is there anyone of friends of Armorama that has any other solution to bend the plasticard well and without distortion?
I am ready for any solution ... Thanks for any advice even now.
Greetings - Gianfranco

For things like turret baskets I use rod instead of tubing since as you say tubing will collapse when bent. I have always used brass but copper would likely be easier to work with. Is fine brass rod available where you live?

You can bend plastic rod evenly around a hard form. If you can find a metal cylinder of the right size, use a very tiny bit of extra-thin ca glue and wrap the rod around the cylinder. If you are too cautious about using glue on it, hold the rod in place, around the cylinder and heat it with a blow-dryer. You will likely have to glue the ends together, but there should not be any warping.

Hi Mark,
thanks for your kind cooperation. Also I'm of the opinion to use the rods in place of the pipes, but so, because I having to put many sections and because these will be of good thickness, the structure would become very heavy. That's why I decided to use the tubes (with all the problems they pose to be bended ...).
It's true that the copper is more ductile than brass, but it's also just as easy to be deformed (qualities and defects ...).
From me, it's quite easy to find the tubes or the rods of copper and/or brass, but it's very hard to find them "calibrated" for each requirement, so, every time someone have to use a profile with measures a little "strange", they must settle for compromises.
... and that's my case ...
Then I'll let you know.
Best regards
Gianfranco

Hi Matt,
thanks to you for your kind cooperation. I already used the system to bend - with hot or with the glue for super-plastic fluid (Tamiya green cap) - the profiles of plasticard on a suitable form, but in my case the folds are more than one, on the same piece, and in different directions and amplitudes.
Furthermore, tubes/rods are of good thickness (at least 3.5 / 4 mm) and this makes the task even more difficult.
Now I post you here an image of the work who I would like to do (thanks at the kind collaboration of Andreas Kirchhoff, a German friend who I met through Armorama, and that's sending me a lot of interesting photos, vitals for my work).



The results I got were not too good, and that's who I decided, as I have already said to Mark above, for the use of brass tubing instead of plasticard rods or bars of copper, both for better ease of bending, both to reduce the weight of the structure.
However, I am sure I have found a good solution to my problem, who I will to experiment with today. If it would to be positive, I will show it on this forum with photos.
But this will happen certainly next week, because I have to accompany my mother-in-law at his home in Foggia, and my wife and I we'll be a week from her (a bit of relaxation sometimes it is necessary... but don't worry that I will carry also the "work " to do in the most extreme idleness breaks ... ).
Best regards
Gianfranco

I see, now. I was under the impression that you were trying to form the diameter of the turret basket.

Hi Matt,
no, that's not a problem for me because I have just realized the ring of the floor of the turret basket. The real now problem is the realization of their main supports from the basket at the turret.
Their forms are very complex, because there are the bendings of these from the base to the ring, then the bendings from the ring of the floor to the turret (who are a little to the outside before and then back inside when these are near the top). At this also is need to add two additional laterals bendings to increase their amplitude before being fixed to the turret.
A forms very complex... a challenge very interesting... a solution very difficult... but not impossible, I hope... maybe...
The solution which i will to do, I will show on Armorama only the next week, because my wife and I will bring my mother-in-law at her home in Foggia.
Many thanks for your help, very appreciate.
Best regards
Gianfranco

Un lavoro straordinario Gianfranco

Sono davvero ammirato dalla tua bravura

Caro Mario,
grazie per i complimenti ma ti assicuro che se non avessi la scadenza di settembre il mio lavoro sarebbe ancora più preciso, così invece mi tocca correre come un matto se voglio riuscire ad esporlo - naturalmente fuori concorso - a Bellinzago.
Anch'io ammiro moltissimo i tuoi lavori, che non vedo l'ora di gustarmi su Armorama.
Dai, datti da fare! Il modellismo non aspetta...
Un caro saluto
Gianfranco

After working on the Bergepanzer, I also continued work on my Leopard because I don’t wanna stay too late on the program of my works.
In particular, I corrected the dashboard of the driver, who it was too big, filing it with care and reducing it to the correct dimensions.
Thereafter, I worked on the inside of the compartment of combat, and I made the central torsion bars with some details.
Then, I made both the tower's basket, both the reserve of the shots housed in the hull.
But now, I have to interrupt my work for any family commitments, which will keep me and my family busy for at least a week (but I will continue to work on this project ... slowly, slowly but surely).




I unplugged the old dashboard and I replaced it with a new one who I have just been printed in resin which I corrected filing down it in correct size.
I also moved the vertical column who you see near the emergency exit hatch in the right location, because I placed it before too at the center of the hull (I checked better position comparing it with various images just received and clearer than those used before. Thereafter, I have built the torsion bars, completing them with the bushings of the bearings and with the small carter who protect them, also building the center bar of stiffening of the floor of the hull (with the relative welding to the wall of the hull).




I then I have dedicated my time to building the basket of the tower, employing some images and comparing the result with these. This way of working is not the best for accuracy and speed, but if you miss the drawings and construction plans, it's the only method that allows to realize all the necessary details, but with many inaccuracies and compromises.
The trap door that I cutted in the floor allows to the loader the access to the floor of the hull, on which are fixed some containers containing boxes of ammunition for the machine guns (very similar to the one you see on the right, but placed them horizontally).
The image is distorted by the perspective, who that makes seem the top of plate seem smaller than the lower one, but if you count the squares of the anti-slip grid, you will notice that instead are equal.
The holes that are seen at the ends of the horizontal stiffening plate of the floor, are the openings from which exits the pair of two main supports, that join the basket to the turret (these holes are a little too large because I have tried very any few solutions to realize these supports correctly, so they too are widened. But this is a defect that will correct at the appropriate time).




The biggest problem, has been that to realize the reserve of ammunition in the hull, which took me a big effort.
In fact, to realize the rack of tubes that contain the blows from 105/51, I used many brass tubes of 4 mm in diameter, and that they are correct referred in diameter in scale as in reality (the shells of the blows are approximately 142 mm wide at their base, a measure which in 1:35 scale are precisely 4 mm in diameter).
The rack must contain 8 rows of 5 tubes each, for a total of 40 strokes, and it measures 32 mm in width to scale, plus 2 mm for the bulkheads of sheet metal that separate columns in pairs of tubes.
But the available width inside the hull of the model is only 31 mm (the walls of the shell of the hull are too thick and I can not move the details of the cockpit, otherwise this would be even more wrong).
So I decided to use the tubes of 3.5 mm in diameter who, with the help of my friend Andreas Kirchhoff, I found and ordered, otherwise the alternative is to build a rack of 7 columns instead of eight .
Ahhhh ... the compromises ... how I hate them!




I have tried to make a rack of 7 columns with tubes of 4 mm., but I did it too straight, rather than arched. The new rack however will be correct.
The last column has been cut to allow the positioning of the rack in the hull.
Here's the result.




Another front view of the rack.
In particular, I made the blocks of the bottom shells of the shots and the springs for their ejection with small sections of plasticard rod, crushed and shaped on their heads with pliers. They are a little too big, but this is only a test ...




Here is a top view of the entire block inside the hull.
Unfortunately I had to accept this compromise in the name of the adherence to reality ... but only for now and waiting to try out the rack with tubes of 3.5 mm in diameter.




Another overall view of the hull with also the upper part of the armor. The view of the whole, however, at the end is not so bad ... maybe...

Now it's very late for me, and tomorrow I've to go away soon. Just over a week and I will return with more details of my tanks, that I will submit to the judgment of the experts friends of Armorama.
We feel older.
Best regards
Gianfranco

The rack reminds me of my very well-endowed girlfriend in high school. Very nice work. I don't have the kahones to try that level of scratchbuilding.

Hi Matt,
Thank you for the appreciation of my work you do, but I assure you that anyone with a little more effort - and, above all, with the just and complete documentation - may well reach much better results than mine.
Unfortunately, for the lack of good dimensional drawings, in my case I have to work hard and only to successive approximations.
So, I glue the particular before, on the basis of the first images, then maybe I get a better image of the particular - now more times thanks to contacts made with Armorama - and so I have to detach and paste again, then maybe I still think about it and so then I have to detach and paste more again, maybe even in the same position as before...
This isn't a good method to work, just like the old fire of artillery, before the introduction of good computers, made with the "Adjustment for subsequent shots" ...
"Extend 200 ..." - "Shorten 100 ..." - "Extend 50 ..." - "Fire of efficacy!"
But this is also the modelism... "Extend 2 mm..." - "Shorten 1 mm ..." - "Extend .5 mm ..." - "Glue of efficacy!"
Cheers
Gianfranco
PS: how did my rack to make you remember your girlfriend in high school? Also I remember my first girlfriend, but for other things ...

Were I you, sir, I'd not be to worried about needed compromise...it would suprise me to find that there are many who know how many ammo sleeves there are in a Leopard. I surely did not. Probably you have heard of Shep Paine who grew to fame in certian circles in the seventies. One thing he said that will stay with me forever is that you do not have to be exact, just close. Your builds are nothing short of first rate and I would be proud if I could do half as well as you have.

Gianfranco,
I wonder where you will find the courage to close that hull, once finished...

Beppe

Congratulations Gianfranco !

Amazing job. Some time ago I visited a military base here in Brasil and could see our Leo. As I can remember, your scratch is really good.
I'll stay tune.
Marco

Hi Mark, sorry for the delay in responding, but I am just returned from 15 days at home of my mother-in-law ... and no internet!
I thank you and Sheperd Paine - who I deem to be one of the best modelers in the world - for the moral comfort to my problem but I, like every old soldier, I cannot stand the compromises.
Also, I know well the world of competitions of the modelers, where they circulate many people who, to prove themselves better than everyone, they memorize all of the bolts they are in any mechanism of any tank - and what type are they - this not for the passion for the precision, but only to create embarass, with treacherous questions, to whoever it is damned to build something decent.
Even if I'll attend in a concours in september near the seat of my old Unit with my model out of competition, I still don't want to be criticized by those awful people.
So I'm sure I'll find a good solution to my problem ... without compromise! (I already have a good idea ...).
Best regards - Gianfranco

Hi Beppe, but this is just a "training" for me ... the beautiful will come later ... I have in mind a new project, really pretty good, for next year ... You'll see!
Salutissimi - Gianfranco
PS: the turret will not be glued, so you can remove it to see the inside of the hull (but only for friends and true connoisseurs).
See you in Bellinzago

Hi Marco, thanks for the compliments. I love working on the interior of my models and for that I inform myself as best I can and for this I study all books and publications on the subject that I can find.
If you find some pictures of Leopard in service to your country, you can send them to me, so I can expand my collection of images of Leopard in service in the world. If you want to receive some images of Italian Leopard tanks, I'll be happy to sending them to you.
Best regards - Gianfranco

Gianfranco

The attention to detail is fantastic, great work.

Anthony

Hi Gianfranco !

Just give me some time because the pics are really old and I will need digitalize it. I will do this as soon as I can.

Best regards !

Marco

Thanks Anthony,
but for me the attention to detail is a professional deformation (as any good old soldier ...).
I hope that the remaining work that I will further be appreciated ... But only now beginning on the hard work: the engine! I will have to self build it entirely from scratch ... and will not be an easy thing.
But, as they say: "when the play gets tough, the toughs start to play" ...
Cheers - Gianfranco