Well I’ve finally decided to break out the PSM Leopard 1 Bergepanzer and build it as a Taurus ARV. This a really great kit with high quality parts in it. The only real let down for me is the tracks, these are just garbage in my opinion. Most of the track length have their guide teeth missing from either packaging or shipment. I plan to replace these with HK Creation indy tracks instead. I’ve started to assemble the lower and upper hull and have some gaps to fill in and some minor wrapping.

Awesome!


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cheers

I was thinking of building this along the line of one during the late 80's or early 90's just prior to the mexas being installed. I'm also going to have to scratch build the outrigger on the rear hull but this looks simple enough to build.

I won't want to discourage you but you are going to have to do more than just scratch the outrigger support leg. You will need to create the large circular base for the outrigger leg...this mounts on the left side of the hull and changes the layout of some of the other components on the hull side.

The turret mounted machine gun and mounts also need to be changed to the C6 versions.

A brush guard will need to be added to the grenade dischargers.

The antenna mounts needs to be changed too.

This kit is perfect OOB for one of the two BPZ II ARVs that Canada rented in 1977. (That's my plan!)

Thanks Jason for the heads up, I already knew about the extra changes I had to make. I just don't want to do a rent a tank version. I kind of like the 3 tone camo version which is what I might go for.

Good stuff...good luck!

Chris

If you need photos of one of these beasts, I have lots shoot me a PM, will be happy to help out.

Anthony

Thanks guys for all the help so far. Jim Carswell sent me a CD in the mail awhile back that had tones of walk around photos of that will come in handy for the build.

I do have one question before I join the upper and lower hull. The crane boom operation, does the operator have to control the boom from within the driver's postion or can it also be controlled from the outside with a control box ans cable?

Both ways...from inside or from a remote control and umbilical cord.

How common is it to use the remote control unit?. I have an idea for the build, just don't want it to look out of place.

It was actually very common to use the remote externally except when under fire.

Typically the Vehicle Techs would set up the ARV for pulling packs, lifting hulls or turrets, or any other tasks and dismount and use the remote. It allowed a better view as they could move around on foot to ensure that whatever the boom was lifting or lower was positioned correctly.

What is your idea?

Well I have Tankograds Leopard C1’s in Germany book and there is a small section on the Taurus. It talks about that before the Badger came into service that sometimes the Taurus would be used to help out the engineers at times. The idea is maybe the ARV is being used to help move some bridging equipment into position. Or the other idea is that a front loader drove off the side of the road and went into a gully and the crane is being used to free the vehicle before being winched out. Just some ideas I’m tossing around.

Just a small update. I’ve joined the upper and lower hull and still need to fill in some of the gaps. Before I joined the halves together I built up the shelving in the storage locker that will later have tools in place. I’ve cleaned up the wheels and some of the major parts for assembly. I’ve also scratch built one of the tool bin up on the crane boom. Also here is Mig’s front loader I plan to use along with the Taurus.





I do have two questions, first are their any special tools or what not that is stored in the locker that I have opened?



Second in this photo, what are the cables up on the boom used for?

Knowing Vehicle Techs the extra stowage box was simply used for extra stowage and not any type of specialized equipment or tools. The ARV is pretty self sufficent and all of the kit has a place on it...inside or out. I don't think the boxes were standardized as they appeared to be different sizes.

The cables are to allow a pulled Leopard powerpack to be connected to the powerpackless Leopard and then the powerpack on the ground can be started and run up for testing and repairs....it is fricken loud when that engine revs to high RPMs outside of the tank!

great build so far,very clean build.

Here's a pic for ya.




cheers

This is on my to do list as well. Looking Good! keep posting photos for us.

Well progress has been a bit slow since I have multiple projects going on at the same time. The crane boom is almost done minus adding the cable rigging which I won’t do until I have the boom set at the angle I’m looking for. I’ve finished the small tool box on the boom and made the slave cables for the engine packs from silver solider. The straps for the cables were made from masking tape and the canvas cover for the cannon plugs was made from tin foil. Another item I’ve started working on is the storage bin on the engine deck most seen on Taurus. This is made from sheet plastic and strips and need to sand smooth once dried. I plan to add some gear inside at a latter time.

very clean build, and outstanding work on the cables!

looks like a typical PSM kit...carefully shake the box, out pops a well engineered model!

Thanks Jeff, the only real problems with the kit so far have been the lower, upper and back plate for the hull and some nasty gaps to fill Beyond that, I'm really pleased with it so far and has been worth the money I spent on it.

Nice updates...are you using 31E as a callsign?

Thanks guys for the comments

Yes Jason I'm using the 31echo as the call sign. I'm seen some pictures with call sign boards and some without, so I'm going to using my own interpretation in some areas.

Marcel I'm going to scratch build the outrigger since I bought this kit way before there ever was a release of the A2. Should be pretty easy for me to pull off.

To help you with accuracy tank Squadron ARVS would use the following callsigns....18E, 28E, and 38E...for A, B, and C Squadron. ARVs assigned to a Service Battalion would have a callsign like 42B.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwysaA07p5Q

From a Dutch user:
Somewhere in the above YouTube film, you will see a power pack, connected to the Leopard bergingstank (Dutch for: recovery tank). These so called slave cabbles were used to control the engine from a distance, thus enabling all checks before the engine was installed back in the back of the tank.
We use to do most of the operations from the ARV front 'desk" since from here the operator has the best overview. Most of the lifting activities of an ARV are ralated to a engine change or lifting at other tanks. There are other types of this vehicle, doing field engineering jobs. You will see a different boom and nowadays the latest version has an hydraulic digging arm.
The boxes were used to store our field gear, personel equipment and tons of coca cola tins, canned food ( like the famous indonesian rice or noodles, a very important part of Dutch cuisine (!!!) ), but also extra field beds etc. After 14 days during a rain tempested autumn field exercise in Germany the ARV gets a very cosy atmosphere, being a nice mix of sweat, oil, gasoline, army gear preservation chemicals, indoor egg backing and cooking activities and the unevitable human sounds, tankers are so proud of.