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My Heller LeClerc
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: April 21, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 09:34 PM UTC
Well, I just started the Giat LeClerc from Heller. This is going to be a monster kit. I got the Eduard PE set and plan on using as much as possible of it. I have the lower hull and most of the upper hull completed. I have posted some pics of the beginning stages.

My LeClerc

stugiiif
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 10:04 PM UTC
Is this kit as bad everyone says? I would like to know. I'm developing a thing for modern armour. Maybe place next to my M1A1 and Chally 2. Nah, need actual combat vehicles STUG
Armour66
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Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 10:34 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Is this kit as bad everyone says? I would like to know. I'm developing a thing for modern armour. Maybe place next to my M1A1 and Chally 2. Nah, need actual combat vehicles STUG


Well, I am not sure about what everyone else is saying but this kit can be made into a beautiful thing. I have had some fit problems with the front fenders but everything else so far is pretty minor, IMHO. I'll keep you posted as the build goes on.
Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
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Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 11:59 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Is this kit as bad everyone says? I would like to know. I'm developing a thing for modern armour. Maybe place next to my M1A1 and Chally 2.


I suggest you wait for new Heller Leclerc kit, which they announced for this year release. It is supposed to be current production standard tank, not early production/prototype variant as in earlier kit. And there is always a hope that they will improve things a bit. For me the worst parts in Heller kit were tracks and ridiculously designed clear parts. Chris has the worst part of construction of this model still ahead of him - the turret...

Rgds,
Pawel
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Monday, February 09, 2004 - 02:12 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Chris has the worst part of construction of this model still ahead of him - the turret...

Rgds,
Pawel


Awwww.....Pawel, you ruined it for me. I was waiting to see what the worst part would be. :-)
Just kidding. But you are right, the turret is shaping up to be a big load of crap. The detail is very bulky and yet the detail is soft. I decided to do this kit just to work on using PE and weathering. I am thinking that I will do a desert camo scheme, even thought I KNOW that this tank did not see any desert action. I just want to see what it would look like.
keenan
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Indiana, United States
Joined: October 16, 2002
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Posted: Monday, February 09, 2004 - 02:23 AM UTC
Armour66,
I think there is a great place for your desert cammo LeClerc over in the T2K2004 campaign thread. Go check it out. Great campaign...

Shaun

T2K2004
stugiiif
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Monday, February 09, 2004 - 02:24 AM UTC
Pawel, I think I'll wait for the reveiws before I do anything on the Le Clerc. I'm put off on spending even more money on an update/correction set, It's the reason why I waited to see if Trumpeter retooled the Chally 2 before I opted for the plastic kit instead of going for the massive cash flow destoying resin version from AA. though I might go with their update for the AS90. Have a pic of a .55 cal Braveheart waiting to be loaded on a transport that's just dieing to be done.
Back to the topic how is the Blast conversion for the Heller kit? Is it worth the money?
STUG
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Monday, February 09, 2004 - 02:32 AM UTC
What is the T2K2004 build about. I am not up on that one?
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Monday, February 09, 2004 - 05:38 AM UTC
You are so right, Pawel. THe turret is a monster. Just adding the PE is giving me a headache.
Kelley
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Monday, February 09, 2004 - 09:16 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Back to the topic how is the Blast conversion for the Heller kit? Is it worth the money?


Stug,
Unfortunately the Blast update set is for the Revell 1/72 Leclerc. Maybe Heller will get it right this time (that's a big maybe). I have the same kit Armour66 is building and the hull is not bad, but as has already been stated the turret is a royal pain in the arse. If you really want to build some nice modern kits try the Tamiya Leo 2A5, or the Type 90. both are excellent builds, with or without any added PE. I'm currently working on the Type 90 and though not as well known as many other modern tanks I think it looks pretty cool. Of course Tamiya has also announced the release of the Leo 2A6, which will probably have all the parts included for the A5 and some extra for the A6.

Cheers,
Mike
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Monday, February 09, 2004 - 11:14 PM UTC
I am back with more pics of the build. You can see them at my website, My LeClerc

Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
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Posted: Monday, February 09, 2004 - 11:22 PM UTC
It looks that Eduard PE set really makes a difference. Keep posting those photos - great job so far!

Best Regards,
Pawel
stugiiif
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 12:24 AM UTC
Chris, it looks to be coming along well. I have to agree that the periscopes look bad, you might try scratchbuilding them for a better fit. Pawel was right though the PE does improve that turret!!! STUG
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 03:42 AM UTC
Pawel...Steve...coming from you guys... I'm gettin g all mistied eyed. Naw, seriously. I appreciate it. I already assembled the periscopes...is there anyway to fix them?
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 04:12 AM UTC
More pics....feedback anyone?

My LeClerc

Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 07:38 PM UTC
I got the basecoat on the hull and turret done. These tracks look scarry
stugiiif
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 07:49 PM UTC
Chris my suggestion would be to use filler and sand them to shape, then do the old paint trick silver followed by clear blur to give the inspression that there is depth to the periscopes. Now pics of this tank base coated would be great!!! Where are they? STUG
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 09:26 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Chris my suggestion would be to use filler and sand them to shape, then do the old paint trick silver followed by clear blur to give the inspression that there is depth to the periscopes.


I think that I will give that a try. I filled in the areas around the periscopes with putty and sheet styrene and sand and filed and sanded and filed some more. Finally got a satifactory result. I guess I'll use the method you described to paint the periscopes.


Quoted Text

Now pics of this tank base coated would be great!!! Where are they? STUG


Well, my wife has been painting the inside of our house and I got on a kick to completely clean and rearrange my Basement/Hobby Room/Office/Safe haven from the Devil Woman (the wifey ). After that I will get the digital back out and get some pics up.
penpen
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Hauts-de-Seine, France
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Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 09:49 PM UTC
You've done some great work so far ! I realy like the look of it.
The real tank is covered with anti-skid surface. Are you going to represent it ?
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:06 PM UTC

Quoted Text

You've done some great work so far ! I realy like the look of it.
The real tank is covered with anti-skid surface. Are you going to represent it ?


Thanks for the compliment. The kit already has some of the anti-skid molded on. Once I get into the final stages you should be able to see better.
Alpenflage
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Massachusetts, United States
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Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 09:37 AM UTC
Looks great so far. That Eduard PE set sure went to good use ! Blast Models has a few updates for this kit. I beleive Minimeca has a barrel for the LeClerc, but not sure.

Can't wait to see this all camo'ed up !!

Cheers !!

Robert

SEMPER FI, MARINE !
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 01:19 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Can't wait to see this all camo'ed up !!

Cheers !!

Robert

SEMPER FI, MARINE !


Thanks for the kind words, Robert, but I am not doing this model in a regular camo scheme. Being in that this hobby of ours lets us use our imagination, I have decided to do this LeClerc in a desert scheme. Now i know that the "true to canon" modelers out there are screaming, "THIS TANK WAS NEVER IN THE DESERT!", I know that and the reason I am doing this is simple....because I can. I wanted to see what it would look like. On the other hand, I have another one of these kits and will do it in a normal woodland camo pattern. I have the pics of the preshading done and I will post them later tonight. Once again thanks and stay tuned.
penpen
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Hauts-de-Seine, France
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Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 11:21 PM UTC
The leclerc has never seen the desert, you think ? he he he... you're gonna be happy, because many leclerc tanks live in the desert !
France has exported the leclerc to the united arab Emirates ! And you can bet that these tanks are operated in the desert !
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 12:26 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The leclerc has never seen the desert, you think ? he he he... you're gonna be happy, because many leclerc tanks live in the desert !
France has exported the leclerc to the united arab Emirates ! And you can bet that these tanks are operated in the desert !


penpen, I did not know that about the LeClercs. oh well, so much for angering the modeling gods.
stugiiif
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 12:45 AM UTC
Interesting, never new they Export LeClercs. I wonder if there any pics of the in operation.

Chris any pics yet??? got to see how you fixed those periscopes. STUG
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