Very nice built. I don't understand this text about slat armor and MCS Barracuda.

I completely bypassed this step as operational leopards do not have these slats fitted, they were fitted during operations in Afghanistan but that was only for a very short period of time, before Canadian forces withdrew in July 2011. Even with these slats fitted in Afghanistan, the tanks were also fitted with the Barracuda MCS (Mobile, multi spectral, Camouflage System _ this system reduces the thermal/heat signature of the tank, also keeps the crew a bit cooler) netting all over the hull and turret. On return to Canada the slats and Barracuda netting were removed and this is how they operate today, so with no barracuda netting supplied in the kit, the 'fit out' is totally inaccurate, and as I wanted to build an accurate 2A4M I have left it off, shame really.

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Very nice built. I don't understand this text about slat armor and MCS Barracuda.

I completely bypassed this step as operational leopards do not have these slats fitted, they were fitted during operations in Afghanistan but that was only for a very short period of time, before Canadian forces withdrew in July 2011. Even with these slats fitted in Afghanistan, the tanks were also fitted with the Barracuda MCS (Mobile, multi spectral, Camouflage System _ this system reduces the thermal/heat signature of the tank, also keeps the crew a bit cooler) netting all over the hull and turret. On return to Canada the slats and Barracuda netting were removed and this is how they operate today, so with no barracuda netting supplied in the kit, the 'fit out' is totally inaccurate, and as I wanted to build an accurate 2A4M I have left it off, shame really.

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Hopefully this helps you out...

Germany- During the development and trials of the Leopard 2A4M CAN at KMW in Germany a single tank was fitted with the slat armour package as shown in the kit. It was only used for testing. When the tank was turned over to the Canadian Army it reverted to the configuration used currently in Canada.

Afghanistan- The five Leopard 2A4M CANs that deployed to Afghanistan were fitted with the slat armour package but they also had the Barracuda MCS panels attached. The slat armour on all five tanks took a beating by the way and all of them had damaged slat sections.

Canada- The Leopard 2A4M CANs in Canada are not fitted with the slat armour package or the Barracuda MCS panels but they do have all of the Velcro patches.

More Canada- The Leopard 2A4M CANs are currently going through upgrades. This includes additional lower front hull towing pintles for mounting a future dozer, mine rollers, and mine plough. The Commander's sight has been upgraded to the PERI-R17 A2. This required a turret top modification to reposition the PERI sight in front of the hatch ring.

Clear as mud?