G'day everyone,
Here is the next commission job I'm doing. As the title says, its an Australian Leopard AS1A4. It is the Troop leaders Tank from 3 Troop, A Sqn, 1 Armoured Regiment circa Late 1980's - early 90's at Pukka.
The Base kit is Tamiya, with the Armour Bits conversion. A little bit of scratch buliding here and there, and the conversion is complete. The only thing left to do is the stowage (mostly scratch) for the turret basket and tow cables.
The black leopard head seen on all 1Armd tanks come from The Quatermaster Depo
All other marking will be home made stencils.
I would post the photos my customer gave me for referance, but I carn't find them sorry.
The last pic here in this thread I modified from the pdf drawings by Barry Beldam. Thanks for letting me use the pic Barry.

Any comments would be taken on board.

Cheers Jason

I thought all the AS1s had two baskets. I see I'll have to look again at the rear basket mount as that is a good sturdy mount you have built.

Did you scratch build the wind sensor cage? I like what you've done with the wind sensor guard as the PE is too flat.

Please shed some light on what you did to detail the canvas mantlet cover. Is that Milliput?

Paul

G'day Paul,
The single turret basket is in one of the photo’s my customer gave me. He also gave me other photo’s
showing the troop lined up on the range and most of the tanks only have one basket and two jerry can
mounts. The Barbarossa Book "Leopard 1 Vol 3 Foreign Use", also has photos from this period where
some of the tanks have 2 baskets and I have in my own photo collection tanks with one basket that
extends the whole length of the turret rear. The photos I have also show the strip steel used on this tank to reinforce the basket.

The wind sensor is scratch built (turned from a old paintbrush handle) as is the brush guard. I still have a few more things to add to the wind sensor. The PE in the kit was more or less used as a template to construct the guard from plastic rod.

The canvas cover on the mantelet is none other than a face wipe from KFC. Cut to size, dipped in watered down white glue placed on the kit to dry.

The white looking things next to the crew commanders hole are the gunnery flags. Over the next few days I will photo the stowage as well.

Cheers Jason

Fine looking CAT. Love the extra scratch parts you've added. Plastic & Brass rod is much better than PE.
The mantlet cvr was a good addition. LOOKS GREAT
so far keep up the great work.

G'day Todd,
Thanks for the comments mate. There still could be a lot more added to it as well.
Thanks again.
Jason
PS Great last name you have.

Really nice work Jason - has this one been to the paint booth yet?

G'day Storm,
Yes this has now been painted and weathered. I will post up a few shots once it is finished.

Cheers Jason

hey how did you go with that leo jace? no sight of the updated pics hehehehe catch you round!

G'day Jase,
Here are the latest photos.
There is still a fair bit of work to do, but the ASLAV has taken over priority at the moment.

Cheers Jason Miller

Looks nice especially considering that it's the Tamiya kit. I thought the dust would be a little more red.

Is that a propane tank in the back of the turret?

Paul

Nice work Jason!
I have one of these in the stash about 2/3 built. Seeing this is compelling me to dig it out and finally finish it.

G'day Paul,
From memory there is not a lot of red dust on the Pukka range. This Leo sports the normal green paint with "Mudoflarge" applied. Basically, a tub of dirt mixed with oil or diesel and then brush painted onto the tank. It surprisingly stays on for quite some time. But when you bush bash, the tank ends up with a lot of scratches and brush marks and of course the crew climbing on and off ect.
I still have a ways to go. Stowage, the crew etc. And yep, it is a gas bottle in the bin.

Dave, hook in mate. I get excited when I see Aussie armour on the modelling sites.

Cheers Jason

PS look out in the next couple of weeks for my ASLAV
PPS Also Mouse House now has the Leo head decals as Quatermaster is no more.

Cheers.

Doh. I was thinking of the pictures in the Battlegroup Leopard book.

Paul

That got my attention too. A propane tank. Little details like that are fun to see.

thanks jace! i too love to see aussie armour on the site it make s me feel we are a force to be reconned on the world stage! can't wait to see the lav! "one year
' we may see my lav-pc if i ever find the corage to finish it! hahaha cheers!!!

Nice looking Leo!

Very Very Very nice looking leo there Jason. Gotta love the aussie tanks! too bad they are finnishing up mate good to have in the trophy room once they are fully retired

Well done once again mate.

Here's mine: "Hilda" OIC 1AR Same kit, similar add-ons, but in a slightly different way. Not quite finished when I took the first couple of pics.. - Adam

"Hilda" After main painting:



"Hilda" Weathering basically done:



"Hilda" On Show!