Correze, France
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Posted: Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 11:49 PM UTC
Hi all,
I just posted an article about the latest variant of the Leclerc which is being fielded to the French tank regiments.
The model has been build by J.Vermeulen, a French modeler, from the Tamiya kit and is a comprehensive scratchbuilt artwork.
I hope you'll like it.
olivier
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Napoléon
Texas, United States
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Posted: Friday, April 07, 2006 - 05:39 AM UTC
Most of us are very unfamiliar with the Leclerc. Could you point out the changes to the basic tank that are incorporated here.
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Missouri, United States
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Posted: Friday, April 07, 2006 - 08:40 AM UTC
I must admit I too am still not very familiar with this tank, but I did really enjoy the article and pictures. The work he did on the side skirts really impressed me. Quite impressive!
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Correze, France
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Posted: Friday, April 07, 2006 - 11:38 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Most of us are very unfamiliar with the Leclerc. Could you point out the changes to the basic tank that are incorporated here.
Sorry,
you're right, in fact, this version is not so different externally speaking. The most obvious features are a new TC sight housing, enlarged turret sides to incorporate improved armor, a new armor pack in front of the gunner's sight, new roadwheels and new tracks similar to the Abrams ones.
Jacques added a lot of details that Tamiya forgot (wiring, bolts, co-ax MG gas evacuator ...) and corrected some others (vision blocks covers f.i.).
olivier
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Napoléon
Wales, United Kingdom
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Posted: Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 03:22 AM UTC
Thanks for the post!! It amazes me some times how fenatic some modelers are to detail. Without those sorts of modelers pushing the boundaries...amateur models like me would have nothing to aim for
I realy enjoy also looking at your detailed walkaround of the Leclerc! It is a great looking tank but one thing i know i shall do when i come to make this...is leave out the "rubber" flaps below the skirts....the tank looks even better somehow!!
Also hopefully you Oli will be interested to know is once i have made the Leclerc model i plan to make a virtual Tank in Pro-Engineer..similar to what i have done with a Panther
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/73752&page=1 I Have Been Accepted to Liverpool University!!!!
Correze, France
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Posted: Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 10:53 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Also hopefully you Oli will be interested to know is once i have made the Leclerc model i plan to make a virtual Tank in Pro-Engineer..similar to what i have done with a Panther
I saw your Panther and I'm eager to se a Leclerc done that way. It certainly would interest a lot of modelers -at least French ones
Good luck for your project and thank you for the comments
olivier
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Napoléon
Wales, United Kingdom
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Posted: Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 07:08 PM UTC
What do you know of this Leclerc oli?
It doesnt look like a pre production model for more like a future upgrade for the Leclerc....or will this model remain just a model...looks cool!!
Thought id ask you...you being the French tank man master :-)
EDIT: PS do you have the high resolution picture of this one which is found on your website...assuming you have it. Thanks in advance
Regards
Whisky-Delta
I Have Been Accepted to Liverpool University!!!!
Correze, France
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Posted: Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 10:51 PM UTC
Quoted Text
What do you know of this Leclerc oli?
Looking at the flag on the antenna and the picture title
it is a Turkish Leclerc, most probably a project for such a Leclerc indeed. It looks like the US TUSK has inspirated some designers here.
Quoted Text
Thought id ask you...you being the French tank man master :-)
Thanks but you know I'm an infantryman so tanks are just target to me :-) and my main modeling topic of course.
Quoted Text
EDIT: PS do you have the high resolution picture of this one which is found on your website...assuming you have it. Thanks in advance
I fear this is the best one I have but I'll check on my HD.
EDIT : sorry but this is the best one I got. It was shot by a friend of mine with a low res camera.
olivier
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Napoléon
Wales, United Kingdom
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 12:33 AM UTC
OOOOOOWWWWW!!!!!
bit harsh! im sure you are going to get flamed for that!
I have resisted such comments as i respect Oli
Cheers for looking oli...also for a update on my 3d leclerc project i mentioned....i doubt i will be doing the lecerc now...i need the model to realisticaly get a good representation of the tank and i cant be bothered quikly making the tank and then making it in Pro-E. Also the turret looks imensly difficult with the slab, yet angled sides. I think i shall do the Leopard 2 A6 instead as i have the model and is simpler :-)
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California, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 12:38 AM UTC
Sorry I could not resist.
A real question - owing to the French lack of fighting spirit just who are they building this whiz-bang tank for? Export? or Bastille Day Parades?
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 12:46 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Sorry I could not resist.
A real question - owing to the French lack of fighting spirit just who are they building this whiz-bang tank for? Export? or Bastille Day Parades?
Maybe the TUSK-like fittings are in anticipation of some sort of internal insurrection?
Correze, France
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 12:56 AM UTC
Quoted Text
A real question - owing to the French lack of fighting spirit just who are they building this whiz-bang tank for? Export? or Bastille Day Parades?
Don't forgot that you partly owe to the French fighting spirit not to present your respect to a Queen !
Like you, I couldn't resist !
olivier
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Napoléon
California, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 04:54 AM UTC
Touche -
No Seriously - what is the updated Leclerc's purpose? Export or what?
PS - My "tongue in cheek" comment on the white flag port was deleted - Sorry if I offended, I didn't think the comment was that inflammatory.
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Alberta, Canada
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 05:51 AM UTC
Frank,
I am glad to see your first posting was deleted. It was a bit insulting to read and I am not even French.
No hard feelings...maybe just use your inside voice next time.
I served beside French Troops in Bosnia during the war and they, along with all the other nations wearing the United Nations blue helmet, fought hard when they needed to.
A quick internet search easily finds that the Turkish Land Forces Command have already tested the enhanced Leclerc,(It will have a feature-enhanced armour package, enhanced firepower and fire-control system, and will be capable of integrating with digital network systems), the German Leopard 2A6EX, the Ukraine export T-84, and the M1A2.
None of them have been chosen. Turkey has signed off on a feasibility study to figure out if they can produce their own MBT to enter production in 2012.
The bar amour is part of the mock up model tank showing the features of the enhanced Leclerc...there have been none produced.
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Correze, France
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 10:41 AM UTC
Thanks Jason for this comprehensive explanation.
I only knew the Turks were interested in a new MBT and that a Leclerc "special issue" was in the race.
If I'm correct, there was also a M60 fitted with a M1A1 turret that they didn't want due to higher costs than they expected.
olivier
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Napoléon
Alberta, Canada
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 05:10 PM UTC
Olivier,
Yup, they looked at the M60-2000/ 120S MBT. They never went beyond a demonstration version.
The Turkish forces were also looking at the Israeli built M60A3 SABRA....with 120mm main gun and passive modular armour.
I don't think that this deal went through either.
The test version painted in the three colour NATO cam looked very cool.
"We're not the public service of Canada, we're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."
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Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 06:48 PM UTC
I´ve read your article, great Leclerc an great painting but i´m asking myself if it could also be possible to build it very accourate without scratch parts, and maybe panit it in an 2 ton-desert-camo.
cheers
Correze, France
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Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 10:31 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I´ve read your article, great Leclerc an great painting but i´m asking myself if it could also be possible to build it very accourate without scratch parts, and maybe panit it in an 2 ton-desert-camo.
cheers
Hi Martin,
of course you can build it OOTB and get a correct kit. The article only shows the version currently being fielded to Armor units. The Tamiya series 2 vehicles will remain in units along the newer versions for a while.
Concerning the sand camo, few French Leclerc were painted that way mainly for trial or exhibition purposes. Currently, when we field tanks in a desert environment they are covered with a sand and brown camo netting.
Anyhow, you can paint it the way you like. Modeling is having fun above all !
Look at this one
olivier
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Napoléon
Wales, United Kingdom
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Posted: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 03:52 AM UTC
Oli arnt the UAE Leclercs painted in the two tone desert camo...brown and sand? I know some pre sproduction Leclerc were painted in green and sand but what about the UAE versions? Also do the UAE version have an differences than the French version? In the case of nearly every export version of a tank, the export verion is better in one way or another than the demestic verion i.e Challenger 2 vs Challenger 2E...Leopard 2 a6 vs Leopard 2 A6 EX etc
I am im still unsure which model to create over the Summer vactation..but the two tone Leclerc does look very nice..as seen on web site!
I would also love to know which is the best way of creating camo netting foe 1:35 scale? Would gorse be good?
I Have Been Accepted to Liverpool University!!!!
Correze, France
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Posted: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 10:50 AM UTC
Hi Will,
I spoke about French Leclerc. The UAE are painted sand and brown of course except the ones sent to Kosovo which got a French look like 3 tone camouflage.
The UAE version is quite different. The front deck, the turret, the engine and so forth the engine deck are different. You have some pics on my site and I had one showing the rear. If I find it back, I send it to you as this is the most different part.
But you still can do a French one in a desert scheme camo. I jsut can be absolutely sure whetehr or not the Series 2 depicted in the Tamiya kit have got this camo.
olivier
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Napoléon
Wales, United Kingdom
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Posted: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 12:01 PM UTC
Oh right...thanks for that...sorry i thought you were talking about all Lecerc's
Also Oli....i did not realise you are a famous person in the modeling community
Just so happens i was reading a past Tamiya modeling magazine whereby the Lecerc model kit was reveiwed and painted in the pre production green and sand two tone paint scheme and you are acknoledged for reference material!
One last question...the Lecerc weighs 56 Tons which makes it the lighestest and most swift of the 3rd generation modern West MBT's...is the armour protection not as advanced or possibly not as thick as the western counterparts and with the SXXI upgrade what does the Lecerc weigh now....if it has a armour upgrade must be closer to 60 tons
I Have Been Accepted to Liverpool University!!!!
Wales, United Kingdom
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Posted: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 01:31 PM UTC
Olivier, I love the E. Leclerc logos on that model in your posting - though I didn't see any tanks while I was shopping in the Leclerc in Autun
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Correze, France
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Posted: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 02:53 PM UTC
Hello David,
this "special" issue is not mine. I guess Mister Leclerc couldn't afford such an ads "toy" on his parking lots
I shot the picture at a model show in Chalons last week-end. It's braille scale and this kit had a pink Panther "brother".
You can see them all here :
Expo Chalons I hope you liked you stay in Burgundy.
olivier
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Napoléon
Wales, United Kingdom
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Posted: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 03:17 PM UTC
Olivier
I shall think of that Pink Panther next time someone asks about the one in Vietnam
Some nice models at the show, I liked the Jurassic Park one, the footprint shaped base was very imaginative.
I really enjoyed my time working at Mont Beuvray, though the Morvan is a little isolated...
Archaeology is destruction - providing you do it properly
Barlands Farm Model Boat Club 1993
