RAR Leopard 2A6 WHIF

[Sauragnmon]

Quite a comprehensive collection of items you have there, man.  Looks like it should be quite an interesting project in total.

[Maverick]

Certainly got lotsa options there Paul.  No doubt some of the updates will end up as full kits from Hobby Boss in the future.  The AFV Club RWS is a nice little job.  Got one myself from my own ARA Leo II.

Regards,

Mav

[Mossie]

Greg, another source for it is party confetti, the plastic film type thats usually scattered on tables & such.  You should find it at party/card stores too.  Some of it comes in pearlescent film, the shapes are small but large enough for optics.  I saw someone use it once for a HUD on a 1/32 F-16, quite convincing.

[sudzonic]

Hay paul good to see you over here with that aussie leo.

[barraxr8]

Thanks Scotty,


not far away from starting now.

Paul

[sudzonic]

Cant wait to see it have you thought about useing the bar armour form the canadian leo??

I must get going on my brit leo again mabye in the new year

[tinlail]

Yeah, your KFOR Leo looks nice - I saw the list of components in your Aussie Leopard, that should look pretty damn nice.

Challenger II isn't bad, Abrams 1A2 is a gas-chugging prettyboy, the Leo's a true workhorse tank, and I've heard she's beautiful to drive too.  I've heard plenty of good things about Leopard 2A6's.

I'm looking forward to your Whif Leo, Paul.

Any thoughts about the Merkava?
I've always thought the basic layout seemed really versatile, even if the actual tank made trade offs, that limit it usefulness for other counties. Is there a downside to having the engine up front, poor handling or such?

[Sauragnmon]

Hmm... the Merkava... the layout is interesting, though it begs for somebody to hit it in that glass nose with a high powered ATGM and blow the engine out.  Aside from that, it makes me think of "What if a MBT and an APC were left in a machine shop, with the lights turned down low, and Barry Manilow playing in the background?"

Merkavas aren't bad tanks really, and the thought of having your own infantry squad in the back is pretty nifty.  Need to clear a building?  Send in the troops, don't call for them.  Troops need some fire support?  It's sitting right outside, all 120mm of it.

[rallymodeller]

Trouble with the Merkava is it was designed by the Israelis for Israeli conditions. It isn't really that adaptable. Plus, in order to carry troops you have to ditch main gun rounds (down to 22 for a Merk 3/4, IIRC). Not a bad idea, but too many compromises for any sort of army other than the IDF.

Re the Barracuda sheeting: Canada has been using it on our Leo 2's in Afghanistan since nearly the beginning. Here is a pic:


Apparently they also do a good job of lowering internal temps. This has been a problem since we got them -- our crews were roasting in both the loaner Leo 2s and our existing Leopard C1/C2s.

Someone mentioned diesel Abrams using the 1500hp MTU 883; that's the engine Canadian Leo 2s have. (as well as my Canadian Abrams project). 

[tinlail]

Well my question isn't so much about the tank, as the layout.
As I understand it the shortcomings of the tank are lower speed, track design aimed at staying on, when operating in very rocky ground. I presume between that and a engine upfront and under armor that maintenance is a pain compared to other tanks. Wiki claims 48 rounds for the Mk IV, but indeed a trade off has to be made between carrying troops, and ammo. On the plus it tough for the enemy to know what that tank might be capable of doing.

For that however you get a basic hull shape that can be the basis for an excellent IFV or self-propelled artillery, and the IDF has good AC for it's tanks.

[General Zod]

Great to see another atmor builder here 

[GTX]

For that however you get a basic hull shape that can be the basis for an excellent IFV or self-propelled artillery, and the IDF has good AC for it's tanks.

Sorry to a little off topic here:

The Merkava already has an APC variant - the Namer Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV):








Back to normal programming now.

Regards,

Greg

[tinlail]

Thanks, those are the best pictures I have seen of the Namer.
I also no longer feel bad about being unsure of how the back end is shaped, cause the IDF can't seem to figure it out either.

[sudzonic]

Dam you beat me to it with the namer.

[GTX]

Dam you beat me to it with the namer.

Got to be quick here!

Regards,

Greg