_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
Hobby Boss Leopard 2A4M CAN!!
mshackleton
Visit this Community
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: December 16, 2007
KitMaker: 559 posts
Armorama: 517 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 01:54 AM UTC
The best reference (in print) for building this model is here: http://www.trackpadpublishing.com/...



Competition for this book is provided by Tankograd Publishing with a book of the same title. Trackpad’s book is more expensive, but in its 80 pages you get 250 photos. The Tankograd book concentrates on the tank in Afghan guise. The Trackpad book looks at the tank in service in Canada without the slats and without the Barracuda (though Afghanistan is also well covered). The Trackpad book also takes a brief look at the ‘ordinary’ 2A4 in Canadian service. With the model from HobbyBoss due any time now, the Trackpad book is actually the better reference choice.
davidg
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: December 28, 2007
KitMaker: 47 posts
Armorama: 44 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 05:17 AM UTC
That looks great Jason. I never got past the slats for the hull, the turret slats were hard enough. Thought about using the resin ones. It looks like an easier way to go for the hull at least as the turret is done. Will get the new Hobbyboss one for sure. Will be in touch about picture cd.
Dave
jfeenstra
Visit this Community
Alberta, Canada
Joined: April 24, 2014
KitMaker: 342 posts
Armorama: 342 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 06:18 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The best reference (in print) for building this model is here: http://www.trackpadpublishing.com/...

Competition for this book is provided by Tankograd Publishing with a book of the same title. Trackpad’s book is more expensive, but in its 80 pages you get 250 photos. The Tankograd book concentrates on the tank in Afghan guise. The Trackpad book looks at the tank in service in Canada without the slats and without the Barracuda (though Afghanistan is also well covered). The Trackpad book also takes a brief look at the ‘ordinary’ 2A4 in Canadian service. With the model from HobbyBoss due any time now, the Trackpad book is actually the better reference choice.



Since you've put it out there, I'll voice my comments and say that both titles complement each other very well and neither is better then the other. The Trackpad book has great coverage of the 2A4 in Canada, but the section on Afghanistan usage is limited. However, Tankograd's book is virtually all Afghanistan, and also includes a section on the mine roller, which is absent from the Trackpad book. And since the Trackpad book is 80 pages and retails for 18.50 GBP, and the Tankograd book is 40 pages and retails for 12 Euro/9 GBP, both are priced comparably. I suppose if you counted the number of pictures, Trackpad has the edge, but I think both books are necessary to get complete photo coverage of the 2A4.
recceboy
Visit this Community
Alberta, Canada
Joined: July 20, 2006
KitMaker: 706 posts
Armorama: 665 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 07:47 AM UTC
Kit is in the mail, now to wait for it's arrival. Got my reference ready for the build.....


Anthony

Author Canadian Leopard Reference DVD sets
LeoCmdr
Visit this Community
Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 08:17 AM UTC

Quoted Text

That looks great Jason. I never got past the slats for the hull, the turret slats were hard enough. Thought about using the resin ones. It looks like an easier way to go for the hull at least as the turret is done. Will get the new Hobbyboss one for sure. Will be in touch about picture cd.
Dave



Thanks Dave!

If you wanted to build the PSM kit with only the Barracuda and not mount the slat you would still be accurate. While the tanks were in Germany the crews conducted training on the tanks in that exact configuration.

The same goes for the Leopard 2A4M CAN without any Velcro strips fitted. When the tank guns were commissioned in Germany by the crews neither the slat, nor the Barracuda, nor the Velcro strips were attached. Essentially a "slick" Canadian Leopard 2A4M CAN.

To summarize you could build a Leopard 2A4M CAN in the following configurations:

- No Velcro strips, no Barracuda MCS, and no slat armour- as seen in Germany during commissioning.

- Barracuda MCS but no slat armour- as seen in Germany during crew training.

- Barracuda MCS and slat armour- as seen during official roll out at KMW and while deployed in Afghanistan.

- Velcro strips, no slat armour, no Barracuda MCS, and the ECM boxes attached- as seen on initial arrival in Canada.

- Velcro strips, no slat armour, no Barracuda MCS, no ECM boxes attached- as currently seen in Canada.

I expect that there will be quite a few builds of the Canadian Leopard 2A4M CAN in the near future.
mshackleton
Visit this Community
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: December 16, 2007
KitMaker: 559 posts
Armorama: 517 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 11:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Since you've put it out there, I'll voice my comments and say that both titles complement each other very well and neither is better then the other. The Trackpad book has great coverage of the 2A4 in Canada, but the section on Afghanistan usage is limited. However, Tankograd's book is virtually all Afghanistan, and also includes a section on the mine roller, which is absent from the Trackpad book. And since the Trackpad book is 80 pages and retails for 18.50 GBP, and the Tankograd book is 40 pages and retails for 12 Euro/9 GBP, both are priced comparably. I suppose if you counted the number of pictures, Trackpad has the edge, but I think both books are necessary to get complete photo coverage of the 2A4.



For this particular kit, the Trackpad book provides better reference out of the two books as the majority of the book concentrates on the tanks use in Canada. Indeed, over half of the book has walkaround photos.

If you want to add your own Barracuda then the Tankograd book is useful. The use of the mine roller was limited to a one tank experiment and that roller system is about to be replaced now.
LeoCmdr
Visit this Community
Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 11:29 AM UTC

Quoted Text


If you want to add your own Barracuda then the Tankograd book is useful. The use of the mine roller was limited to a one tank experiment and that roller system is about to be replaced now.



I wouldn't consider conducting combat operations as an experiment. The 12e RBC deployed with the five Leopard 2A4M CANs and made a very poor tactical decision to not mount a set of rollers on one of the 2A4M CANs. The result was very quickly one of the tanks hitting an IED and damaging the tank. A set of rollers was very quickly mounted on another tank. A very unfortunate and unnecessary lesson learned.
LeoCmdr
Visit this Community
Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 11:38 AM UTC

Quoted Text


For this particular kit, the Trackpad book provides better reference out of the two books as the majority of the book concentrates on the tanks use in Canada. Indeed, over half of the book has walkaround photos.



My Canadian Leopard 2 Reference Image DVD set has 1108 images of Canadian based Leopard 2A4M CANs in case anybody wants create an Excel spread sheet, bar graph, or break out an abacus to document all of this wonderful information.

I am very excited about this new kit regardless of what printed or digital reference material is out there or who knows what about the actual tank. Modellers just want a good kit without breaking the bank.

The simple fact is we now have a kit of a Leopard 2A4M CAN. Embrace the fun times ahead!

Well done to all the folks at Hobby Boss!

You won't believe what they have in the works next!
pod3105
Visit this Community
Waterford, Ireland
Joined: August 08, 2010
KitMaker: 466 posts
Armorama: 444 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 01:09 PM UTC
[quote]
Quoted Text



You won't believe what they have in the works next!



PLEASE let it a Buffel, lDachs or a Biber
aristeidis
Visit this Community
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: September 15, 2012
KitMaker: 621 posts
Armorama: 592 posts
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2018 - 08:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Here is a couple of pics of my Canadian Leopard 2A4M CAN with Barracuda using the PSM conversion without and with primer. It is very well detailed resin conversion but the PE slat is troublesome. I replaced the PE slat with the resin slat from the Y-Modelle conversion. The new Hobby Boss kit will look great along side this build.





Hello Jason i am considering to use the new Leopard 2a4 can of Hobbyboss along with PSM barracuda conversion and i would like to ask you how was fitting of the upper hull from the conversion to the lower hull of the hobbyboss kit? I am a little worried because i saw some photos showing large gaps in the front as well in the back?
LeoCmdr
Visit this Community
Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2018 - 02:15 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Here is a couple of pics of my Canadian Leopard 2A4M CAN with Barracuda using the PSM conversion without and with primer. It is very well detailed resin conversion but the PE slat is troublesome. I replaced the PE slat with the resin slat from the Y-Modelle conversion. The new Hobby Boss kit will look great along side this build.





Hello Jason i am considering to use the new Leopard 2a4 can of Hobbyboss along with PSM barracuda conversion and i would like to ask you how was fitting of the upper hull from the conversion to the lower hull of the hobbyboss kit? I am a little worried because i saw some photos showing large gaps in the front as well in the back?



The conversion was designed around the Hobby Boss 2A4 kit. I personally never had any fit issues with the PSM upper hull and the HB lower hull. If the new HB 2A4M CAN kit has different dimensions that might be why there are gaps.

For the limited amount of the base kit you use with the PSM conversion I would recommend using the cheaper HB 2A4 kit.
aristeidis
Visit this Community
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: September 15, 2012
KitMaker: 621 posts
Armorama: 592 posts
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2018 - 07:16 PM UTC
Thanks for reply. The photos showing gaps concern the old Leo2A4 of Hobbyboss, same you used, that is why i asked. But it seem there is not such problem. I have both Leos in stash and they have the exact same dimensions of the lower hull. So no problem to use the new Leo of Hobbyboss. I intend to also use the slat included in Hobbyboss offering to avoid using the PE slat from PSM conversion.
leopard122
Visit this Community
European Union
Joined: August 26, 2016
KitMaker: 417 posts
Armorama: 411 posts
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2018 - 11:55 PM UTC
I had no problem with my kit with no gaps on lower hull... I used the new hull from the new leopard 2a4 can, but needed to short it in the back because it was to long.. When i tried with the old hobbyboss leopard it was better fit in lenght but i had no gaps on that one either.. So maybe it's from kit to kit ..
 _GOTOTOP