Modern German Steel

[SoftScience]

After two months of work, I'm happy to present my Tamiya Leopard 2A6

I bought this kit on a total whim. When I opened it a few months ago, I was indifferent to it. Typical Tamiya - nice sharp plastic parts, but pretty basic looking details. I eventually shaved off all of the plastic tabs representing grab handles and replaced them with wire. I doodled around with a few other details not really worth mentioning. I then started to paint and really took a liking to the kit. I have never built anything in NATO tri-color before, and it was a lot of fun to paint. 

The weathering I applied was a bit different for me. Typically, I apply dark stains to light paint. Here I had to do the inverse, with light sandy colors needed to stand out against the dark base colors. It was pretty challenging to get things balanced just right. 

Base paints are Tamiya thinned with MLT. Nearly all of the weathering is thing glaze coats of Tamiya paint and artists' oil. The caked on mud is a wet mud effects product from Vallejo, which I really liked. 

I'm still working on a figure, but I'd since the tank-proper is done, I figured I'd post a few shots. 

Also, I'm glad to be finished because almost every time I sat down to work on this beast, this song would get in my head 😄 😄 😄
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5es5MQX0VVA&feature=youtu.be

[Harry Callahan]

Hi mate

 

Its always nice to see when american modelers are building german warfare, for me as a german guy its a kind of respect what do you give to us, coz i know the american people is a very very pride people, thats why i am also touched you built this Leo 2A6, the proud of german Army, and you make a great job , i like your Leo so much, it looks so real.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Very nice Leopard.  ... Id love to build a Leopard 1 or 2 for the 90’s nato build when that happens. Im just not a huge fan of the Abrams. 

[Andy Moore]

That's a fantastic looking Leopard. Love the tight demarkation you've achieved on the camo, and the weathering looks excellent.

 

Andy

[Buzby061]

Great rendition of a brutal looking tank. 

 

Pete

[SoftScience]

On 4/29/2019 at 11:52 PM, Harry Callahan said:

i know the american people is a very very pride people

I don't buy into any of that nationalist clap-trap. 

I like the look of the Leopard (and many modern German designed tanks [and cars] for that matter), so I thought I'd give it a try. I have a Sppz Luchs just about ready for painting, soon.

Edited May 1, 2019 by SoftScience

[Harry Callahan]

2 hours ago, SoftScience said:

I don't buy into any of that nationalist clap-trap. 

I like the look of the Leopard (and many modern German designed tanks [and cars] for that matter), so I thought I'd give it a try. I have a Sppz Luchs just about ready for painting, soon.

 

 

Thats nice to hear mate.

[Carius]

Great job mate, I like that a lot.

[PlaStix]

That is a superb looking Leopard - excellent paintwork and weathering! 

Kind regards,

Stix