San Diego RC Tank battle day Saturday June 29 th

[RichJohnson]

Our next battle day will be Saturday June 29th at 9am mission bay park south shores boat ramp
note this is a date change from the previous published date on Facebook that conflicted with SoCal club.

Our theme this month is big tanks/ modern tanks.

[RichJohnson]

[keilau]

What is this tank? I have never seen one MBT like this before. Who makes this model?

[tank_me]

Leopard 1. Tamiya made an A4 model that is long discontinued. Rich used an aftermarket turret on a Tamiya Leo 1A4 to change the nomenclature of the tank to a 1A5 I believe. You can also get it and 3D print one.

https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/various/leopard-1a5

Archive contains:
* Leopard 1A5 (primary)
* 1A4 turret
* default turret without extra armor (same turret as Rich's above if I'm not mistaken)

Tamiya also made it in a static version and both versions can be found on eBay for a wide variety of prices depending on completeness of the kit.

[Rubicon99]

What is this tank? I have never seen one MBT like this before. Who makes this model?

That is an early Leopard 1. It's an impressive build to see in person, photos do not do it justice. I am sure Rich will chime in about it and the very very long list of modifications and hand built parts he did to bring it to life.

Its one of those rare builds that is suited for a museum display but used on the RC battle field.

[Rubicon99]

Rich your BIG tank battles in San Diego are some of the most fun battle events. Picking what big tanks to bring is never easy, but I am definitely bring my Shot Kal and Merkava.

[keilau]

That is an early Leopard 1. It's an impressive build to see in person, photos do not do it justice. I am sure Rich will chime in about it and the very very long list of modifications and hand built parts he did to bring it to life.

Its one of those rare builds that is suited for a museum display but used on the RC battle field.

Wow, one of a kind custom built. Was the chassis 3D printed, or converted from a static model. Either way, very impressive even in photo.

[Rubicon99]

Wow, one of a kind custom built. Was the chassis 3D printed, or converted from a static model. Either way, very impressive even in photo.

The base stripped upper hull and base lower hull are from a RC Tamiya leopard 1, the suspension arms are also Tamiya but highly modified. The wheels are Tamiya but he also modified them to run bearings. The control system is a Tamiya DMD 11.

Pretty much everything else was hand made or 3D resin printed from designs Rich paid to have drawn up. He even had the period type "chevron" track pads design and printed out of aerospace resin.

The attention to detail when you see person😮😮😮

Rich has videos of it running on his YouTube and Instagram. I believe his accounts are open to the public and definitely worth a watch.

[keilau]

Found the Hooben version of the Germany Leopard 1A5 if you are looking for a cheaper version.

https://www.hooben-shop.com/products/hooen-1-16-german-leopard-1a5-l1a5-main-battle-tank-rtr-6647

[Rubicon99]

Found the Hooben version of the Germany Leopard 1A5 if you are looking for a cheaper version.

https://www.hooben-shop.com/products...-tank-rtr-6647

RichJohnson has one of those too. I'll let him speak about it.

[RichJohnson]

I bought the upgrade version. If you buy a tank from hooben only buy ones with metal control arms sprockets. Metal wheels are not necessary but may be required to purchase them.
The tank chassis is metal the hull and turret are resin 3d printed and are beautiful. I love mine. It is a fragile model detail wise though so treat it gently but do drive it, however change out all the bearings in the transmissions, mine all fell apart litterally.

Here is a full blow by blow review. https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-...a5-review.html

FYI my tamiya leopard 1 BE shown above is a Belgain Leopard 1 A1 circa 1970. I replaced the turret with an aftermarket turret and rebuilt the entire chassis to modern RC standards from its 1973 design. This tank build and its siblings can be read about here, its a long thread but you may learn alot. It contains multiple Leopard 1 builds . https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-...eopard-1s.html

[Rubicon99]

[Rubicon99]