Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank

[Sariel]

Finally:

Features:

Torsion bar suspension, drivetrain with 4 PF XL motors, remotely rotated turret, remotely rotated commander's cupola, self-levelling main gun, gunner's machine gun - to - hull alignment system, lights and custom stickers.

Full description: http://sariel.pl/2010/10/leopard-2a4/

Gallery: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=450111

WIP gallery: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=450112

And video:

[DLuders]

What a magnificent MOC! The realistic suspension, self-leveling turret, and details are superb. I like how the torsion-bar suspension works (from your Facebook page):

[Tobbe Arnesson]

Fantastic work!

Nice suspension solution, looks like it work great.

I would personally had preferred a motorized cannon elevation but I suppose you wanted to try something new?

[Sariel]

Yes, precisely.

[Tobbe Arnesson]

Now I have looked at the photos too, not just the video.

Stunning detail work!

How did you attach the brick 1 x 1 round at an angle on the side of the turret? I think I can see a black minifig hand under one of them?

[Sariel]

There are dark grey minifig hands put into 1x1 round bricks on one side and into 3 stud long black technic pins on the other. The pins are inserted into the turret at various depth. It was difficult to find something a minifig hand would fit into, but I eventually found it fits into one end of the 3 studs long technic pins.

[grohl]

Awesome job. I am going to study your gallery for a while. Looks like the torsion bars work more realistically than the soft shock absorbers I used. The self levelling gun is also a great feature of your model.

[Captain Green Hair]

What to say, it is great!

Love the way it drives, and the suspension indeed looks like it works great!

I do think the barrel moves a bit too easy, maybe some tuning there could make it even better.

[Blakbird]

Another fantastic creation. Looks realistic, tough, and devastating!

One question I have had since your choice to use 4 motors and two battery boxes though..... A problem I've always had with the IR remote system is that it is line-of-sight so it is easy to lose signal. You have two motors controlled by one receiver and battery box and another two motors controlled by the other receiver and battery box. On any given track side, there are two motors that are on different circuits. What happens if 1 of the 2 receivers loses signal? I would think that it only one motor was driving it would attempt to backdrive the other motor and cause some horrible grinding. Has this been a problem at all?

I love the self levelling main gun and the machine gun that stays parallel to the chassis. The torsion bars are a simple yet effective touch as well. Hardly any automobiles use this any more, but my old Chrysler had torsion bars on the front suspension. I really liked it.

[apemax]

really cool tank. nice suspension system too.

[Sariel]

What happens if 1 of the 2 receivers loses signal? I would think that it only one motor was driving it would attempt to backdrive the other motor and cause some horrible grinding. Has this been a problem at all?

Well, these two receivers sit side-to-side, with their top 'domes' only 2 studs apart. It seems to pretty much eliminate this problem. Plus, I was driving it only indoors and since the receivers were not obstructed at any time, no signal loss ever occurred. Backdriving you're referring to actually happened once, when I didn't move the switches on battery boxes properly and only one of them turned on. But there was no terrible grinding, the model just barely moved and the motors sounded extremely strained.

[jantjeuh]

Very nice, easily your best tank MOC so far. Love all the little details. Turret seems a bit bouncey though..

Shame you won't build WW2 German tanks, would love to see a PzKpfw VI Ausf. B 'Königstiger' or Landkreuzer P. 1000 'Ratte' MOC

Edited November 1, 2010 by jantjeuh

[bord4kop]

now really this a stunning achievement!

I thought it was a static model. A model that looks very very very nice. All the details and size looks just like the real thing. All in all, great!

But.. it actually moves around. And in what way it does too. The suspension makes it look like the actual tank! And some extra nice touches, like the weapon for instance

This is a fantastic MOC! :thumbup:

[rjk1977]

just woooooooooow , what a very coooooooool build this is:thumbup:

[M4X1994]

It works and looks really good indeed!

Whats next on the list?

Finishing the Charger?

Starting the new hummer?

Or making the instructions for the fiat?

Whatever it is, it will be good

[Sariel]

Finishing the Charger, then starting a new Tow Truck, with instructions for Landie's chassis somewhere in between.

[phool]

A truly beautiful MOC! This tank looks absolutely gorgeous and the self-leveling turret is a treat to see in action. I still cant bend my head around on how exactly the suspension works though (I need to see an animation of it in action).

Also I salute Commander Lucius for handling such a beast with ease

[jantjeuh]

I still cant bend my head around on how exactly the suspension works though (I need to see an animation of it in action).

It's a torsion bar suspension, with the black axles acting as torsion bars. Each 'wheel' can move up and down by twisting (hence 'torsion' bar) one end of the black axle, using the dark bley liftarm as lever. The other end of the black axle is immobilized using the black liftarms. Look here for more information

Edited November 2, 2010 by jantjeuh

[phool]

Thanks for that, I think I understand the principle a bit better. I guess I should stop being lazy and actually do the research myself ;)

[jantjeuh]

's an animation to illustrate the principle.

[Milan]

I think this is your best tank ever.

Aesthetic and functionality are awesome.

I would like to see it without a single stud visible, it may look even more real, but that is just me.

Suspension works great, and even it is a little bit unconventional, regarding twisting parts, I think it is very well done!

Tracks...they work, but I feel there could be room for improvement, but as you said, this tank is warming up for your next Korean tank.

Additional functions are fantastic.

Overall, clearly your best tank so far.