Scale Military Modeller International – September 2019

Additional supports were installed from the
inside at the centre of the vehicles to avoid
any problems on the upper surfaces when
the heavy gun was mounted. The entire
surface of both vehicles was then shaped
with putty and sanded down to get the look
of rolled steel. Soldering wire was then used
to add the cables for the lamps. Additionally,
I installed a Kugelblende from a Tiger II with
turned brass barrels on the front walls of
both vehicles.
Next, I began the assemby and
modiication of the huge Trumpeter Leopold
280mm cannon, which was assembled
according to the instructions. I shortened
the body by around 70mm at the front and
90mm at the back, before installing the
front and back walls. The huge gun barrel
was also shortened and looked massive
and aggressive. The handrails were also
shortened, and the ladders were modiied as
well. The ammunition crane was transferred

from the unused engine station of the

Leopold to the back of the cannon. The two

rotating assemblies on both tanks were

scratch built from plastic plates and parts I

had left from other kits. Two metal rods were

then installed inside the cannon, are holding

it on top of the tanks. The huge plate-like

support was also scratch built.

The painting began with a coat of Vallejo

Black Primer on all sub-assemblies to get

a uniied base and dark shadow-colour.

I wanted to show the two tanks in a real

camoulage scheme as if these had already

been used in battle before being utilised

for this project. The cannon would remain

in its factory colours with only some white

markings and lines on it. First, Vallejo

German Yellow was applied, followed by

some Light Beige in to add highlights. Then

a coat of hairspray was added before the

green camoulage was airbrushed on.

The rotating-plate and the exhausts

were hand painted in a rust colour.

The cannon itself was airbrushed in

AK Interactive Red Primer, followed

by some shadows and highlights

using Hull Red and Orange, followed

by a layer of hairspray, before the

camoulage was airbrushed on using

some aged-white. The gun barrel

received a dark grey shade, and the

wooden loor of the cannon was

hand painted with diferent

brown oil shades. Then

warm water, a tooth

pick and an old stif

brush were used to

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...so they were positionable

The Leopold

had various

modifications

made.....