Before you start to read this text, and especially if you plan on making a tank of your own:
Your friends, collegues and girlfriend will think that you are crazy to spend this much time and energy and money on a project like this. It has taken people mentioned above 5 years to accept my hobby (with a few brave exceptions that supported me from the start) and not until now start to comment on it in positive terms.
But dont be discouraged, keep your head up and work towards your goal.

The history begins...

In 2001 I started my studies at the Swedish Military School in Östersund. Many years before I had seen on the Internet a radio-controlled tank in a large scale. Can´t really remember what scale it was but I thought it was awesome. I started sketching (some on boring lessons...) and the project took form.

At that time I had just completed my conscript as a system technician on the Strv 122. Therefore it was natural that the project took the form of a Leopard 2, or more precise, a Strv 122. The scale I choose was 1/10.

Well... the school took its toll, I had a life at three places at once and there wasn´t that much time for my project... But it was always there with me in forms of sketches and "blueprints". I even made some prototypes for soft-air guns that would fit into the barrel, I started doing roadwheels in Robalon (a hard though nylon plastic that is incredible to work with... I love it... but its pricey...). After 1½ years I realised that 1/10 is too small... I wanted bigger.

The scale grew to 1/6, still a Strv 122. Right about then, in 2003, the plan changed and I got pointed in another direction at work. I was now a technician on the CV90 family. I didn´t mind. The CV90 is a formidable vehicle and I really wanted to use my new-earned knowledge so I changed the project into a CV9040.

Easier lines & a simpler design I thought. The progress on the Strv 122 hadnt gone to far so I didnt mind throwing the steel hull away. It looked crappy anyway.

I started making the CV90 and at one moment I had 2 complete sets of tracks & almost a complete hul in plexiglass. The tracks looked crappy (bicycle chain with wooden tracks screwed in between them) and the plexiglass was to thin (thats what happens when you go for the cheap solution... thats a lesson for you wanna-be builders). I am convinced that those tracks would have worked marvelous but I simply could not accept the looks.

So I changed the project again. But I really want to build a CV9040 in a big scale... maybe for my next project? :)

Me and a good friend had a long talk and after weighing diffrent vehicles against each other we settled for the Strv 103. The advantages were as we saw it:
Only 8 roadwheels - Do not underestimate the dullness that occur when you are doing your 10th roadwheel in the lathe.
No turret - I thought that would be a thing less to worry about. Turned out that the elevation system on the Strv 103 is a bit tricky too...
Very Straight lines - Easy to cut and weld
No turret / Big chassie = Lots of room for components
I had access to litterature - Instruction books among other things
I had access to a stationary museum piece & a fully working Strv 103 - Working on a regiment that has had the vehicle in question can only be a plus.

I first bought square aluminium tubing, 20x40mm, and constructed a metal frame that I planned to cover in aluminium plate. It was my first attempt to weld aluminium and even if it held together it looked... bad. And furthermore, it wasnt all that straight. I still have the frame but the idea went in the trash

Next idea was glass fiber. So I started building myself a plug. A plug looks exactly as the original but is easier to make because that you dont have to think of thickness of walls and etc... The plug is then sanded, painted and lacqured to get it as smooth as possible. You then cover it in a special compound that wont let the plastic stick to the plug. Cover the plug in plastic, add glasfiber, more plastic until the entire plug is encapsuled. I had planned for a horisontal cut around the plug, thereby separating the top and bottom half. The result would have been 2 molds. In these 2 molds I would have been able to plaster as many top and bottom halves I needed.

That seemed to work, but the plug was costly, and it didn´t come out as good as I had hoped. So I scrapped that idea

If you have read this far, I congratulate you. And by now, I bet you have started to see a trend? A wise man once said: "I hate the lesson but bless the knowledge". Cuz without the lessons I have learnt I wouldnt be where I am now. I have picked up one or two things trough the years so now I have a concept that will work. No shortcuts & the second best is not good enough. Unless the second best is ½ the price.

So right now, the project is steaming forward at great pace.

Consult the "Status page" for an more recent update on how the project is steaming ahead...

I got struck by an inspiration particle (read Terry Pratchett and you´ll know what I´m talking about) the other day and now I am studying planetary gears to see if I can construct a simple 3 step automatic gearbox with reverse for my tank.

It has taken me 5 years to get here and the project is not finished yet. But then again, I have lived a pretty darned good life, worked alot with periods of time away from home during these 5 years so it is quite possible to make it much quicker than me.

A few tips & tricks
From me that is far from an expert, but have made one or two mistakes...
* Search the Web, my link page is a good start. Read, read, read, read...
* Set a goal. How good should this product be? Will I settle with less realism & detail if the price is right?
* This is the money pit. Be aware of that.
* Access to machinery? Lathe, mill & drill is a must. * Access to advanced machinery? An automatic mill can do miracles. Ask around among your friends and realtives. Water cutting and laser cutting equipment is EXCELLENT!
* The tracks will most likely give you the most headache. 2 tracks with 60 track parts in each gives you 120 parts to make. Each track part maybe consist of 4 to 10 individual parts? Then you suddenly have 500 - 1200 parts to manufacture. Drill one hole in every part is suddenly 2 days job. Simple math but easy to forget. Other questions are materials? Wood, plastics, rubber, steel, aluminium. Method? Milling, casting, cutting. Economy? Cheap, the best, in between, hyper realistic. Only you can decide for your project.