Centurion No 14

[neil pudney]

Having received my centurion kit this thursday morning i have eagerly waited until the weekend so that i can start properly checking through the 4 large boxes that have been sitting in my garage since delivery on thursday by UPS. Believe me its taken some self control not to just go out there and start to rummage through the boxes but this afternoon with all my 'chores' done for the week i made it to the garage and took the plunge !
The first box, i have nicknamed it 'The Coffin' was duly opened and with the parts list and a pencil ready the parts check began. It was raining heavily outside when i started but after a few minutes all that was completely forgotten as parts bags and boxes were exhumed from the 'coffin' and laid out on my workbench. Having visited the armortek factory when down on holiday last year and meeting mark and gill for the first time and seeing parts being machined and handling a few parts myself i thought i was well prepared for the delivery of my tank kit. How wrong can one be !
Firstly i was struck by the absolute perfection that the parts have been packed with and labelled. It is absolutely clear from the moment the first parts start to lay out in front of you just how large one of these tanks is and how heavy !!
After finishing Box one it was on to Box 2, (the box holding the turret and barrel and many other parts) The main turret casting is awesome, very heavy, you need to have had 3 weetabix for breakfast before lifting that... The barrel is way beyond what i was expecting, the bore is perfectly machined and along with all the other turret parts is a marvel of modern engineering. After finishing box 2 after quite some time i quickly opened 3 and 4 and will tackle those on sunday. For all of you new to building one of these tanks and trying to justify the cost like i was to begin with, you will soon realise that is has been worth it, the quality is just stunning. I cant wait to check boxes 3 and 4, i had a quick peek at the spare track links bag, you get 10 spare track links, they are like everything else i have seen so far, just outstanding.
Mark and gill have put together something that can only be described as british engineering and workmanship at its best, coupled with a customer service and dedication to its customers that to be honest i have never experienced before in this country. I just know that the coming months are going to give me so much enjoyment and pleasure. Once again Mark and Gill, thank you for providing us modellers with such a high quality product, the best quality scale tanks anywhere.

[Robin Hinson]

Congrats Neil,

A very well said.

Rob

[sean kerambrun]

Hi Neil,

THe centurions are starting to appear..

Looking forward to mine but not likely to start the build til January. Not sure if I will wait.


San

[neil pudney]

Hi sean, One things for sure, you will need a good area to work on one of these kits, I have quite a large workbench in my garage which i bought last year and have used it to build on (R/C model aircraft) Once you start unpacking the boxes you soon realise how much space you will need to build and not just that the sheer weight of the parts. I still have to decide on a scissor lift of some sort so i can actually construct the tank and be able to get round it as i build it up. One things certain once the main parts are assembled there is no easy way to move them around, you have to plan well ahead each step of the process. Im so used to building plastic kits, this is a completely different process thats for sure !
Personally i have had to buy the kit first then motion/ sound packs etc to be bought early in the new year. The time waiting for those actually is probably a good idea as to be honest there is enough to take in with just the kit at present and will give me time to get my head around the build and try and make some extra space in the meantime, im sure going to need it !!

[sean kerambrun]

Sometimes i wish I only had one hobby

Or a bigger shed

Sean

[Paul Morris]

Hi Sean.

I used to say that about my shed . . . now I have three and still no room .

Hello Neil congratulations on your purchase and indeed to Sean and all you Centurian builders, I have to agree with Rob's comment "well said" and isnt it nice that these things are being said about a U.K.company and we all know its true.

Cheers Paul

[Kevin Hunter]

Hi Neil
Quiet lately..... How's it going?
Regards
Kevin

[neil pudney]

hi kevin, well not much done really, i have had a whole lot of other things going on so have only been doing little bits here and there. Im in the process of building and painting all the bogie and wheels having made one, painted it and now know how the others will look. I will get more done in the autumn.
best wishes,neil