Paul & Robin's Centurion

[paul&robinmargle]

Hello all,

Progressing slowly but surely.
Fitted some (non-functional) turret bin brackets:

brackets

Some basic details on the gunners' periscope:

sight

We got some brass strip for the mantlet cover fixings, I think it's a bit oversized but we'll have to go with it now:

mantlet

We went to the REME museum the other week and happened to see in a cabinet this:

So I came up with this:

Robin

[Kevin Hunter]

Hi Robin
I think your commanders periscope sight is fantastic. I've had a set of photos and approximate sizes on the desk for some time but haven't figured out quite how to go about it. Well done.
My own build has been on hold for months. Bad weather and a small garden shed meant I have been waiting for better weather to get back into it. I'm looking forward to picking up where I left off.
Have been watching the forum intently from the sidelines though.
Keep up the great work
Kevin

[paul&robinmargle]

Thanks Kevin,
I hope to see more of your progress on here soon.

Robin

[paul&robinmargle]

Hi,

We had a go at the mantlet cover

mantlet cover

Looks a bit rubbish in that picture , but all the tatty bits are hidden when it's fitted. It was going to be just the prototype made from an old pillow case but it looks the sort of colour I was thinking of. Just managed to leave enough slack to ensure elevation works. We inserted some plastic stiffeners in stitched pockets in an extra flap along the top and just glued the barrel surround. Final fitting will be after turret painting.
I picked a random casting number for the turret side, I see there's sometimes numbers on the co-ax MG surround, should it be the same number?

casting no.

Here's my idea for the commanders hatch interior:

hatch

A little windscreen wiper:

wiper

Regards,
Robin

[paul&robinmargle]

We found some screw head cover caps for the smoke launcher tubes, they fit tightly.
I had to stick the cap lid on the opposite side to cover the hole and they'll have to stay on once fitted:

Did more painting last week and fitted the side skirts before taking a corner too tight and crumpling up the centre plate Reminds you how powerful these models are.

Robin

[paul&robinmargle]

Here's where we're at with skirts fitted:

Paul got the lights working:

Can you see them?
Hoping to paint the turret in the next couple of weeks before the Duxford show.

Robin

[paul&robinmargle]

Some maintenance and touching up the paint before Duxford next week:

The turret turn motor mount keeps coming loose so the turret has to come off hopefully for the last time to thread lock the bolts. Thread locking is also the reason for the ramping up, we noticed the swing arm pin nuts had come loose.
Still various bits to finish - hatches, rubber bumpers, travel lock, sight.
Will anyone else be at Duxford? Dad and I will be there most of the day with the UKTC.

Regards, Robin

[paul&robinmargle]

Duxford today.
I like this picture:

uphill

Cent performed well until I pushed it too hard on the grass and blew a fuse, so we learned a lesson there. Didn't have spares but someone came to the rescue

downhill

Robin

[paul&robinmargle]

Got the basic markings on this weekend, used stencilling with airbrush and I thought dark grey would look better than stark black:

front

rear

Would like a union flag on the other mudguard and something on the turret, maybe a yellow triangle or circle??

Robin

[Bob Farmer]

That damage on the side skirt gives it authenticity in my opinion, great build by the way

[Dave Nadin]

Hi, happy to see the centurions are comeing to life, Its a very nice build and looks good, you will find U/J flags at ModelFlags.com prices are very good.
Just to note that all vehicals based in BAOR had a U/J flag front & rear on the left hand side. Any vehical with a dent or two adds to the effect, normail pratice was to knock out the dent with a hammer then brush paint the damaged area, have fun

[paul&robinmargle]

Thanks Bob and Dave,

Yes I didn't fancy trying to paint the flag I found some stickers on Amazon.
The dented skirt was easy enough to push out by hand and the paintwork wasn't really damaged

Robin

[paul&robinmargle]

Had a day at Duxford today, unfortunately no military vehicle show this year but plenty of 1/6th.
Finally finished the basic model (I'm sure we'll still add bits and pieces in the future), weathered the tow cables and shackles by soaking them in vinegar for a week and then leaving them in the rain.

Wondered why the turret wouldn't turn and then found the commanders' foot mangled in the gear
A great photo opportunity on the blast pit bank:

And thanks to Neil for the jerrycan:

Robin

[Kevin Hunter]

Nice to see you posting again Robin, and your Cent looks great. The photos of it on the bank make it look so realistic.
Well done
Kevin

[neil pudney]

Great pictures Robin, glad to see the jerrycan has been put to good use
The rest of the set i made are now with my Centurion in Reading with the new owner.
Its nice to see the end result of your Centurion build. Its also good to see someone displaying an Armortek model in East Anglia for a change !
regards,Neil