Centurion #44 received

[Tim Bowman]

Hi Mick

Looking very good.

Like the look of that turret!! Neat to see one with some more modern details and shapes. Nice color too.

all the best
Tim

[mick whittingham]

Hi all.
just by way of an update, I am currently knee deep in etch primer spraying all the suspension units, idlers, gear box housings etc. I wanted to get the priming out of the way and continue building the painted sub assemblies onto the hull ready to start with an overall primer and then the main colour.

I have chosen to follow the colours of the Suez crisis in 1956 so I am looking for reference photo's and material to assist with that. If anyone can guide me to a good resource I would be very grateful. I am awaiting delivery of the main colour as we speak and can't wait to do some tester work to see how it will look sprayed.

I have spent a little while making blanking plates for all the hull apertures to make spraying a little easier, with a bit of luck I will be in a position to spray the building primer by next week.

I also managed to get hold of a motorcycle lift table which I have mounted on the main bench and can now lift the whole tank up to eye level for working on the underside. Bought it from the auction site and it was delivered from Germany in a couple of days.

Oh off to set up for another day of etch priming, will take some snaps when I have removed all the protective dust sheets from my workshop which is now a spray shop.

Regards, mick

[paul&robinmargle]

Hi Mick,

I don't know if you're aware of the Bison Decals Suez set:
https://picasaweb.google.com/bisondecal ... 8726387314
I think maybe one has the mk5 features (105mm)?

Robin

[mick whittingham]

Hi Robin,

Yes the 1956 Suez Cent would be a Mk 3 with the older gun fitted, so some modification required to turn the kit barrel into the right shape for the Mk3.

I have seen the Bison decal kit and have a good idea of the markings, I bought desert sand paint and canvas paint so that I can see how it will look.

Been busy getting all the road wheels ready to prime, it won't be long before I can get rid of the acid etch primer and use some safer paint lol. Plus the etch primer I am using is bright yellow so I have the most conspicuous tank in the world lol.

That's all for now so will report more when I have taken any major steps forward.

Regards Mick

[Robert E Morey]

Mick,
Lovely details on your Cent. Its a stout looking beast. I'm excited to see a Suez conflict vehicle. Great work. The sand color will look very unique.

Best regards,
Bob

[mick whittingham]

Hi all,

I have been away for a couple of weeks, wasting valuable build time in the West Indies.

But I am back into things now and looking forward to buying a canvas garden shed to press into use as a spray booth rather than mess up the main workshop. As soon as the weather improves I will be out there spraying the next primer coats.

I have been making some more detail parts to fill the time until painting can resume;

I made a new track link carrier using round stock instead of the flat provided in the kit, a bit fiddly to set up for soldering but I think the result looks ok.

I also made a couple of new tie down Dee links for the front towing eyes, I was not happy with any commercially available ones and decided to make my own. I used 5mm diameter steel for the shackle part and 10mm bar for the eyes. Again a bit of a fuss to set up for soldering but the result looks OK to my eye.

Finally I have made the steel conduit for the grenade launchers and telephone reel on the turret. A bit of fabricating and threading to make the clamps etc. but I am happy with my work.

attachment=0]IMGP5148.JPG[/attachment]

Hope to get on with the rear lower vent cover plates this week which appear on the Suez version and which need mountings making to sit them beneath the louvres.

Best wishes to all builders and will post more when I have moved on.

Mick

[paul&robinmargle]

Mick,

You turret looks really good, I see you've added the mounting strips for the mantlet cover, will you be getting the sewing machine out for that?
The conduits look perfect, what thickness rod/wire did you use?

Regards, Robin

[mick whittingham]

Hi Paul and Robin,

the cable conduit is made from 2.5mm steel wire, quite soft so easy to bend but resilient enough. I used old wire coat hangers to provide the raw material believe it or not and just used odds and sods to make up the cable glands and cable clamps.

I hope the attached photo shows that off enough, it was really just a fabricating job bending the wire till it looked ok.

Your build is coming on well, as I said before the weather needs to improve for me to venture into large scale painting but the canvas structure I am buying should help keep dust and bugs off the wet paint.

She who must be obeyed will hopefully be sewing the canvas mantlet cover. We have a pattern from Bovington and she assures me it is a simple job to run one up. I have canvas paint ready to colour it desert sand.

I am making the engine vent cover plates now and wondered if anyone can comment on them; were they standard fitment or special for transport or for landmine protection?

Carry on the good work everyone.

Mick

[paul&robinmargle]

Mick,

Coat hangers! - we often forget there's cheap materials all around
We tried asking for a cover pattern from tank museum, but they said it was buried somewhere and haven't heard anything since. I don't know if you're able to share? or might that be a problem since I assume they levied a small charge to find it?

Robin

[Kevin Hunter]

Robin, I may have a drawing sufficient to make a pattern, will see if I can dig it out. Failing that a copy of the real thing would be a boon.

[Stephen White]

Mick - I think a lot of us would dearly like to see a pattern if there is one from Bovvy. I have got the illustration from the Illustrated Parts catalogue and will post it over the weekend if anyone is interested. I've also got some good photos of a new martlet cover, before fitting. Happy to post but a pattern would be the best.

Stephen

[mick whittingham]

Hi all,

I have the construction drawing from Bovvy and along with photo's my ex-seemstress wife will generate the necessary pattern to produce a canvas mantlet cover. As soon as she does this I will post details so anyone can copy the pattern and make their own.

I have done an alternative bore evacuator for the 20 pounder gun and would like to know what folk think, just a turning job in aluminium and cast iron.

I will continue with the mantlet and turret front a little now so the pattern should not be long in the making.

Best regards, Mick

[Tim Bowman]

Hi Mick

A beautiful looking Centurion!!!

kind regards
Tim

[mick whittingham]

Hi all,

I have finally managed to set up my spray facilities and get some colour on the tank assemblies. The desert sand looks quite bright and I cant wait to see the whole effect when I am in a position to spray the hull assembly.

I made more of an effort on the tin work too, getting the mudguards ready for building up and working on the tool bins both for the mudguards and the turret.

I made mini angle iron "lips" for the turret tool bins which I silver soldered into place to make the lids look right.

Then went on to make a riveting dolly and hammer to help with the rivets on the tool bin lids. The dolly supports the domed head and the hammer has a chequered face to swell the river shank and a smooth face to spread it. A neat little tool making project which I will share photo's if anyone needs to see what I mean.

Not sure what I will do at the weekend but may get some more paint on if its warm.

Will post more soon, hope all are progressing well,

Mick

[Stephen White]

Mick - have you seen this one?

http://www.network54.com/Forum/110741/t ... 5+AFV+Club

Stephen