Centurion #44 received

[mick whittingham]

Hi Stephen,

I have seen just a couple of the photo's of this model but not the full series you have signposted. They are a fabulous little resource and I will be taking inspiration from them.

I had a bit of a mare with the turret as I spray painted the first coat of colour on tother day. When I sprayed a second coat the first coat seemed to crinkle up in places and looked a real mess. Not sure if its a thinning issue but all the other painted items are fine. Got some rubbing down and prep work to do to get it ready to try again.

The painted turret and mudguards should be attached here to show how the desert sand looks, I am quite taken with it.

I have been busy making dust cover caps for the smoke launchers today, a bit of a Blue Peter job but they look Ok and I will post a picture when they are done to see if anyone can identify the source.

If it's fine tomorrow I will try some more painting, best regards to all,

Mick

[mick whittingham]

Hi all,

I have cleaned up the paint problem and I'm going to let the whole turret cure thoroughly for a few days before I attempt to paint it again. If it fails again then maybe I will need to strip more paint off. I did chat with the paint spray shop and they suggested using a pure thinner rather than the methanol based one I had used. I will report back when I have some results.

I spent the afternoon modifying my build table to take the hull with the suspension attached as I am going to start building up a little more now.

I also made a radio aerial base from steel on the lathe and wonder what you guys think? I have attached an image so let me know if it looks right. I want to make the inverted funnel shaped base too and I am currently working out how I will turn it on the lathe. Need a close up photo to assist though.

Aerial base in steel.

Turret waiting for second coat

Work is about to get in the way of my hobby for a few days so I will update you all when I make more progress.

Regards, Mick

[mick whittingham]

Hi all,

been beavering away again and managed to make some progress.

These are the little fiddly smoke grenade launcher dust covers I mentioned. Bet you can't guess what they are made of?

I have popped the turret on to see how things look at this stage, I am quite happy and can see where I am heading now.

I bought a new spray gun on Friday and have been amazed at the results from spending a few more pounds than the cheap copies of quality spray guns. I bought and Iwata LH80 which is a spot repair gun but which will handle larger areas easily. I also bought a digital pressure regulator for it which allows accurate setting of the spray pressure at the gun itself which really makes a difference, and saves air too so the compressor stays off longer.

More later as work is about to interrupt again,

Regards, Mick

[Kevin Hunter]

Looking really smart Mick, I'm very impressed with your build to date.
No idea what the tube covers are, they look like small plastic lids although I can't think of anything small enough.
Regards
Kevin

[mick whittingham]

Hi all,

I put the turret together to get an idea of the paint colour and think I am happy with it.

The track guards are well on their way and I have spent a bit of time on the exhaust system, making some new steel pipe fittings so they can rust naturally and look a little more in keeping.

The warm weekend was spent painting engine hatches and other sundry bits and bobs which are now stored away again ready for construction (or as the old Sheffield term for an assembler of items goes; a bit of putter togetherer action)

Planning to attend the open day and hopefully bring the part built beast along with us so I am looking forward to seeing everyone and their respective models.

Hope all is going well for everyone,

Regards Mick

[Paul Morris]

Now that is very nice indeed! love the colour well done see you at the open day.
Cheers Paul

[mick whittingham]

Hi all,

thanks Paul for the encouraging feedback.

I have been doing a few little bits and bobs and have made a new sledge hammer and pry bar for the tool set from steel (not entirely happy with the cast items which, although good, don't quite do it for me).

I am on with the pick heads and shafts now then will do the shovels and maybe an axe.

The turret is just about finished and ready to start weathering, although I hate to spoil the lovely finish I have managed to achieve. I am going to wait till the whole tank is finished before I start the weathering so I can get a consistent finish. I have not forgotten about the mantlet cover and I'm going to get cracking on a patter in the next few days/weeks.

I am off in the shop now and will make the most of the warm weather to spray the hull with its finish coats.

Hope all are doing well,

Regards, Mick

[Kevin Hunter]

Continues to look great Mick, and nice to see one not in green.
You never did let on about your smoke discharger covers...,.,...?
Cheers
kevin

[mick whittingham]

Hi Kevin,

the smoke tube covers was just one of those lucky finds when you see something innocent and spot the potential in model making.

In short whilst injecting a diabetic dog with insulin (No I am not a vet, just a handy son in law who does not mind giving jabs) I noticed that the covers for each syringe were cast plastic and may come in handy for something, sometime. I kept plenty of them and after much tinkering found that they fitted the smoke tubes.

I will post a before and after photo later that shows the transformation process.

I also found a miniature steel bucket that is not too bad scale wise for the 1/6 tanks at a local cook shop of all places. Could be good for accessorising a model. Again I will snap a good photo and see what folk think.

Tools have been completed now except the shovels, which need a bit more head scratching to sort out the process before I start working on them. I am pleased with the new tool set and it gave me a nice way to pass the hot weather when painting was a no no due to sunbathing neighbours (I know its a desert colour but a sand spray tan was not popular down our way).

Regards, Mick

[mick whittingham]

Been snapping away and took some images mentioned in my last mail.

Hope they will show the smoke tube covers modification clearly, it was a simple job of making a short mandrel to hold the original cover in the lathe and then "part off" the cap with a sharp knife tool. Bit of a rub with scotchbrite to give a key and then paint matt black.

I also took a pic of the tool set as it stands, actually lighter in weight than the cast Armorpax parts, which may or may not be an issue but I think will be of benefit not to be sitting on the trackguards.

Note the little bucket, may be a little big but looks Ok for £1.50

That's all for now but more when I progress.

Regards, mick

[mick whittingham]

Hi all,

first of all it was great to get to the Armortek Show and meet so many builders and see the fruits of their labours. Really inspiring to see so many models on display.

I have been taking things a little steady in the shop and have made member of a local model engineering club to gain some knowledge as I am essentially self taught on the machine side of things.

I was initially happy with the level of extra detail I had included on my Cent but having seen what can be achieved I have embarked on some more detail touches for the hull prior to any further building.

I made up a few parts for the rear, reflectors, rear light units, tow cable brackets and tapped plates on the engine hatches.

Simple fabrication jobs for rainy days really and quite rewarding for a few hours of fiddling about. I also then made front running lights and brackets which look good and will be even better when painted in.

I have to make space for my wife to start building her field gun soon, she decided if you can't beat em join em so I now have an apprentice to train up.

Now that's either a master stroke or really stupid but the only way to find out is to give it a go.

Chat more later, Mick

[Kevin Hunter]

Nice touches Mick. I particularly like the tail and front side lights, did you cast them, or whittle from stock?

So you caved in as regards the 25pdr. When I get mine Sue isn't going near it

All the best

Kevin

[mick whittingham]

Hi Kevin,

the lights are a filing and fabrication job. Aluminium body with steel turned lens bezel and steel mounting brackets for the front ones. The lens is made from the rear reflector from my pedal bike, needed a good match for the colour and transparency. I just glued broken fragments to the end of a thin steel rod and then shaped them into rounds on a belt machine before gluing them into the bezel. Then some really fine abrasive to shape and polish them.

Same thing with the mudguard reflector, a brass collar made in the lathe and then a disc of reflector to suit.

My favourite was the tow cable hooks on the top of the mudguard. Nice bit of fabrication and silver soldering to get them looking right.

Sandra is intent on having a go and building her own model. Maybe at the next open day she will exhibit her work.

Chat soon, Mick

[paul&robinmargle]

Looks really good Mick . We had trouble finding reflectors, bike ones seemed too chunky, I found some red holographic paper but it won't work the same.
I've been sticking with plastic just coz it's easier to work with but gluing things does have it's disadvantages when bits keep falling off - although I'm a big fan of 'Liquid Metal' for fixing the kit parts. I do wish I had the metalwork skills and tools.

Robin

[mick whittingham]

Hi Robin,

I used liquid metal to secure the towing cable hooks and other bits and bobs. Fabricating them was a silver soldering job and it really is quite an easy thing to master, clean everything before you start to heat the joint and use flux and the solder takes care of itself. You can't silver solder aluminium but steel, stainless steel and cast iron will all work fine with this method.

I am going to start on making the filler caps as per Stephen White's thread and I am just getting the materials together so I have everything to hand.

But I have also decided to move a die filing machine from one workshop to another this weekend and as it weighs nearly half a ton I will have my work cut out! But the filing machine makes fabricating things much easier on the hands and wrists as it does the filing for you.

I am also looking at doing some modifications to the front of the mudguards as it looks as though the Suez models have an extended hood to keep the dust/sand down. Bit of tin work should be fun.

Regards,

Mick