Armortek

My finished King Tiger has now gone to its new owner and I am eagerly awaiting the Centurion kit arrival. Initial research seems to show that most of not all Centurions were fitted with a canvas shroud over the mantlet presumably for dust/weather protection. Does anyone have any experience of acquiring or making this sort of equipment for Armortek or similar models?
Martin

Hi Martin,
I bought a little sewing machine and had a go my self and completed my Comet
Mantlet Cover.
Took a bit of time but I found it easier making the part than threading the
cotton into the machine.
If you have a wife or girl friend who is handy with a machine they may help in
that department.
Cheers
Phil

Thanks Phil. My wife is an expert seemstress so I will tell her of your recommendation! What did you use for a pattern as the mantlet covers on Bovington Centurions look to be quite complicated? Have you a picture of you Comet mantlet cover?
Cheers
Martin

Like these?















If anyone can come up with a pattern for the full size, it would make a lot of difference.

This is the best I can do - the picture from the Mk 5 Illustrated Parts Catalogue:



Regards

Stephen

Thats's a great place to start....thanks Stephen!
Martin

Hi Martin
You will find my pictures in my Comet postings.
I just made a basic "D" shape Patern for the ends and of course the main rectangle for
the front,all oversize for hems,all the pockets for the wires are easy.
Without a patern for every single part I had to sew and fit arround the Gun,MG and sight
as I went.
You cant get better pictures for your wife than those Stephen has supplied,there looks a lot of fasteners for drilling and tapping to fit it.
Cheers
Phil

Hi Phil, will follow up your pics and get stuck into some serious research re the specifics of the Centurion shroud.
Again many thanks for your help.
Martin

Hi Stephen.
A great post, thanks! What is the 'Mk 5 Illustrated Parts Catalogue' and does it have more details like this,where can I get a copy?
Simon

Simon

All British AFVs were issued with an illustrated parts catalogue which was used by the maintainers to identify and order replacements. The Cent one comes in three thick volumes. Although a lot of it is boring and meaningless lists of part numbers and descriptions, there are also line drawings of lots of parts to aid identification. I was lucky to pick up a set second hand.

As you can imagine, it's not a copying job but I will post any that I use when I do my blog. You might be lucky on eBay if you were after a set. I imagine the same applies to tanks of other nations although if one exists for the Tiger I'm sure we'd all have heard about it by now, several times........

All the best.

Stephen

Hi,

Just flicking through the reference books reveals several different designs, the most obvious feature being the inclusion of a fitted cover for the co-axial MG. Looks like it is going to be down to picking a specific vehicle at a specific point in its (probably) lengthy career with supporting photos for guidance. Jammy so and so, Stephen, your Aussie spare even has the right date on it!

Unfortunately the AVRE 165 has a different mantlet and cover anyway, so I am out on a limb here.

Wingrove's Car Modelling book describes making 1/15th folding hoods from polyester satin cut, sealed and seamed with a hot blade. No stitching. Probably not robust enough, but worth hunting around for a scale canvas texture material in the remnants box at a fabric shop, or army surplus for that matter, to experiment with. Patterns can be cut out of J cloths and glued for testing fit.

Most of you will have figured out that the long bands running towards the front along top are pockets for spring steel strip stiffeners to hold the cover clear of the mantlet and prevent water pooling.

cheers, Fabrice

Hi Fabrice,
For my Comet,I just chose a nice light cotton material with a nice fine weave
from a craft shop.
When I had finished it I lightly sprayed with acrylic and this stiffened it up
just nice,well you wouldnt want the same material for underpants anyway
If its too stiff take out any wire supports and scrub it a bit and screw it up in
your hands,it works.
Paterns and for practice I used old Tee shirts
Cheers
Phil