Mr Dawe's Centurion.

[Phil Woollard]

We have just taken possession of a very nicely made Cent, thank you John. She's in for some detail works, should be interesting.

[Phil Dawe]

Does anyone have a Centurion Build Manual they can loan us to copy? Obviously we will return it

[Adrian Harris]

Have PM'd you.

So wish I'd bought that one now

Adrian.

[Robert E Morey]

Hope you keep the sand color/IDF livery. Its a beauty.
Bob

[John Clarke]

Great looking Cent

Like the Basket, is there a plan for these things anywhere or are they all scratch build?

In the clip, is that one of those rare left hand drive drive Cents?

[Chris Hall]

Phil -

Which model / theatre of Centurion are you aiming at ? I’m retro-ing down to a Mark 3 (Korean War) and have collected all the books and tech. drawings I can find for that !

Good luck,

Chris

[Phil Dawe]

Chris,

I understand from talking to Stephen White that the Armortek Centurion "out of the box" represents a Mark 5/2. We would like the model to represent a vehicle serving with the BAOR during the cold war.

[Michael Cecil]

Phil,

The characteristics of a Mk5/2 are that it is a Mk.5 upgraded with a 105mm main armament, replacing the Ordnance QF 20-pdr. As part of the upgunning to the 'Gun, 105mm, Tank, L7A1', the Centurion had the .50 cal L6A1 Ranging Gun fitted co-axial to the main armament, alongside the .30 cal Browning, initially the M1919A4, but later upgraded to the British version, the L3A3. The Mk.5/2 was also fitted with a commander's MG, initially an M1919A4, but replaced in the early 1960s with the British version, the L3A4 (they look the same, except when in the cocked position, the M1919A4 has a closed bolt, while the Brit versions fired from the open bolt).

I'm not sure if the Mk.5/2 served with BAOR - I suspect the version fielded with BAOR was the Mk.6 - a Mk.5/2 with an uparmoured front glacis plate. I think Simon Dunstan's excellent Centurion book also shows at least some of these with the rear-mounted 100 imp gallon auxiliary fuel tank, which added the letters 'LR' to the British nomenclature (for 'Long Range').

Others more conversant with the British use of Cent, please chime in if I've got any of this wrong.

Mike

[Stephen White]

Spot on Mike. Phil, Mike is an expert on Australian Cents and by extension, British ones.

Mike - I’ve given Phil a run-down on Cent modifications and made the point that the Armortek model is really an accurate representation of a generic Cent of around Mk 5/2 but as you say, the 44mm glacis plate and external tank would be required to represent a Mk 6.

Phil - for good photos, the Centurion Tank Appreciation group on Facebook is useful.

[Stephen White]

Phil(s)

It's all too easy to get confused by the variants of Centurion, after all, it was in service for a very long time.

You're looking to represent a BAOR Centurion in NATO Green/Black.

The up gunning programme from 20 pounder to 105mm began in March 1962.

Given the features of the base kit, that gives you a choice of:

Mk 5/2 - you would need to add: additional 44mm glacis plate armour, .50 coaxial ranging MG, headlights. Optional would be an external 100 gall fuel tank.

Mk 6/1 - converted Mk 5s with IR searchlight and headlights.

Mk 6/2 LR (optional 100 gall external tank)

Mk 11 - converted from Mk 6, with IR searchlight and headlights, turret basket (and including glacis appliqué armour, 105mm gun, ranging gun).

Note that the earlier marks were mostly painted in glossy deep bronze green, whereas the Mk 11s would have been camouflaged. The introduction of the green/black camouflage began around the early seventies when Chieftain started to appear in BAOR but surviving Centurions would have also been camouflaged. Note also that when the Mk 5/2 was in service in Berlin with 4RTR, the tanks were painted in US Army Olive Drab. Later marks were camouflaged.

To make any other later mark, you would need to lengthen the hull, change the engine deck covers, change the mantlet and a few other minor mods. In other words, a lot of work.

There are a host of other minor mods necessary on the kit if you're really after accuracy.

Cent Mk 6/1 LR around 1968

Cent Mk 6/2 around 1969

[Chris Hall]

Note that the earlier marks were mostly painted in glossy deep bronze green

Except, to my chagrin, the Mark 3's in Korea, which were ordered to be painted SCC15 Olive Drab prior to embarkation. I'd much prefer DBG, but historical accuracy is a cruel and unrelenting mistress .........

[Phil Dawe]

Note that the earlier marks were mostly painted in glossy deep bronze green

Except, to my chagrin, the Mark 3's in Korea, which were ordered to be painted SCC15 Olive Drab prior to embarkation. I'd much prefer DBG, but historical accuracy is a cruel and unrelenting mistress .........

Never a truer word said!

[Phil Woollard]

First upgrade, a new radio.

[John Clarke]

I pity the poor apprentice that may have to work for you Phil, he'll/she'll never keep up with your long days, late hours. 25/8.

Still, it probably keeps you slim, stick on the extended range rear fuel tank on that Cent and your have to suck in the belly to get by

The Cent is awesome, second best looking tank ever.

Looking forward to the upgrades.

[Phil Woollard]

You always bring a smile to my boat John, I don't think I would ever find an apprentice as most of the young don't like to get their hands dirty and cry if they have to work overtime lol.
I'm loving all the work but don't do as much as I would like, this is mainly down to a number of diagnosed spinal problems, looks like DDD ( degenerative disc disease ) is one, basically my back is no good after a lifetime of heavy work, I'm worn out but this hobby keeps me going. What better way to see my time out in a heated workshop building the 1/6 scale models that we all love, and hate sometimes?
Get on with that Chieftain John or I would have built 2 by the time you get it finished.

Now talking about heavy models can we have a "Conqueror" next please Armortek, I'm still keen on building the Mighty Antar tank transporter, and building the massive Faun prime mover has given me the confidence. mm

If Armortek could build the Antar that would be fantastic and save me more than a year of work!