Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: Rich H on September 01, 2019, 09:31:49 PM

Title: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on September 01, 2019, 09:31:49 PM
Been somewhat busy with work but found a bit of time to start the next project - can you guess what it is yet?

Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: AKULA on September 01, 2019, 09:42:28 PM
An Elefant?

Although it is missing a sprocket at the front....  :? ?
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Tim Haslam on September 02, 2019, 06:39:57 AM
I was going to say JSIII, but it’s got 4 top rollers?
Go on.... ;D
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 02, 2019, 06:50:11 AM
An Elefant?

Although it is missing a sprocket at the front....  :? ?

Nope - it never actually saw service...

I was going to say JSIII, but it’s got 4 top rollers?
Go on.... ;D

There are 2 more to add...
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Tim Haslam on September 02, 2019, 06:52:13 AM
It’s not a E100?
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 02, 2019, 07:02:20 AM
Nah, that was finished ages ago (really need to reprint that...)
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Shahbahraz on September 02, 2019, 08:05:04 AM
US M34 ? the wheels actually look a lot like the Chaffee.

:)
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 02, 2019, 08:09:10 AM
US M34 ? the wheels actually look a lot like the Chaffee.

:)

Nope - wrong nation ;)
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Arrigo on September 02, 2019, 12:52:07 PM
Centurion?
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 02, 2019, 01:05:17 PM
Centurion?
Yep!

I actually posted on the wrong board... but it was still built in WW2!
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Tim Haslam on September 02, 2019, 02:33:16 PM
Doh lol

I’ll leave it to the experts next time
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 02, 2019, 10:38:37 PM
1/50 scale?
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 02, 2019, 10:42:40 PM
Could be... ;)
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: vodkafan on September 04, 2019, 08:14:35 AM
I thought you had done a Centurion already?  ???
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 04, 2019, 08:23:59 AM
Different scale and different customer ;)
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 04, 2019, 06:53:08 PM
What options are you going to offer?
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 04, 2019, 07:27:45 PM
It's going to be the Aussie version for Vietnam but I posted on the wrong board...   lol
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 04, 2019, 08:00:12 PM
It's going to be the Aussie version for Vietnam but I posted on the wrong board...   lol
Mk III then.

How different is the Mk V (thinking AVRE).
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 04, 2019, 08:06:03 PM
Same hull up to Mk VII.

1/56 Cent/AVRE is available via Die Waffenkammer
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Splod on September 04, 2019, 11:42:11 PM
Haha, just a bit outside the period of this board then if we're looking at an Aussie Mk5/1  ;)

But I am eager to see how this project unfolds  :)
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 05, 2019, 08:10:53 AM
1/56 Cent/AVRE is available via Die Waffenkammer
^___^

I am after a 1/50 one.

Just saying....
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 05, 2019, 08:13:04 AM
Haha, just a bit outside the period of this board then if we're looking at an Aussie Mk5/1  ;)

But I am eager to see how this project unfolds  :)
I am expecting a MkIII.

I might model 169041, and paint it with Citadel Hex Wraith Flame.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Wildman II on September 05, 2019, 07:28:19 PM
Darn, since it was on the WWII board, I was hoping for an A41 prototype with
the 20mm cannon. No such luck!
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 06, 2019, 08:17:35 AM
Darn, since it was on the WWII board, I was hoping for an A41 prototype with
the 20mm cannon. No such luck!
You need to look at a thread by some bloke called Rich H and his A41 project.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=93724.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=93724.0)

Though the Polstn is not on the site.
http://www.diewaffenkammer.com/great_britain_and_the_commonwealth.html (http://www.diewaffenkammer.com/great_britain_and_the_commonwealth.html)
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 06, 2019, 08:47:35 AM
I never did a Mk1 turret as there was no consolidated drawings.  Plus it never got used anywhere.  The MkIII appears to have been the most widely used so I did that.

There were 3 or 4 configs of the Mk1 turret and hull with various combinations of Polstens and BESAs including one in the hull and a second in the turret. 
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: carlos marighela on September 06, 2019, 09:34:39 AM
I am expecting a MkIII.

I might model 169041, and paint it with Citadel Hex Wraith Flame.

A Mark 5 (change away from Roman numerals occurred during the war) is essentially a Mark 3 but with the co-ax swapped to a .30 cal Browning. The 5/1, the version that saw service in Vietnam is a Mark 5 but with the addition of a .50 cal ranging machine gun. So essentially hull and turret should be good to go if you want an earlier version.

The Australian Cents principally differed by having.

a) Bustle mounted stowage baskets.
b) Siting vanes on those tanks with the ‘B’ type barrel with the fume extractor.
c) External, demountable auxiliary long range fuel tanks (not fitted to all and not fitted all the time, there was a shortage of such).
d) The bazooka plates were removed very early on.
e) Attachment points for a couple of road wheels on the glacis plate (not fitted to all, or rather the road wheels weren’t always stored there.

Technically speaking, the Aussie 5/1 was better armoured, there was additional plate welded onto the glacis but you would struggle to notice in 1/50, it’s only apparent on close inspection on the real thing.

So if Rich does something similar to what he did with his 1/56 versions and produces an ‘A’ type barrel, bazooka plates and makes the basket, bazooka plates and auxiliary fuel tanks separate items ( I figure they will have to be anyway) then you should have a fair approximation of a Mark 3 or a Mark 5. You or he would probably need to make a glacis stowage bin and spare track. All of that I suppose is dependent on what the chaps commissioning it want to do. There are 1/48 Cents out there already if you want vanilla versions.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 06, 2019, 09:38:38 AM
Commission is for Vietnam cents but it would be relatively easy to do the other bits
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: carlos marighela on September 06, 2019, 09:42:34 AM
The siting vanes, three metal strips, running lengthways along the fume extractor, were for gauging the spread for the 20 pounder canister round. Not only an extremely effective anti-personnel round, it would strip away scrub and any camouflage applied to bunkers, so Cents upon encountering fixed defenses would fire a canister round, usually followed by solid shot into the aperture of any bunker revealed by the opening round.

Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 06, 2019, 10:07:05 PM
Tracks
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 06, 2019, 10:07:56 PM
Detailed enough?  ;D
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 06, 2019, 10:10:03 PM
I've asked that this is move to the cold war section - I was trigger happy on starting the thread o_o
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: carlos marighela on September 06, 2019, 10:29:03 PM
Detailed enough?  ;D

Well since I can see the track pins on that render, I suppose we should probably give it a pass mark.

 lol
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Blackwolf on September 07, 2019, 02:42:17 AM
An excellent book for Aussie Centurion fans is Jungle Tracks by Gary McKay and Graeme Nicholas.

Looks great Rich H.! I’m definitely up for a couple.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Paul @ Empress Miniatures on September 07, 2019, 07:21:31 AM
I wondered where this wss hiding  lol
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 07, 2019, 09:00:31 AM
Thanks Carlos.

I hope the information is as useful to Rich as it is to me.

I have an early 1980's modelling magazine somewhere with a Vietnam Centurion diorama, I will have to dig it out.

Rich - looking good.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 07, 2019, 02:48:39 PM
Thanks all good info thanks!

Redrew the tracks as I wasn't happy with them.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 11, 2019, 09:57:11 PM
Little bit of progress ;)

Damn lumpy cast turret... :-[
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Splod on September 12, 2019, 12:28:52 AM
Gorgeous!
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 12, 2019, 08:07:46 AM
Nice.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Paul @ Empress Miniatures on September 12, 2019, 08:41:10 AM
 :-*
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on September 17, 2019, 09:53:29 PM
A little bit more progress between nappy changes...
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on October 17, 2019, 10:01:02 PM
Finally a bit more progress:
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on October 17, 2019, 10:02:51 PM
Hull in in half at the moment - still tweaking it before the mirror and the mantle cover will be added after print as I'm rubbish at cloth in 3d...
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on October 18, 2019, 07:57:17 AM
Looking good.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: FreakyFenton on October 18, 2019, 12:40:48 PM
Looking good.

Seconded!  :D
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on November 07, 2019, 05:02:27 PM
After some delays caused by an outbreak of plague...  finally getting somewhere.

Mantle cover will be made form greenstuff as I'm rubbish at sculpting soft shapes.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on November 07, 2019, 06:45:55 PM
Sorry to hear about your plague, but you have come storming back.

Nice looking tank.

Will they be at Warfare?

Always the optimist ^__^.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on November 07, 2019, 07:49:41 PM
No clue!  I need to get a good print first.

First track print failed biggly so need to clean out and try again tomorrow.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on November 07, 2019, 09:24:10 PM
No clue!  I need to get a good print first..
No problem, I still have to assemble the M48 and the Ontos.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on November 10, 2019, 06:40:01 PM
Still on the printer it's that fresh!
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on November 10, 2019, 07:05:08 PM
Nice.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: carlos marighela on November 10, 2019, 09:15:54 PM
Nice!
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on November 10, 2019, 09:57:13 PM
Cleaned it up - looks good!
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Paul @ Empress Miniatures on November 12, 2019, 10:22:42 AM
Excellent. Did you work out the right version?  ;)
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on November 12, 2019, 12:55:46 PM
Hopefully... ;D
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Paul @ Empress Miniatures on November 12, 2019, 01:11:18 PM
 lol

I am sure Carlos will put you right  ;)
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: carlos marighela on November 12, 2019, 08:19:45 PM
Maybe.... maybe not.
Title: Re: Next project started
Post by: Rich H on November 13, 2019, 08:01:41 AM
Turret printed overnight, looks good.  Couple of minor bits (hatches) have failed so I'll reprint later.  Turret basket printed nicely too by the looks of it. I'll get pics when I get home from work.

Couple of things to draw/print still:  rooftop MG ammo stowage adn rear deck jerry can stowage both seem common to RAAC Cents.

Then onto the next project...
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Paul @ Empress Miniatures on November 13, 2019, 08:48:10 AM
Fantastic  ;)
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on November 13, 2019, 06:40:04 PM
I have only got two Empress Vietnam vehicles unassembled....
Though I do have a number of other Empress vehicles awaiting attention ^__^.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 13, 2019, 07:41:11 PM
Prototype with zero cleanup as yet.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 13, 2019, 07:43:17 PM
Front
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 13, 2019, 07:44:25 PM
Top
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Ash on November 13, 2019, 10:26:26 PM
That's looking rather nice
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on November 13, 2019, 10:53:27 PM
That's looking rather nice
I agree.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Blackwolf on November 13, 2019, 11:10:59 PM
Really looking forward to this  :)
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 14, 2019, 12:21:46 PM
Top

Note the lines you see on the turret are not 'print lines'.  The lines on the track guard are print lines (diagonal)

The lines ont he turret roof are a result of aliasing. 
This is a digital layering process: the printer uses an LCD to turn on and off 3d pixels of resin.  if there is a gradual slope it has to digitise that.

Imagine going up stairs with a fixed step height (layer height) and fixed step width (Pixel size). 

Assuming step height and width are the same then at 45 degrees the steps are evenly spaced. 
If its 60 degrees every now and then you have to add an extra step in to 'catch up'.  These catch up steps result in additional step lines you can see.

Sounds bad... but remember we are actually talking VERY small steps. 
The layer height used on my printer is usually 0.05mm and the LCD pixel size is 0.047x0.047mm for reference a human hair is on average 0.08-0.1mm

The printer will actually print down to 0.01mm but it's far easier for me just to sand the surface very slightly as 0.01mm means prints take 5x longer and the super fine layers plus extended print time means print failures are more common.  For example at 0.05mm one track takes 11 hours already.

One layer of undercoat and they vanish anyway ;)
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 15, 2019, 08:17:15 AM
New turret print and accessories
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: carlos marighela on November 15, 2019, 10:54:45 AM
Overall it looks very good. It might just be the angle or the photo but the barrel looks a bit off. There’s a fairly pronounced taper between the mantle and the fume extractor on the real thing and then the barrel is fairly straight after that. That looks like it has more of a taper towards the muzzle. See below.

I take it that Empress are doing the .30 cal in metal?

Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 15, 2019, 10:59:35 AM
Cheers - I'll see if I can find a better drawing. 
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: carlos marighela on November 15, 2019, 11:12:19 AM
By the by, if it only comes with one spare wheel, folk will need to add the mounting brackets for the other on the glacis. I assume it will cone with both spare wheels.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 15, 2019, 11:14:18 AM
All the additional bits will be metal for robustness.  I don't do the MGs so they match across the range.
It'll have two ;) - one failed to print - they are separate to provide options for other marks.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Paul @ Empress Miniatures on November 15, 2019, 11:37:30 AM
Thanks Carlos  :-*

Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Marine0846 on November 15, 2019, 03:26:29 PM
Great looking model.
Love it.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on November 15, 2019, 06:40:28 PM
Nice.
I was going to ask about the big tank that hangs on the back of the hull.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Shahbahraz on November 15, 2019, 09:06:31 PM
That looks excellent. I have a mate who drove these in 'nam, and then got posted to PNG. There's also an excellent book called 'Jungle Tracks' by McKay. But looking at Amazon, the paperback is now $288 !
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 17, 2019, 04:55:16 PM
Rear deck water cans and roof top 30cal ammo complete
Even got a mix of Jerry cans and US pattern cans ;)
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 17, 2019, 04:56:37 PM
close up
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on November 17, 2019, 05:11:10 PM
Nice.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 17, 2019, 05:30:08 PM
And some ammunition
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: carlos marighela on November 17, 2019, 09:30:33 PM
Ammo cans and Germans are separate items? For those of us wanting to build a troop and mix things up in terms of stowage.

I also see you have the searchlight mounted in the turret  basket will that be mountable on the turret?

Very nice so far.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on November 17, 2019, 09:33:51 PM
Yes they are separate.

Searchlight is separate too so could be mounted but the turret mount would be very flimsy.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Blackwolf on November 18, 2019, 12:44:39 AM
That looks excellent. I have a mate who drove these in 'nam, and then got posted to PNG. There's also an excellent book called 'Jungle Tracks' by McKay. But looking at Amazon, the paperback is now $288 !

Flippin ' heck,bought that book in Goulburn years ago for about $30!
Edit; had a look, plenty of cheaper  copies out there.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Poiter50 on November 18, 2019, 12:55:43 AM
That is stunning!! ::) ::) ;D :-*

Rear deck water cans and roof top 30cal ammo complete
Even got a mix of Jerry cans and US pattern cans ;)
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: tomrommel1 on November 18, 2019, 09:02:01 AM
really nice tank
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on December 02, 2019, 08:05:18 AM
Finaly got all the bits printed, had to reprint the hull again as I found a pretty serious defect, it wasn't external but it was the base of the turret ring had failed, leaving a large gaping hole in it!  now I need to find time to clean up the prints and miliput the turret.... 
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: tomrommel1 on December 02, 2019, 09:04:56 AM
looking good
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Paul @ Empress Miniatures on December 02, 2019, 10:41:47 AM
Rear deck water cans and roof top 30cal ammo complete
Even got a mix of Jerry cans and US pattern cans ;)

Looking at photos it looks like the Aussies were using US Jerry cans rather than a mix????
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on December 02, 2019, 12:46:12 PM
(http://members.tripod.com/centurion-mbt/169064_2.jpg)

Mixture ;)
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on December 03, 2019, 08:00:49 AM
Mantle cover sculpted last night.  Exhausts (nearly forgot) printed out. 

Everything is having a final bit of a sunbathe on the windowsill to make sure it's all cured properly then it'll be off to Empress :D
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on December 06, 2019, 08:55:29 AM
Everything is having a final bit of a sunbathe on the windowsill to make sure it's all cured properly then it'll be off to Empress :D
Yay!

By the way - the jerry can photo just shows the Tripod logo.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on December 06, 2019, 09:00:04 AM
Linky:
http://members.tripod.com/centurion-mbt/169064_2.jpg

Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Splod on December 06, 2019, 07:24:11 PM
Man, I am so excited for this. I've been trying to resist 28mm Vietnam, but the promise of gaming Binh Ba is just too much.

I'll only need 3 Centurions... And another 3 M113/T50. Get cracking ;)
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: carlos marighela on December 06, 2019, 09:47:26 PM
Or you could game the lesser known but equally interesting battle of Ba Ria and dispense with the Cents.

https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/the-tet-offensive/

One of only two battles that 1ATF undertook in an urban environment and long before the army brought in FIBUA/MOUT training.

Of course you’ll still want the Cents for Coral-Balmoral.  :)
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on December 06, 2019, 09:59:26 PM
Shush you, he wants a platoon of Centurions  lol
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Poiter50 on December 07, 2019, 01:09:31 AM
Umm, that's a Troop of Centurions. They are Armoured Corps, after all.

Often operated in 2's from what I read (long ago) in Jungle Tracks. Our Driver Training instructor got his MM (and bar) there. Mind you, he was quite an angry ant. lol

Shush you, he wants a platoon of Centurions  lol
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on December 07, 2019, 07:55:51 AM
Of course lol
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on December 07, 2019, 08:36:58 AM
Linky:
http://members.tripod.com/centurion-mbt/169064_2.jpg
Thanks - that also is the triod logo.
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on December 07, 2019, 09:14:38 AM
Er..  I'll try again later
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Splod on December 08, 2019, 09:26:54 PM
Did I say 3? Silly me, I meant 4. Have to have a full troop of course!

All this military reading has me nostalgic for the army. I'm not too old yet, maybe this retired pogue will re-up and go for a combat Corps? I'm sure they'd want a 30yo ex-bandie  lol
Title: Re: Next project started - RAAC Centurion for Empress
Post by: Rich H on December 08, 2019, 11:23:46 PM
 lol

If I'm lucky all my aircraft will be washing machines, milk bottle tops and drinks cans by now (Rust In Pieces F3 ADV)