Next project - Centurion A41

[Rich H]

Pretty much crazy!  Love it
I'll see about drawings...

[carlos marighela]

Pretty much crazy!  Love it
I'll see about drawings...

If you fancy some references for the trailer and indeed the external ER fuel tank for the Australian Cents, then there's a 1/72 model by ACE or UM (forget which) that has the parts for both. UM and ACE tend to be fairly accurate models.

[Rich H]

The ACE site has some good views of the trailer.
I've made a start... I'm blaming Ballardian!

[Rich H]

Current state of the Centurion.  Bits marked * are not done yet

Basic Centurion III/V consists of:
Hull
Tracks x2
Side skirts x2
Turret
Commander’s hatch
Driver’s hatch
Barrel (Fume extractor or not)
Turret track stowage
Glacis track stowage
Glacis stowage box
Smoke dischargers (mounts need to be built)
Turret Cable drum* (Remove the current one and replace with an optional one)

Australian Centurion in Vietnam extras:
Glacis roadwheels*
Turret basket*
Searchlight (probably in the turret basket)*
Turret 30 cal mount*
Turret 30 cal ammo rack*
Long range fuel tank
Sighting 50 cal barrel (It will need a hole drilling in the mantle for this)

MkIII AVRE extras:
165mm demolition gun
Fascine carrier*
Dozer blade*
Turret basket*
Reinforced tow hitch*

Other extras:
Mono-wheel fuel trailer (WIP)
AVRE Trailer* (If I can find more info)

[carlos marighela]

At the risk of appearing a knob.....

Australian Cents had three aiming vanes atop the fume extractor of the 20pdr. This was to allow for quick aiming of the canister round, it provided a rough dispersal guide to to gunner and TC. Not beyond the ability of even the most inexperienced modeller to add three bits of plastic strip but as you are already making barrel variants it might be worth the minimal effort.

There were Australian Cents with the Type A barrel (no fume extractor) but I'm not aware of any photos showing their deployment to SVN.

Best to ensure that the front sectionrack guards can be filed back or removed. The bazooka plates were typically left off on service in Vietnam and often the front section of the track guards were removed. This was due to the accumulation of mud and vegetation and the consequent risk of damage to the running gear.

Hope that helps.

[Rich H]

I noticed the vanes but didn't know they were for cannoster.  Thanks!

  I need to work out how best to make things so one model covers as much as possible.  So i might put them on.  Always easy to cut off.

Not sure how to do the basket.  Its a right awkward bastard of angles.  Had a go but ran out of time and dropped it... its under the workbench somewhere now...  need to start over. 

I'll focus on the smoke dischargers and cable drum tomorrow.  Get the basic tank built.  Then I'll get that basket sorted as that is going to take a while... 

[Rich H]

Oh and the track guards are only 1mm thick.  Easily trimmed.  The Aussie version will need some skill as itll need a hole drilling in the mantle for the 50

[Rich H]

Smoke launcher brackets made, turret basket structure made and vane sights added

Got to add the cuploa vane sight too.

Pics tomorrow....

[Slayer]

You're a machine  :-)

[Rich H]

The central row from Left-Right:

Turret track stowage, smoke discharger, cupola hatch, Driver's hatch, smoke discharger, glacis stowage box, Glacis track stowagex2

Next row:
Turret basket with searchlight, extended fuel tank, Glacis roadwheels, straight barrel 17/20pdr, fume extracotr barrel with canister vanes, 165mm demolition gun

The bits bottom right are the start of the monowheel trailer.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Is it tomorrow already?

Excellent.

[Rich H]

Er no idea

I need to make myself some 30cal boxes and jerry cans and racks for them.

[carlos marighela]

That is fucking amazing!

[Andym]

That is fucking amazing!

What he said!

[Ballardian]

Beautiful job Fond as I am of my FOA Centurion III, I'm obviously going to have to find room for another one (& a reason to jam it into games).