well, my primary source of inspiration and information is a Mk 5 or Mk 5.1
...and depending on the Gun barrel I choose, that will decide the final model.
but before you say anything, I will admit my ignorance...and apologize if I really got it wrong.
The goal initially was a Canadian Centurion...all of which seem to be Mk 5s.
(At least all the display units still around are mark fives)
I have the AFV Mk5 plastic kit, which has been my immediate source of visual
reference (when I don't understand shapes and structures).
For photo reference, I have collected a lot of stuff, but mainly I am using the
photos from the Steel Thunder websites. The creator of those sites, Col Filtness,
was a Mk5 Tank driver in Vietnam and has rebuilt many Mk5s for the Tank Museum
in Australia.
Now, I admit, sometimes when looking for reference I refer to other Centurion Marks.
For example, I used vintage photos of the very first Centurions (Mark 1) on the
production line, to understand the bare basic welded Hull assembly.
And a friend just returned from Bovington with a folder full of photos of their Mk3 Centurion.
Thats where I got the idea to use the alternate storage box.
His photos provided me with clearer reference for designing and that odd box just appealed
to me as some sort of visual variety.
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Sometimes I might put the wrong object or get the parts mixed up between versions
but I look at it this way...I prefer to make things visually more interesting. I will also
change parts to make the model easier ...or more interesting to build.
And I have learned from modeling aircraft, that things weren't always by the book out
in the real world.
When someone comes along and shows me evidence that something is one way and only
one way, then I will design a model that way. The rest of the time, I just do the best with
what little I know and hope its acceptable to most.