Bowcat's AFV Club Centurion mk 5/1

[Mr Bowcat]

Made a start on this one at long last. I've had it since around February but I've been learning skills with other builds so that I can give this one justice.

My dad drove a Centurion mk 5 during national service (in fact he drove the platoon commanders tank) in the 1950's.

This Australian version is the closest I can find. I'm going to build mainly OOB but have got the proper mantlet for it and ordered a couple of other bits from Oz.

 

[Tony]

Nice start to your build. You do not see many centurions being built so i will be interest to see how this all goes together.

Looksi like you have some nice, fine detailed parts in your kit.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Cheers Tony. It's the first AFV Club kit I've built, but seems pretty nice so far. Not too much cleanup.

 

[papa 695]

Nice one Bob I will watch this one as well.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Cheers Ian, welcome aboard.

 

[Snowman]

Cool!

 

[tommy1drop]

Nice start, looking forward to following this build.

 

[Steve Brodie]

looking fine thus far

 

[Mr Bowcat]

A little more done on this, back end and top are together. The top was a little unusual (for me) in that it's made up of 6 separate parts.

I have to say, I'm not loving this kit. The detail is superb, but the plastic is very soft, the instructions a little vague and I'm finding the holes for locating other parts are either very shallow, or non-existent. This means more time is taken fitting each part, resulting in a slow build.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Got the hull almost completed, there's a plethora of grab handles to go on, but I will wait until I'm ready to paint before I add them (as I'll only knock them off).

Made a start on the turret today, I've had to glue the mantlet in place as the weight of the barrel is too much for the poly caps to hold up.

Also received my order from Firestorm in Oz, some PE for the tools and turret basket, plus some nice resin stowage.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

More done on the turret today. There was a nasty gap which required filling and sanding, then I had to re-instate the cast iron texture.

The Firestorm PE for the basket came out quite well.

 

[papa 695]

Some nice work Bob,

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Cheers Ian, it's getting there.

I must be mad, but I've just ordered a 1/72 British Centurion Mk V, which is the one my Dad drove. I'm hoping to get it built with a little base to give to him for Christmas.

 

[Snowman]

Impressive stuff!

 

[papa 695]

Cheers Ian, it's getting there.

I must be mad, but I've just ordered a 1/72 British Centurion Mk V, which is the one my Dad drove. I'm hoping to get it built with a little base to give to him for Christmas.

Nice idea Bob, and I bet he will love it.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

I hope so. I spoke to my mum today and asked her to dig out any photos of him with his Cent. I'm hoping I can make out the markings so I can buy or make matching decals.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

I haven't had much time at the bench recently, but the build stage is almost complete other than some PE clamps for the tools. I hope to get to painting over the weekend.

 

[papa 695]

It's coming along nicely Bob

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Cheers.

 

[tommy1drop]

Coming together very nicely Bob