AntPhillips

Early on in the Gulf, when they were laser designating for Tornado, they carried when viewed from front, ECM pod, Slipper tank, Laser Designator pod, Sidewinder. Later on when they started to carry LGB's themselves, they invariably replaced the slipper tank and the Sidewinder with 2 LGB's, so when viewed nose on it was ECM pod, LGB, Laser Designator pod, LGB, I'm not certain if they ever carried anything internally.

There are plenty of pics of Bucc's carrying 4 Sea Eagles and no slipper tanks, the Bucc was quite long legged especially with the bulged bomb bay door tank. I seem to remember when the anti-ship squadrons converted from the Bucc' to the Tornado, one of the major criticisms was the fact that Tornado only routinely carried 2 missiles on the belly pylons as it needed to carry extra fuel in underwing tanks to match the Bucc's range.

Most of the sprues in the AFV Club kits are common to all the kits, each kit then contains additional sprues for the specific variant, you can download/view instructions of the various kits either on Scalemates or the HobbySearch webstore, be aware I believe the 105mm gun was only included in the early releases of the IDF Shot kit, the ones where the kit box is marked "Special Parts Included". Links below: IDF Shot: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10060932 or https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/2/1/7/100217-14-instructions.pdf Centurion Mk.5 with Dozer: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10081493 or https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/8/7/9/132879-51-instructions.pdf Centurion Mk.5/2 / 6 NATO 105 mm: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10053022 Aussie Centurion Mk.5/1: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10049737 or https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/8/7/7/132877-18-instructions.pdf You can pick up Eduard etched bazooka plates on eBay for about £4.50, they are designed for the Tamiya kit but will fit the AFV Club one too. I have a Mk.6 on the bench, and I'm going to do a Mk.11, both of them are being done using an Aussie kit with Accurate Armour L7 105 mm barrels, unsleeved for the Mk.6 and with thermal sleeve for the Mk.11, the Aussie kit includes the searchlight and the turret basket for the Mk.11, I'll use the Eduard bazooka plates on the Mk.6 but will probably leave them off the Mk.11. The basic sprues are as follows (see notes below for those in italics): A - Hull bottom B - Minor parts, towing eyes, headlights, head light guards, bazooka plate supports etc (2 supplied) C - Upper hull, engine decks, glacis plate, hull rear plate, track guard mounted tool boxes & some minor parts D - Clear parts E - Wheels and suspension F - Up-armored glacis (2 types), external fuel tank, turret rear rack, searchlight, glacis mounted spare wheel and turret top ammo boxes (last 2 Aussie specific), mantlet with ranging gun. G - Etched parts (differ kit to kit) H 1- Track guards, drive wheel transmission housing. H2 - Israeli specific parts including .50 cal Browning I - Turret parts including stowage boxes and non ranging gun mantlet & commanders .30 cal Browning. J - Dozer blade parts K - Bazooka plates Sprue H2 is only found in the IDF Shot kit, sprue J only in the Mk.5 withg Dozer kit and sprue K is not included in the Aussie kit, and Sprue F is not in the IDF kit. Hope this helps. Ant

I've seen this discussed elsewhere (ironically I think it was in the Airfix @Telford thread) apparently it is a re-release of the Revell boxing of the Hasegawa kit, as confirmed by someone on the Revell stand at Telford, the post didn't mention if it will have new decal options or be the same as previous release.

The Cardiff store has now relocated to the Wyndham Arcade, hopefully they'll get a better footfall there.

I've got this one on my future wanted list, I'll be following with interest

Hi all, It seems that news of Antics demise may have been slightly premature, it sounds as if they may now be relocating the store, although there's no firm news and a lot of unconfirmed rumours, I've copied the text below from a post on the MAFVA South Wales Facebook page: ...just got back from a visit to Lord & Butler model railway shop in Penarth Road, Cardiff, and was chatting about Antics. Another customer joined in to say that he had just come from Antics which is STILL OPEN. Last week I had an e-mail from Nigel to say that he had been told that they were going to move to Barrack Lane (where the old Mill Street open air stalls used to be). The person in the shop today said that he was told that they are looking at a premises in Wyndham Arcade, and may close either this weekend, or maybe next. Peter Lord tells me that he had heard that they were looking somewhere else. So, rumour control is going absolutely rife! Don't believe anything until you actually see it. The only certainty is that where Antics are at present is due to be demolished fairly soon. So there you have it, nothing confirmed but there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

That's the one, die-casts and trains on the ground floor and models in the basement. I've not made it to the latest shop, every time I get into Cardiff it's either not been open or I'm the wrong side of town. I've heard nothing about a closing down sale so I presume stock will be redistributed to other Antics stores.

A little late with this one, popped into Swansea at the weekend and whilst the Mrs and daughter treated themselves to a coffee and ice cream I managed 10 minutes in the LHS and picked up some MiG Ammo paints, a bottle of "One Shot" black primer and a Smart Set No.10 of 4 colours for 1939-45 British AFV's, I'm going to give black basing a go on some unfinished projects. Allegedly the primer is odourless, so I might be able to get some spraying done without waiting for our notoriously unpredictable weather to provide a window of opportunity.

It's been reported on the MAFVA South Wales Facebook page that the Antics Model shop in Cardiff will be shutting up shop this Saturday 3rd November and will not be re-opening, by all accounts the lease is up on the current shop and they will not be relocating. Such a shame, I remember the shop when it was Bud Morgan's located in the Castle Arcade prior to it's takeover by Antics. I'm sure that means there's now only 1 model shop serving Cardiff and that's Lendon's in Llanishen, unless someone knows otherwise.

Box is full to brim and more: Sprue shots:

No, and on first glance the Jerry cans provided are a mix of British plastic Water cans and US style Fuel cans, although from photo's I've seen its predominantly water cans that are carried in the racks at the rear of the vehicle. It looks great in the box, and the box is crammed full of parts, I'll try to put some sprue shots up if I get a chance later.

One of these:

Ooh, look what arrived today: This is actually my first Meng kit, I'm well pleased so far.

Cracking build, can't see anything that needs improving.