PlaStix Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 (edited) The Australian Army got involved in Vietnam from 1965 onwards but it wasn't until 1968 that they decided to make use of Centurion tanks. Once these tanks were deployed they were operated by the 1st Armoured Regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. Despite some concerns before being deployed the Centurions proved to be really good at operating in the jungles and paddy fields of Vietnam. Also, much to the surprise of some U.S. Units, the Australians found it was possible to repair even some fairly major combat damage, on the Centurion, while it was still in the field.The kit I have decided to build for this GB is AFV Club's Mk.5/1 Centurion of the RAAC. It is a rather nice kit that includes some etch, rubber tyres and a metal gun barrel. This will be my first, proper full sized 1/35 tank build, the only previous 1/35 kit I've built being Tamiya's Panzer Kampfwagen II Ausf. F/G.I won't be starting this build properly just yet as I'm trying to finish two Mk.I Spitfires for the BoB GB. Knowing me though I will probably end up starting some bits and pieces before properly getting started.The box art:The contents:..........wow that looks like a lot of parts!I also picked up a Mantlet Cover as Centurions in Vietnam had them fitted:Over the next couple of days I'll post some closer up photos of the sprues.Kind regards,Stix Edited December 30, 2015 by PlaStix 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Looks like a very nice kit, AFV Club kits are a bit underrated, but they are nicely detailed and look great in the box. If you like building tanks in this scale and there is some budged "unused" i would recommend the AFV Club Churchill kits, they look amazing in the box. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Superb choice Stix. This is a great kit that really looks the business when built. Good to see you have the correct mantlet also. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 Looks like a very nice kit, AFV Club kits are a bit underrated, but they are nicely detailed and look great in the box. If you like building tanks in this scale and there is some budged "unused" i would recommend the AFV Club Churchill kits, they look amazing in the box. Hi Bernd. Yes I've read some good reviews for this kit. There's some issues but nothing too bad. I'll watch out for their Churchill. Thank you.Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 Superb choice Stix. This is a great kit that really looks the business when built. Good to see you have the correct mantlet also.Hi Snapper. Thank you and I'm really looking forward to making it. I'm pleased I managed to find the correct mantelet in a model shop in Brum.Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Also if you are interested Lion Marc make a resin turret replacement with the mantlet moulded on. But late now but it saves building the turret with all its joins. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 Also if you are interested Lion Marc make a resin turret replacement with the mantlet moulded on. But late now but it saves building the turret with all its joins.Hi Snapper. Thank you for the suggestion but I think I will manage - although it would probably have saved me some time!Did the version you were making turn out okay? It was a while ago I know but I can't remember seeing any photos - I may have missed them. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Unfortunately not Stix. It is still sitting in a box of doom along with my Korean War GB Chaffee and a M-42 Duster. These will probably have to wait until I get some of my life back from the little one as I want to go to town on them. I was looking at Fruil tracks for them all the other day which I will get over the next few months hopefully. Once they are finished I will get them up on the forum. You never know I might carry on a WIP also.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Well I,m looking forward to this Stix,great subject and that look's like a superb kit to go to town on! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Blimey that looks very posh.....Big too! I reckon you should consider replacing the tracks with something a bit more solid.....Costly and time consuming I know, but it will be worth it in the end. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Stix. Your choices for tracks are Fruil metal tracks or AFV Club do individual plastic links. I have the latter still in the bag unused and am 99% sure I will get Fruil instead. I have no idea how the AFV ones are to work with but I really like Fruil tracks. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 (edited) Unfortunately not Stix. It is still sitting in a box of doom along with my Korean War GB Chaffee and a M-42 Duster. These will probably have to wait until I get some of my life back from the little one as I want to go to town on them. I was looking at Fruil tracks for them all the other day which I will get over the next few months hopefully. Once they are finished I will get them up on the forum. You never know I might carry on a WIP also..It's a shame you haven't got it finished but I look forward to seeing it and the others in the RFI section at some point .....and possibly in a WIP! Well I,m looking forward to this Stix,great subject and that look's like a superb kit to go to town on!Hi Steve. Yes it does look rather excellent in the box - and there's lots of it and it's big! I'll post some more photos of the parts at some point. Hopefully I'll be able to do something half decent with it! Blimey that looks very posh.....Big too! I reckon you should consider replacing the tracks with something a bit more solid.....Costly and time consuming I know, but it will be worth it in the end. Stix. Your choices for tracks are Fruil metal tracks or AFV Club do individual plastic links. I have the latter still in the bag unused and am 99% sure I will get Fruil instead. I have no idea how the AFV ones are to work with but I really like Fruil tracks.Hi Sarge and Snapper. Looking at the tracks again I think you are both right. However I don't think I'll risk metal tracks just yet but I will try and get some AFV Club ones. I have made some of their tracks before and once I got used to them they weren't too bad. Thanks for the suggestion.Kind regards, Stix Edited August 31, 2015 by PlaStix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blitz23 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Great choice, one of my favourite Tanks ever. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Stix Check out the reference area in the GB. I have added a couple of links for Australian Centurions. I have been using these for my build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 Great choice, one of my favourite Tanks ever.Hi Blitz23. It does seem to be an impressive beast! Stix Check out the reference area in the GB. I have added a couple of links for Australian Centurions. I have been using these for my build. Thank you Snapper. I will take a look.Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) Okay - as promised some closer photos to show what's included in the box: Various plastic parts: Instruction booklet: Various extras including some clear parts, etch, rubber tires and springs: Decals: Tracks: I'm hoping to replace these with some AFV Club track links - more details soon. .....and finally a rather nice metal barrel: All-in-all it looks like a very nice kit for my first proper 1/35 build. Can't wait! Kind regards, Stix Edited September 3, 2015 by PlaStix 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Look's a superb kit on all level's Stix. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 Hi Steve. Well, despite having two Spitfires on the go and starting making the tracks for my Panther build (which I'm not officially starting yet!!!) I'm probably going to start doing something on this tomorrow - just to get it going. Can't wait. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadbear Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I understand that the rubber tyres can be a loose fit on the rims that can be a problem as the tyres also include a part of the wheel as well? However help can be at hand either from Accurate Armour or Panzerart? http://www.accurate-armour.com/ShowProduct.cfm?manufacturer=0&category=4&subcategory=192&product=2191 http://panzerart.pl/index.php/welcome/produkt/89 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted September 5, 2015 Author Share Posted September 5, 2015 Hi Grahame. Thank you for the information and the links. I will investigate the fit on mine and see what I think. Well, as I suspected, I could not resist getting a bit done on this. It's not much at all but I started with stage one, which went as follows: So this is what working suspension starts like.....should be interesting! Another one of these to make and four similar units to follow. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadbear Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Suspension looking good. Firestorm Models do some aftermarket for Aussie Centurion including some very non PC decals. Also I have a very good book called "Mud and Dust" after Australian Armour in the Nam.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 There are non PC decals in the kit option. Although I have no idea why they would name it after someone who eats cats? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 A slur on the Vietnamese diet perhaps? Maybe not. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted September 9, 2015 Author Share Posted September 9, 2015 With regards the decals I can safely say that I will not be using any of the dubious ones! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 I have one of these to build but the suspension scares me every time I look in the box!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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