British Centurion from AFV Club kit

[RobL]

Hello

 

New to this forum, and I have come here because I need some advice on what I can build from an AFV Club kit.

 

I would like to build a British Centurion, Mk 5 or later, and I have been eyeing up the AFV Club 1/35 IDF Sho't Centurion kit, kit number 35159, the 1960/1967 Mk 5/Mk 5/1 version, not the Sho'T Kal kit.  I've been looking at this kit because it apparently includes an L7 105mm barrel and the Mk 5/2/Mk 6 NATO boxing, with the same gun, seems to be rarer than hens teeth, also the only readily available alternative is the RAAC boxing which doesn't come with side skirts or the L7 105mm barrel.

 

So, I have a couple of questions -

 

1.  Is it possible to build a Mk 5/2 or later Centurion, armed with the L7 105mm gun, straight out of the box using the IDF Sho't kit (I'm aware I'd have to source decals and the mantlet cover)?

 

2.  Can anyone confirm that it is posisble to build a Suez Crisis Mk 5 Centurion straight from the box using the IDF Sho't kit (again, I'm aware I'd have to source decals and the mantlet cover)?

 

3.  If either or both of those is possible straight out of the box how do I tell which parts on the runners are IDF specific and therefore should be left off?

 

Thank you for any help on this.

Edited November 27, 2018 by RobL

[Kingsman]

The IDF parts would be the antenna bases, the HMG mount on the cupola and a couple of racks for the plastic water cans.  There's possibly something odd about the front left turret stowage bin.  It looks too flat-fronted instead of having the angled corner, but the alternative parts my be in the box.  At that point IDF hadn't adulterated the tanks.

 

You should just be able to substitute an L7 barrel to make a Mk5/2, or a Mk6 if you use the uparmoured Mk5/1 parts.  However, according to Simon Dunstan's Centurion book there were "very few" Mk5/2 conversions done in British service as most Mk5s had already had the Mk5/1 mod applied and therefore became Mk6.  So a Mk6 looks like a better option.  If you can get a mantlet with the ranging MG you could make a 6/2.

 

Yes you should be able to build a Suez Mk5 OOB, noting the IDF parts above.  Both Type A (smooth) and Type B (fume extractor) 20pdr barrels were seen on that operation with 6RTR.

[AntPhillips]

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

 

[RobL]

Thanks guys.  That's most helpful.