Dave_R Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 Hi All, This is a good chance to get a two for one build done. It fits in with both the British AFVs and Small Wars out-voted GBs. The kit is the AFV Club Israeli Shot'Kal Centurion, but this version also includes the parts to build a British Mk. 5 except for the 20 pdr gun. So with a new gun, some decals and PE it's ready to build. I've also bought an AFV Club vinyl mantlet cover as there it isn't one included in the box - which I think really extracting the urine as the cover was a standard fitting on British and Israeli Centurions and it's not exactly a cheap kit. Dave. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_R Posted January 1, 2020 Author Share Posted January 1, 2020 Hi All, So I'm getting started on the wheels and bogies and it has couple unusual features. Vinyl rims for the wheels - no painting. ...and working Horstmann suspension. For the wheels to sit nicely on an uneven surface it's going need a fair bit of weight in the hull - but it could look good. Dave. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Hi Dave, Good choice and it has reminded me of something long forgotten. Many years ago I had to see a specialist in Cardiff and I turned up wearing my Tank Museum sweat shirt. We got to talking and he told me his brother had been in a Centurion during the Suez affair, and had driven it through the (closed) gates of the "Presidential Palace". I often wonder what the Middle East would have been like now if the Americans had not interfered. Good luck with the build. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Nice choice Dave. The Centurion certainly seen some action during its career and this looks to be a great kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Always been fond of a Centurion, it should look good in Suez colours. One thing about the vinyl tyres, I seem to recall reading somewhere that they can deteriorate from a reaction between the plastic & the vinyl, which may be stopped/slowed by painting the plastic where it contacts the vinyl. Sorry, I've no personal experience of this, maybe google it or someone on here might know more or tell me to shut up & stop talking nonsense. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayprit Posted January 2, 2020 Share Posted January 2, 2020 2 hours ago, stevehnz said: from a reaction between the plastic & the vinyl I do not think its a reaction Steve, its old age!!! Vinyl tyres deteriorate over time...…….I have 2 x built Tamiya LRDG Chevrolet wagons and the tyres have all cracked, so replaced one with resin copies and the Tamiya Chieftain Mk 5(ish) all the road wheels on those are perishing...….I have heard a lot over the years about this rotting away...……….just hope that it doesn't effect my Trumpeter Faun slt-56 Tank transporter, well over 32 tyres on that. I do have some old Dinky toys with rubber tyres(not the same) but, everyone of those over 40 years old has rotted away and had to be replaced(devalues the price of collectable dinkys - but what are you to do...…..)Real car tyres rot away, I had the walls of one of my car tyres rot away not just the one, all 4......leeching air and I had to replace all of them...……….same with models...……….if anythink when fitted to the model, over time they "shrink" and eventually split in half, takes a few years, but it happens 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted January 2, 2020 Share Posted January 2, 2020 That sounds feasible Ray, either way it would put me off using vinyl tyres on anything if possible. Hopefully the likes of Tamiya have improved their compounds nowadays. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_R Posted January 4, 2020 Author Share Posted January 4, 2020 Hi All, The turret and hull are taking shape. The hull is quite tricky to put together as it comes in several pieces not the usual two piece construction. Dave. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_R Posted January 5, 2020 Author Share Posted January 5, 2020 Hi All, The hull is now complete and the gun and various bits have been added. Dave 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Lloyd Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Vinyl tyres, use of the heated nail... there is some 70s inspiration in this kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperService Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 On 1/2/2020 at 1:31 AM, stevehnz said: That sounds feasible Ray, either way it would put me off using vinyl tyres on anything if possible. Hopefully the likes of Tamiya have improved their compounds nowadays. Steve. Unfortunately nothing will solve the issue as the stuff that makes it flexible leeches out over time. That means the vinyl volume diminishes in all directions and splits where it can't shrink. You can't go wrong with a Centurion though. Good choice and a nice start. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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