Amusing Hobby 1/35th Centurion Mk5 build

[simmerit]

Not had. great deal of time on the models, but grabbed a bit today.  That's both of them done.  I'll do the hooks that fit to the front two toolboxes tomoz then get a coat of Mr Surfacer on them so I can see what I'm dealing with.

 

 

 

Now they are done, I should make reasonable progress.  I may also get some time on the two Chally's and the Cromwell and Centaur if the mrs doesn't whinge too much......

 

Still no sign of any Mk5 mantlet covers making it to the UK yet also.

 

I'm just looking at the detail on that turret and the plastic moulded clasps etc are not the best and will have to go!

[simmerit]

A little bit of tidying up to do on that top bracket before a second coat

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a little bit of tidying up on the l/h side bracket as well then I can crack on.  

 

 

[Dads203]

That’s looking the dogs mate, must say this is shaping up to be one of your best builds Si. 

[diablo rsv]

On 25/10/2021 at 21:03, simmerit said:

I'll sort out the warped glacial armour.  I wonder if the AFV Club Cent has the same problem?

 

I had a quick look in my Amusing Hobby AVRE kit and it doesn't appear to be  as bad as yours.

I had a little trouble getting the track guards to sit square on my previous  AFV Club builds and I had to correct them by cutting a groove between the track guard and glacis plate to get them to sit properly. The one in my Mk.1 kit is much better though.

 

Mk.1 top. Mk.5 bottom.

 

Lovely work with the photo etch.  I used the Voyager set on my Mk.11 build but most of it is still in the box as a lot of it didn't seem to be enough of an improvement to make the extra work worthwhile.

 

Wayne

[simmerit]

51 minutes ago, diablo rsv said:

 

I had a quick look in my Amusing Hobby AVRE kit and it doesn't appear to be  as bad as yours.

I had a little trouble getting the track guards to sit square on my previous  AFV Club builds and I had to correct them by cutting a groove between the track guard and glacis plate to get them to sit properly. The one in my Mk.1 kit is much better though.

 

Mk.1 top. Mk.5 bottom.

 

Lovely work with the photo etch.  I used the Voyager set on my Mk.11 build but most of it is still in the box as a lot of it didn't seem to be enough of an improvement to make the extra work worthwhile.

 

Wayne

 

Thanks re the photo etch, although I wish I'd gone with the Voyager instead of Eduard - its better quality stuff.  My Centaur and Cromwell are Voyager etch kits.  

 

I've straightened out the plate with good old boiling water.  I've still got a slight problem with the guards, which I suspect I will remove and remount.  

 

I had a decco at your Berlin Chiefy - very nice.  I've done the Chally 2 in the Berlin scheme.  Its a proper faff!  One of the lads on ARRSE just pinged me this

 

 

Tempting!!!!!

 

Cheers

 

Si

[simmerit]

Just working my way round the etch on the hull now.  Drivers viewing periscope underway

 

 

I've got another one to do obvioulsy.

 

There isn't actually as much etch as I thought there was on the second Eduard etch set but its still a faff.

 

The other good news is I've just managed to get an order in for the mantlet which is the last piece I needed to complete it.

 

[simmerit]

So this is what really cheeses me off about ederwooda etch

 

 

This set is fairly typical of the stuff they bang out with this piece clearly being done by the 'lets just make stuff up' design team........... The number of times I find this happening with their stuff is enough to make a bloke's blood boil.  

 

Fortunately I didnt start hacking the plastic off before checking the fit of the ederwooda stuff.  This bit is destined for the bin.  I'll see how I get on with the rest of it as we go.

 

Off out with hounds now.  if you listen hard you can hear me cursing.  It really isn't good enough.

 

Rant over.

 

[simmerit]

So its difficult to go wrong with the simple bits

 

 

I spent an hour and a half on this last night.  Why oh why didn't I check before I started.....

 

 

Another gem brought to you by the 'what random stuff shall we make up today' design team at Eduard........

 

Here's a real one

 

 

Its my own fault and I wont make the mistake with this etch set again......  The toolboxes are fine.  The other 30 quid set.............  Lets hope I can use some of it on the turret or I will go balistic.

 

Not amused again.  Fortunately its beer o'clock already so there are some upsides

 

[simmerit]

well that's me done for the night.  Pretty good progress.  Hopefully back on the Wokka soon!

 

 

I've used .3mm brass rod for the grab handles at the top of the engine deck.  I did try two of the Eduard etch ones but they were also pants.

 

The two pick axe heads needed a bit of work with a file as they were clearly cast for a remake of 'Land of the Giants'.  Either that or the tankies servicing in the 50s had arms like Popeye and were mega gods.  Awaits incoming from former tankies stating 'they were mega gods' 🙂

 

Edited October 30, 2021 by simmerit
Typo

[viper-30]

Trying the patience of a saint I see.. nice work mate.

[diablo rsv]

On 27/10/2021 at 22:38, simmerit said:

I had a decco at your Berlin Chiefy - very nice.  I've done the Chally 2 in the Berlin scheme.  Its a proper faff!  One of the lads on ARRSE just pinged me this

 

 

Tempting!!!!!

 

Thanks Si,

Rather you than me, I actually enjoyed doing the Berlin Chieftain but that would be a step too far for me. Building an ARV would test my patience let alone one with that paint job.

I went with the Eduard photo etch for my to be built Cromwell family so I hope they've made a better job of it for those kits than they have for the Cent. Yours look excellent by the way.

Which mantlet covers did you go with? I used the AFV ones on my previous builds and was fairly pleased with them. I don't need one for the prototype thankfully but I will need one for the AVRE.

 

Wayne

[simmerit]

2 hours ago, diablo rsv said:

 

Thanks Si,

Rather you than me, I actually enjoyed doing the Berlin Chieftain but that would be a step too far for me. Building an ARV would test my patience let alone one with that paint job.

I went with the Eduard photo etch for my to be built Cromwell family so I hope they've made a better job of it for those kits than they have for the Cent. Yours look excellent by the way.

Which mantlet covers did you go with? I used the AFV ones on my previous builds and was fairly pleased with them. I don't need one for the prototype thankfully but I will need one for the AVRE.

 

Wayne

 

All of the Eduard Fender etch is destined for the bin - I had a look at the rear track guards tonight and they are as bad as the glacis locker.  Bin material.  It is what it is. 

 

Anyone reading this will hopefully read the whole thread before buying their etc.  GO VOYAGER.  I'm amazed no-one else has commented on how bad the Eduard set is.  That said, I've not seen many builds of the Amusing Hobby Cent on the hinetetweb.  I suppose it's a fairly recent kit.   

 

Fingers crossed for you for your Cromwell build.  As I mentioned - I went Voyager.  A good decision!  Than you by the way.  So far so good....

 

I've gone for the DEF mantlet.  It's due on Monday.  I'll post a piccie.

 

Si

[simmerit]

DEF mantlet cover has arrived.  I must say I'm quite impressed.  Not tried it on the panzer yet, so lets hope its a better fit than the Eduard etch.

 

 

Having a break somewhere warmer for a few days, so not sure if I will get any more done before I depart for warmer weather.

 

[vytautas]

Wow, it looks like a real tarp!

 

Vytautas

[simmerit]

52 minutes ago, vytautas said:

Wow, it looks like a real tarp!

 

Vytautas

 

Its very good - I have to say.  Ive had a few DEF bits and the quality and attention to detail is superb - and the dimensions.  Lets not forget the dimensions.........

[simmerit]

trimmed the mantlet back

 

 

Quite a bit of cutting back into the turret to fit it.  I'll check the fit in my InAccurate Armour L7 before I start to hack into the turret.

 

[simmerit]

well that's be back from 10 days sunning myself in a very healthy 82 degrees and looking like a tanned adonis........  and back on the Cent!

 

Just taken the plunge with a set of snippers and will resort to a file for the last bit of trimming back.  This is the bit I generally hate.

 

 

The DEF cover is going to look quite nice when its done.

 

 

I've now whipped the storage bins off the turret which I has pinned with a dab of glue to look nice for the piccies!  Time to start taking the various bits of moulded on detail and to replace with etch where its half decent.  I bet a tenner the Voyager etch set did etch bins for the turret.........  Grrrrrrrr.  

 

 

Edited November 15, 2021 by simmerit
typo

[Dads203]

Fits quite well mate, you might need to remove the kit canvas mounting strips from the turret though. It’s going to paint up nice once done 

[simmerit]

1 minute ago, Dads203 said:

Fits quite well mate, you might need to remove the kit canvas mounting strips from the turret though. It’s going to paint up nice once done 

 

I was planning to file them off when I file it back as its a bit lower risk than a knife or snippers.

 

Yes I think its going to look quite nice.  Deffo worth the investment, rather than mucking around with tissue and PVA glue or one of the resin based putties.

[ivan-o]

Coming along nicely 👍

[simmerit]

OK so a bit of major surgery.....

 

 

and I mean major surgery

 

 

so if you look to the right of the thumb, you will see the DEF mould is not symmetrical, which presents some problems.

 

 

and

 

 

So the really nice moulded metal retaining strips all round the mantlet cover are going to have to go and  shed load of miliput is going in to fill the gaps, before magic sculpt goes on to extend the matlet cover over the gaps which are filled with milliput.  Or I bin the whole thing and pick up a resin one.  This all assumes the Eduard etch strips actually fit the turret and mantlet cover.  If not is styrene strip and meng .5mm rivets.....

 

Its a good job we al enjoy modelling is it not?

 

 

 

 

[simmerit]

A bit more hacking around and its getting there

 

 

 

Hopefully get that fixed in place this evening as I have an interview this afternoon.  How exciting is that?  Lets hope he doesn't spot the limp........

 

 

[Hamden]

 

Turret coming together nicely now, that mantlet makes a great difference.

Hope the interview goes well

 

  Stay safe          Roger 

[simmerit]

4 hours ago, Hamden said:

 

Turret coming together nicely now, that mantlet makes a great difference.

Hope the interview goes well

 

  Stay safe          Roger 

 

Thank you.  It went well but I now have a panel interview to do and that looks like a formality, but still have to get through it.  Provided that's OK, they want me to start in January, which is good news as I get a new hip on the 7th December and wont be able to get about for about 4 weeks!  Phew!!  Blagged that one..  That bad news is I need two new hips......

 

Hopefully back on the Cent tonight after scran.

[Lazy Modeller]

Sorry to hear about. My wife did both also, 2 years ago. Its a bit hard...especially the recover... best wishes... 7 is a lucky number for me so hope for you also!

Cheers

LM