SimonL Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 (edited) We are having a bit of a heat wave here in Perth in Western Australia, so just too hot to do any work on my almost complete Airfix M3 Grant. Thought I would make a start taking a look at my Christmas present from my son. It’s a re-boxing of the previously released Mk 5, an overview of which can be found here: https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/afv/kit_afv_35122.shtml However there are slight modifications. There is no turned aluminium main gun, but there is the mantlet cover, in a soft vinyl type plastic. Another difference is that the road wheels are provided in hard polystyrene and vinyl. I know which ones I’ll be using- the hard ones. Much easier to handle. At the bottom of the box is a rather nice print of the tank on the box top. The included tracks are vinyl, however while visiting the local shop for their Boxing Day sale I picked up these quick assembly link and length tracks. They appear to be a very new release (the box lid says 2021, and I can’t find any online reviews). They look rather nice, hopefully they will be straightforward to use. The kit has several different options from C Squadron, 4 RTR stationed in Berlin in 1960 to 1963 (about the time my Dad was first serving in Germany). The instructions are very specific that the overall colour was olive drab, which surprised me as I assumed it would be deep bronze green. A bit of searching around and I found a few mentions that they were painted OD, with the mantlet cover being painted black. The few photos I could find seemed to confirm this. This is going to be an interesting challenge! Edited January 13, 2022 by SimonL 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagpieFNQ Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 (edited) Nice one, I got the Aussie version of this. Edited December 28, 2021 by MagpieFNQ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 27, 2021 Author Share Posted December 27, 2021 @MagpieFNQ in the stash or built? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagpieFNQ Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 2 hours ago, SimonL said: @MagpieFNQ in the stash or built? It was a Christmas gift too so it's in the stash for now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orso Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 15 hours ago, SimonL said: I know which ones I’ll be using- the hard ones. Much easier to handle. Plus no chance that they will melt the plastic or crack later. Looking forward to see this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 I’m in! One in the stash. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 2, 2022 Author Share Posted January 2, 2022 Made a start on this on New Year’s Eve, and got a bit too involved to post photos. The first step was making the bogies - which was a bit fiddly but they worked out ok. The wheels were a nice tight fit with the outer tyre. Unfortunately each and every hub cap had a sink mark, which I dealt with using a dab of Mr Surfacer 500. The bogies were easily fitted to the lower hull. There is a bit of leap now, as there were lots of little bits (some very small) for the rear part of the hull. I managed to lose the tow hook to the carpet monster and so needed to make a new one from scrap plastic. Once the rear of the hull was glued on I decided now would be a good time to paint the lower part and the wheels. I have a limited amount of Tamiya XF62 (with a dash of Tamiya XF49) which I am going to use for the olive drab, so I decided to go with a brushed on “primer” coat of Tamiya XF61, which I have a few pots of. This one was a new one - and doesn’t actually look the same dark green as usual. QC issues? Anyway, it will be fine as a preliminary coat. I also took the opportunity to paint the various engine “bits” that will be seen through various grills and the tracks with Tamiya XF84 Dark Iron Just a quick peek at the rear and that’s it for the day. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Nice start looking forward to the next update now! Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 'Morning Simon. Nice work so far. I've got the same kit, which I'm turning into a Mk.lll. In fact, I have two, because the first one had a warped lower hull, and wouldn't sit flat once the wheel were on. Hope yours doesn't have the same problem. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 Thanks John. Checked it with the wheels and all looks good. Progress today. First the engine bit (for want of a better word), that I painted dark iron yesterday, I treated to a wash with Army Painter Dark Tone, and a light dry brushing with XF56 Metallic Grey. This slotted then neatly under the engine deck grill. Then it was time to glue the decks in. A bit of fettling was needed to get these to fit neatly. I found it easier to ignore the instructions and attach the two parts of the engine deck before I fitted it to the hull. Some tape was needed to keep it all in place while the cement cured. I then constructed the stowage boxes and attached them the fenders (?) before they fitted neatly to the hull. I also finished painting the wheels and the underside with olive drab. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vytautas Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 I used to think that only German tanks can be beautiful, but now, looking at your build, I see that maybe I was wrong a bit... Vytautas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 23 minutes ago, SimonL said: Thanks John. Checked it with the wheels and all looks good. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablo rsv Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Nice progress Simon, welcome to the Centurion club, there are a few of us building Cents at the moment. Just one thing I've noticed on your build is that you have got the rear hull plate in the wrong position. The plate sits in slightly from the end of the sides so that there is no gap between itself and the radiator vents. It should took like more this. Hopefully it's not too late to alter it. 12 hours ago, Bullbasket said: I've got the same kit, which I'm turning into a Mk.lll. I presume that you're aware that AFV do have a Mk.3 kit John, hopefully with the correct turret roof etc. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 9 minutes ago, diablo rsv said: I presume that you're aware that AFV do have a Mk.3 kit John, hopefully with the correct turret roof etc. Wayne Hi Wayne, and a Happy New Year to you. Unfortunately, when I first started this build, which must be around 10 years ago, AFV didn't do a Mk.lll, so one of the first purchases that I made for the build was the Mk.lll turret from Lionmarc. It' quite good, and includes the mantlet cover. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 4 hours ago, diablo rsv said: Nice progress Simon, welcome to the Centurion club, there are a few of us building Cents at the moment. I'll second that! Interesting to see how your Mk5 comes along, I've one stashed whilst working on the Amusing Hobby Shot Kal presently. You're making great progress, looking at what you've achieved so far the chances are you'll be done well before me too! Good luck Darryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 Thanks Wayne, must be still used to making aircraft and assuming all joints are smooth 🤣. It’s sort of permanently fixed in now, so instead I can fill that gap: I will then use some plastic strip to build up those edges. Not perfect, but will hide the cockup. Daryl. Thanks - I am building to a deadline. I have two more weeks of leave! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Progress yesterday- a bit of a tedious session painting the rubber tyres on the road wheels - for which I used Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black. Only some minor touch ups needed. I also put together the exhausts, which I think I will paint first and then add later once the main colour scheme is on. Along the same lines I’ve started to paint the various pioneer tools. For the wooden bits thought I would try something different. Usually I just use a reddish brown - in this case XF-68 NATO Brown. This time though I painted a coat of X-26 Clear Orange (not avoiding brush strokes) over that. Just in camera shot are the adjustments I made to the rear of the hull to fix my earlier cockup. In between painting the wheels I also put the turret together. Just a dry fit of the main armament and mantlet cover. A bit of seam line, but most will be covered by the side panniers, so only a little to fix up. In relation to the mantlet cover, anyone had experience with these? Would CA be the way to go? Also, should I prime before attaching to the turret? As for the panniers - I am pretty certain they shouldn’t be that large a gap. I will need to sand the positioning pins down a bit I think. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Another rather hot day today, so after taking the Christmas decorations down (it being Twelfth Night), I spent most of the day lounging around with a cold drink in hand listening to the Test Match from Sydney. I did manage to finish painting the tools. The metallic parts were painted in XF56 Metallic Grey, a wash of a 50:50 mix of Army Painter Dark and Soft Tone and finally a coat of Italeri Acryl Flat Coat. Just some light dry brushing with olive drab on the relevant bits and these will be done. Rather happy with how they have turned out. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Hi, I'd have thought CA would be the way to go witht the cover. I believe you do want a degree of stand off for the turret bins but as you say the gap does a little too pronounced, that said I'm no expert... Atb Darryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 13 hours ago, SimonL said: As for the panniers - I am pretty certain they shouldn’t be that large a gap. I will need to sand the positioning pins down a bit I think. That could be about right Simon. This photo is of a Shot Kal, and there's quite a gap. HTH's. John. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 (edited) Thanks for the advice John - so no sanding required! Another hot day today. I focused on starting the weathering process on the wheels and underside. First a wash with diluted 50:50 mix of Army Painter Dark and Soft Tone This was then followed up by a wash with heavily diluted Italeri Acryl Dark Earth with a dash of Flat Sand. I am aiming for a slightly used, dusty look, as I assume these peacetime Centurions were kept pretty clean (the photos I have seen would seem to confirm this). And then I just push fitted the wheels onto their axles. Starting to look like a tank! Edited January 6, 2022 by SimonL 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Juliet Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Coming along nicely Simon. Watching closely, as I have the Tamiya version in my stash! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 7, 2022 Author Share Posted January 7, 2022 @Alpha Juliet is that the 1:35 or 1:25 scale one? Onto the two tasks I had been a bit nervous about - the tracks and photoetch. First the tracks. I gave them a wash with the Army Painter mix and the Italeri Acryl “dust” as I did for the wheels. The fenders were a bit loose at the front so I added a little bit of plastic card as a stiffener on both sides. Once the washes were dry I fitted the tracks to the wheels, starting with the long run along the bottom of the wheels. I used Tamiya extra thin cement which gave me a fair amount of give to wriggle things into place. The paint was smudged here and there, but the base colour of the plastic just looks a bit rusty so that was fine. In the end it wasn’t as hard as I thought. Next the photoetch - thankfully not too much of it. Didn’t botch it up too badly. If anything sorting the tow ropes was harder. Now I’m off to get the excess CA of my fingertips… 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echen Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Nice work so far. Are you going to fit the top run of tracks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 7, 2022 Author Share Posted January 7, 2022 Thanks - and nope. It’s going to be behind the skirts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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