Centurion tank - the earliest version, which kit?

[MarkIV]

Let's say I'd like to build the Centurion tank in the earliest possible version. So a version which left the factory durring WW II and went into Germany just before the end of WW II. Which one should I buy?

 

I see that this tank is made by Tamiya, AFV and Amusing Hobby.

Edited June 9 by MarkIV

[Orso]

AFV Club made a Mk.I. Would that be a good start?

[Tahir]

The AfV Mark1 would fit  AFV35308.

 

The Prototyps had a smaller track, which Accurate Armour was  producing until 2024

 

https://accurate-armour.com/aa-products/trakpax-resin-track/t74

 

The Tankmuseum in Bovington is housing one of the Prototypes, nowerdays it is in a very dark place, so not good to take pictures

 

For more infos on the first Centurions

 

https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/operation-sentry-the-first-centurion-trials-1945/

 

 

Edited June 9 by Tahir

[Kingsman]

Yes the AFV Club kit is the only show in town for an A41 or Mk I.  The only Centurions built during WW2 were the 6 A41s sent to Germany on Operation Sentry in May-July 1944.  These had the separate ball-mounted Polsten or BESA secondary weapons as kitted by AFV Club.  So that kit exactly meets your brief.  By Op Sentry the original 20" development tracks had been replaced by the 23" type that became standard.  Mobility trials showed that the original tracks, essentially a 20" version of the Comet's 18", were too narrow for 45+ tons.

 

20 pilot tanks were commissioned but only 16 would be built through the remainder of 1945 into 1946 before production was authorised.  By this time the A41A Centurion II with the fully cast turret had also been authorised.  A production-standard Mk I would not be noticeably different from an A41 but only about 100 of those were built and they were not long in service as the cast-turret Mk II was being built and fielded concurrently from late 1946 with the 20pdr Mk III appearing in 1948.  Most Mk IIs were converted to Mk III, but as the Mk I could not be converted they were quietly withdrawn.

[MarkIV]

Just looked at the manual of AFV35308. Does it matter if the turret will have Polsten on Besa MG? 

[Kingsman]

The Op Sentry tanks were mostly Polsten fitted as this was a new concept to test, with just 1 with a BESA.  The first 10 prototypes were Polsten because of this and the second 10 BESA, although potentially only 6 of those were built.  I haven't discovered how the cut from 20 to 16 was made.  All BESA, all Polsten or some of each.  Logically the last 4, which would all have been BESA.  Not that this affects your original question.

 

The Op Sentry tanks were:

P3 T352412 Polsten

P4 T352413 Polsten

P6 T352414 Polsten

P8 T352415 Polsten

P9 T352416 Polsten

P11 T352417 BESA

Edited June 10 by Kingsman
Bad spelling!

[Mig Eater]

Speaking of the Centurion Mk.I kit, I really dont understand why AFV's Mk.I kit is €70-75 and their Mk.III kit is €40-45, when there is only two sprue difference between the two kits   

[Troy Smith]

1 hour ago, Mig Eater said:

Speaking of the Centurion Mk.I kit, I really dont understand why AFV's Mk.I kit is €70-75 and their Mk.III kit is €40-45, when there is only two sprue difference between the two kits   

Note the Mk.I was also issued by Platz as a Girls Und Panzer boxing

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/platz-gp-39-cruiser-tank-a41-centurion--1100311

 

If Scalemates is right, this was issued before the AFV Club boxing due it being featured in GUP, and maybe something to do with the price?

 

HTH

[Mig Eater]

Yes the kit was first released in Japan by Platz with Girls Und Panzer branding, AFAIK Platz commissioned AFV to tool the Mk.I to fill the gap in their line-up. The Platz GuP kits are all reboxes of (often older) models made by other brands, they are more expensive tho because of the GuP branding. Maybe AFV decided to match the higher Platz price as a cash grab or they were forced to by Platz so people wouldn't buy a cheaper AFV version instead etc...       

 

  

[Kingsman]

10 minutes ago, Mig Eater said:

Maybe AFV decided to match the higher Platz price as a cash grab or they were forced to by Platz so people wouldn't buy a cheaper AFV version instead etc... 

Forced is a strong word.  AFVC would have chosen to do the deal with GUP: no-one was holding a gun to their collective head or taking hostages....... Yes there would be licence fees for the GUP brand - like they need the extra money from a few kits.  That would push the price point.  And having got themselves into that position, undercutting the GUP Cent I with a vanilla Cent I would just have left AFVC with a stack of unsold GUP kits to be discounted.  They had no choice but to match the GUP price: a self-inflicted wound.  But I imagine that neither are now selling well because of the price.  Don't forget that in the UK probably 60% or more of what you pay goes in taxes and markups.  HMRC are taking 20%, the retailer is taking at least 20% and the importer the same.  Some go through a European agent before reaching the UK agent.  More %£.  But manufacturer direct sales can't really undercut this for fear of alienating a distributor network they need because they haven't got the resources to deal direct worldwide with everyone.  Employing which will drive up the prime price with the knock-on price effect that will have through the retailer network.  AI will not save us here as it can't pack boxes..........  Not yet .........😁

[Tahir]

Deleted by author

 

 

 

Edited June 11 by Tahir

[Kingsman]

The original question was about tanks built during WW2, not about tanks used during WW2.  The fact that A41 missed the war by just a week is common knowledge.

[Panzer vor]

On 10/06/2025 at 16:15, Kingsman said:

 But I imagine that neither are now selling well because of the price.  Don't forget that in the UK probably 60% or more of what you pay goes in taxes and markups.  HMRC are taking 20%, the retailer is taking at least 20% and the importer the same.  Some go through a European agent before reaching the UK agent.  More %£.  But manufacturer direct sales can't really undercut this for fear of alienating a distributor network they need because they haven't got the resources to deal direct worldwide with everyone.  Employing which will drive up the prime price with the knock-on price effect that will have through the retailer network.  

 

I have a GuP edition of Platz A41 Centurion arriving in the next few days from a UK eBay seller, £80 + P&P! the most I've ever paid for a model kit!

This is what happens after seeing the end of 'Das Finale 4' where Alice Shimada (commander of said tank) stands defiantly in the commanders hatch  after delivering the 'coup de grace' to the flag tank of 'Kuromorimine team'! Setting up a final match between Ooarai Girls Academy and St Gloriana Girls College, which will be the subject of my build, I even have a teeny tiny little 1/35 Alice Shimada to complete the diorama!

[firefly7]

I have the AFV version, it's a beautiful kit you won't be disappointed.  Cheers.

[Ken-l]

Jadlam (in the UK) has - AFV Club AF35308 Centurion Mk 1 1:35 Model Kit - currently for £52.45 [no connection to seller]

[Mig Eater]

Shame they don't ship to the EU, then again the cost of postage and tax would probably increase the price to around €75 anyway 😞

[Knevi]

One35scale are offering the AFVC kit for £44 plus P&P. and they ship to EU VAT free with local tax and duty the buyers responsibility 

[Kingsman]

That should be £36.66 without UK VAT, or about €43.