afv aficionado

Entirely possible, regrettably.

Mal

Fsttanks

To answer a few PMs.

This is the rear “electronics bay” and the arrangement I used. Without the battery taking up space in the bay there is a lot of extra room. In retrospect I would have placed the DMD11 closer to the center of the bay. I failed to consider the extra turret length when the rear turret basket was added. The added length covers the DMD11 and the turret needs to be turned to fully access it. Not really an issues once the DMD option selections are made. The “on/off” button I placed hidden at the rear of the tank and accessible without the need to remove the engine/electronics bay cover.

The battery is a 4200 mah NiMH (enough for a fun day if IR battling or two fun runs) and is safe to stays and be charged in the tank. If you are planning on running a Li-Poly battery it might be best (safer) to use the Tamiya electronics bay layout so you can remove it for charging and storage.

Fsttanks

Basic tan paint on. Weathering and “kit out” will start shortly.


Basic tan, not weathered yet and some small “dry fitted” kit attached for test placement.

afv aficionado

Looks good.
Is that a MAG58 on the cupola, if so the butt looks a little odd?

Mal

pitstain

Looking good!

Fsttanks

It is an FN MAG from a HL Challenger 2, It’s kinda a place holder until I get the 1919 MG built and painted.

pitstain

Which 1919 are you using? the DKLM OKMO one?

Fsttanks

Neither. The one I am using came from Shapeways.

pitstain

got a link? I am shopping for bits now before the tank is due in March.

Fsttanks

Unfortunately I don’t. I bought it about two years ago for another project that I never used it on.

pitstain

I did a quick search on there but ended up ordering one from DKLM.

afv aficionado

Cool, probably an L7 then - Brit MAG 58.

Mal

Fsttanks

Here in the US it’s a 240G(golf). Interesting how there are so many “names” for what essentially is the same MG.

The longer it sits on top of the Centurion the more I am liking it vs the 1919. The 1919 just dates the theme “time frame” a little better.

Fsttanks

Tamiya 1/16 Centurion build progress photo.

Note: The Centurion has NO weathering yet and still needs the second antenna mounted. Also once again, the stock rear lower hull accessories have been deleted/changed to allow for my hard driving style and future modifications.



Tamiya 1/16 Centurion in mid 60s - early 70s IDF theme.

afv aficionado

Yes, it has been in use since 1958 & adopted & produced by many countries. The UK was an early adopter & produced many variants - the L7A1, L7A2, the L8A1 & L8A2 for tank use, L19A1 heavy barrel, L20A1, L20A2 for pod mounts on helo's & light aircraft, L37A1 & L37A2 for tanks again, L43A1 RMG for CVR(T), L44A1 for RN helo's, L45A1 drill version, L46A1 skeletonised training version - neither of these last 2 can be fired.
The US was very slow to get the message to adopt it, putting up with that M60 pig for too many years & then when they finally adopted it, weighed it down with those silly heat shields. Once you've burnt your hand on the barrel, or seen someone else do it, you know to stay well clear.

Mal

afv aficionado

The kit supplied tow ropes - are they string? They don't hang quite right, wire rope describes wide curves, not the abrupt changes of direction shown above.

Also you should avoid putting the tow ropes on the exhausts, because they got too hot to touch/use in the event recovery was required, That includes not using the bracket mounted on the exhaust jacket.

Mal

pitstain

Those do appear at first glance to be string and actually look better than expected if they are string.

Fsttanks

The supplied tow ropes are string. They hang loose but I have them tired to the rear tow rope supports to help keep them from being ripped off the tank when I drive through brush and during departures from ditches. Placing them on top of the exhaust heat shields is something widely seen in period photos. I would agree though not to do it for heating reasons if this was a real tank. But here again they are on top of the heat shields for the model to keep them from being snagged by brush, building sides or other tanks and being ripped off. It happens quite frequently....LOL. I made sure the tow rope can be moved to the proper position at any time for display purposes.

In some area of this build I have to unfortunately compromise for the tank to be used and not damaged easily in the IR battling I partake in. The terrain can range from brush covered fields, open field, sandy desert, to city scapes.

regsbyg

Nice build. Thanks for doing this. Is the tank light? It appears to me to be sitting higher then a Cent would, or it could be the camera angle.
cheers
Dave

Fsttanks

The tank weights in at ~10lbs (5kg). In the last photo it looks higher because it is resting on a foam block to keep the tracks elevated off the work bench. This is so I can run the electronics without worrying about accidentally driving the tank off the bench. Hard lesson to learn...LoL

pitstain

It looks taller without the side skirts in place in my opinion.

Fsttanks

Tamiya 1/16 Centurion tank progress photo.

Weathering is mostly done. Keeping it lightly dirty as it will gain more and more natural weathering as I use it outdoors.

First test run video on dirt is also up on my Instagram @ fsttanks so feel free to take a look.



Weathering mostly done and only a few items left to secure in their final places.


Tamiya Centurion tank on trials course.

Maccrage

Beautiful.

Fsttanks

I added one more feature (not Tamiya) before I closed up the turret cargo bin with their lids. I went ahead and installed magnets to the underside of the lids for future “accessory” mounting on top of the bin that can be removable and changed out easily during the tanks life.

regsbyg

I know you are not mounting the side skirts but how are they attached. It looks like there are small holes to screw them on. Great job.
thanks
Dave