Modelcraft Centurion III

Guy Rump
Interesting model, following. 👍

Andy Dallibar
It seems that all I build is Centurions lately. I don't touch the 1/35 stuff though, the kit you are using is new to me, it seems very basic. I'll be watching closely to see how you get on with it. What country/era are you doing?

John Hughes
Hi Andy, yes, it is a fairly basic kit, but that's due to the fact that it was originally a motorised Academy kit. That being said, the molding is nice and I think it has posibilities. As for country/era, I'll certainly be doing a UK version. The paint/decal instructions in the kit are all in Korean, which is not helping a bit. However, as my father worked on the prototype for the Mk.III, it might just get a basic green coat & no markings.

James C
👀👍

John Hughes
Avoid AFV Club's workable tracks at all costs. They are the worst modelling product I've come across so far. Each link has 4 EP marks, so that's 864 to deal with for a full track set. They don't clip together very well and form a curve by the time you have a full run of 108 links per side. If you move the track, or actually try to pick it up, it falls apart. How the hell you are supposed to actually put them on the kit is beyond me. Don't waste your money on them. I'm replacing them with a Sanxin set of metal links with brass pins.

gorby
Looks like you're managing to beat this kit into submission.
I'm curious to know why you chose this old kit to build rather than one of the other remarkable kits in your stash?

John Hughes
Hi Gorby. My Dad built part of the prototype before he was demobbed after the war. I've got the Tamiya 1:25 one too.

gorby
Ahhh, so it's personal connection. 👍

John Hughes
Yep. Centurion III: This time it's personal!

gorby
😄 😄 😄

John Hughes
Well, the Sanxin tracks came all the way from China and then Evri left them "at a secure location at your address", i.e. shoved through the bars of the entry gate between the two houses next to mine. Wonder where they are now? Another six week wait for a replacement set in the offing.

gorby
Have the tracks gone missing?
It the luck of the draw with Evri whether you get a good courier or a crap one. Our current one is great and we get every package. The one before him was a thief - half of our delivers went 'missing'.

John Hughes
Hi Gorby. Yes, the tracks were stolen from where they were left. Our usual Evri guy is good, but this was a new one that had only been with them two months. The most annoying part is that it takes 4-6 weeks for a new set to arrive. I'm hoping they will be a good product as they're white metal tracks with brass pins. Should be more durable than the usual resin pins most use.

gorby
Hope it goes better next time.