1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

[lmcq11]

For the second time, the ring is removed and destroyed in the process, there is no way back. Holes are plugged.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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A new binocular guard is created in 4mm x 1mm thick brass strip.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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New mounts are created using references.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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A new ring for the left side of the cupola is made in 1mm plasticard plate using a simple roundel maker. The right side is more square.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Overview of the new cupola. I added a guard for the rear periscope and other small items seen in reference. Also seen are the gunner's hatch.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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What seemed to be a leather sling has been recreated in brass. This is no metal handle.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The hatch closes.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

A fewe more close ups.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Finally, a flat cupola ring. That's the look i wanted.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The half way joint between the ring and the last mount is no mistake, its like this on the reference picture i used, with some soldering in the gap.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The model as it stands today.

People will notice that the Sho't Kal temporarily lost a side skirt. That's what i was saying earlier in the build. If you put these on like the real thing, held in place using two little bolts, something will eventually happen to them no matter how careful you are.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Next step, smore grenade dischargers and remaining areas of the turret.

Regards, Louis

[Estnische]

Exemplary work Louis!

I have been researching Australian Army Centurions for a similar project and found this link with two images of turrets with the casting numbers at the front, similar to your reference photo.

https://www.ammssydney.com/australian-c ... -nutshell/

[lmcq11]

Exemplary work Louis!

I have been researching Australian Army Centurions for a similar project and found this link with two images of turrets with the casting numbers at the front, similar to your reference photo.

https://www.ammssydney.com/australian-c ... -nutshell/

Thank you. I have not found a definitive book on the Centurion, one that would be going into every variants for every country, and some extensive graphs and walk around. With so many variants and upgraded variants, the best i can hope is not being too wrong when building a Centurion other than a Mk III.



Continuing with the build


Did another phase of finetuning for the turret casting effect before i add more items on it. I think this is it.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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I got the AA (Accurate Armour) upgrade kit for my 1/35 AFV Club model. Of course, the main reason is to derive specs for my 1/16 build. I contains the 5 late Sho't louvers for the engine deck, new rear body, search light and storage box, headlights, tail lights, Browning M2 and mounts, Jerrycans with detailed holders, the antennas, other small items, PE and decals.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Antennas between early and late Sho't meteor.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The rear antenna body is similar to the Shapeways US antenna but the spring is longer. Hope AA know what they were doing because i am doing the same in 1/16. I managed to do the coil with 0.5mm brass over a shaped plasticard tube with a brass core for solidity.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Looking ok, it can take an Heng Long antenna.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The antenna mount at the front left side is made of various tubing and was made to accept an Heng Long Antenna too. To be installed at the end of the build.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The mount for the M2 Browning. The early Sho't Meteor have a long anti-aircraft mount that look a bit bizarre. I am happy that the mount for late model Sho't Meteor is shorter for land targets.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

Parts that were assembled for the M2, including the regular Tamiya M2, Aber upgrade for both M2 and brass ammo. I have a ammo box still in transit from Poland.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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While going through the junkyard to try to find some Sherman M2 mount that could be somehow reused, i only found some Heng Long stuff but there is a portion of it that can be reused and speed up the mount for the Centurion.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The mount for the M2 Browning is attached to the cupola. Take note that the cupola was made to rotate.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Assembly of the Browning M2. I have done so many over the years and detailed their construction in other builds, i won't go into details here other than mentioning that the wire used for LED resistors have the perfect gauge to be used on the building of the M2 sights. These small PE are really, really small.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The M2 is finished and mounted on the Sho't Meteor cupola. I personally find the M2 more interesting than an M1919.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Continuing on following post.

[lmcq11]

The smoke grenade dischargers...

The WWP book has two full page on the dischargers for a Mk 12 and was absolutely essential in detailing them. Of course, there are other sources but this book provides good views of the dischargers from all angles for the same tank. Looking at other tanks, i could see there are some light variations. Much study of the shaped mount plate and the brackets is required .

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The parts coming with the TONGDE model. Its actually not too bad but the brackets that attach to the hull are rough and the mount plates have been highly simplified. I decided to hollow the tubes.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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TONGDE has combined a shaped mounting plate with the dischargers, it's flat and it's wrong, including bulges for positioning pins... I have removed the area of the mount plate that extends to the bottom and i have thinned the discharger.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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A new mount plate will be created in brass sheet.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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After a few hours of efforts, the new dischargers, mount plates and brackets are ready for installation. Although i kept an eye on the TONGDE brackets for size and shapes, they needed to be completely redone in thick brass strip with new attachment points and hopefully more accurate shapes. Much dry fitting went into finding the best shape for the brackets in order to marry the shapes of the turret as seen in reference pictures. Both sides of the front turret have different angles. The dischargers need to be perfectly strait and point forward.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The brackets were soldered to the plates.

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Both smoke grenade dischargers are mounted on the turret.

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[lmcq11]

These brackets gave me nightmares, not kidding.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The TONGDE lifting hooks attached behind the grenade dischargers needed to be reworked to match the turret. They were also too long and looked too thin. I beefed them up with a 0.5mm plasticard plate on one side.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The fire extinguisher coming with the TONGDE model is basic and incomplete, and i needed two. I found two Shapeways British extinguishers that were not used on a previous build and were getting old, they started to cristalize but are still ok.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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Mounted at the back of the turret bins.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The two jerrycans holders at the back of the turret were mostly done in brass except the base. I did not find IDF 1/16 jerrycans available on the market, so these are SOL modern US fuel jerrycans for now.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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I ordered the HAYA Centurion seach light to help me. I contacted Andrew that provided a better shipping quote than what the system was giving me, allowing me to order it. I'll see if the size is good when i get it.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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This is the AA 1/35 search light storage bin that should be installed at the rear left of the turret. I was about to build it in 1/16 but decided to wait for the HAYA search light to arrive and see how they match. Technically, the search light should fit the bin...

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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The turret as it stands today.

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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[lmcq11]

1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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1/16 RC IDF Late Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build

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That's it for the turret for now. Next step, moving on to the upper hull.

Regards, Louis

[HERMAN BIX]

SPECTACULAR
If you check in with Mr Adlav he knows a bloke that makes IDF water cans with brackets. Drop him a pm & see how you go. Better to get the right ones eh

[Estnische]

I hope you will model the loader’s periscope. The TongDe one is crude.