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I have been skipping past this, thinking it was 'just another build'. Just goes to show that you can't judge a book by it's cover! Super impressive build, those figures are going to add to what is already a Centurion that is right up there with the showcase models.

Hi, thank you everyone for your encouragement. I have read your comments with great interest. It getting near the end of construction and I am satisfied with the results. Costs, scratch building tasks and some experiments made this build a risky build. The paint job will also be risky. I will be using a new paint from Vallejo (IDF Sand Grey), and also Mig3026 (Golan earth) pigments that I never used before. We'll see.

Here, the rear deck is finished with the addition of 14 heavy side hinges, 16 D shape a 6 V shape handles for the engine grills that had to be scratch built. The handles were made with 1mm brass but something closer to 0.75mm would have been better but I do not have. They are not easy to make and could have been better despite my attempts at building an assembly chain and my best effort to make them similar.
The hinges on the side can only be glued to the grill because the read deck is removable.
Notice the side hinges when the deck is lifted. I made sure they were solidly in place by creating some grooves between the 2 joints so that the superglue can get more grip.
And I was blessed with a superb sunset to end the day.
Regards, Louis

Louis your building skills are only surpassed by your photographic skills. Every time I check in this gets better! Those hinges are phenomenal

Thank you Carl

Here are the tools.

With all the brackets and equipment sticking out, it is surprising to see that the Sho't Kal tool storage arrangement is minimalistic. There are very few pictures of this area. There are also 3 embossed stiffeners on this specific area of the fender. Raised stiffeners are easy to reproduced with half rods. But stiffeners that are engraved are difficult. At this point, I did not reproduced them because i did not find a tool in the house yet that would provide good results.
I am not the guy that would spend days on tool brackets, preferring spending time on more visible items, so nothing special here. These are the results after a couple of hours of work. I ran out of butterfly nuts to finish the job.
Regards, Louis

Hi,

With a cooler head, i redid the tool section, and managed to do the engraved stiffeners in a few minutes. Not sure what was the big deal yesterday... Which reminds me that when things do not work out or when you are tired, just drop everything and pick it up the next day.

After further study, there are 4 engraved stiffeners, not 3. I just filed an old blade to a rounded point shape and ran it along a strait piece of plasticard to create the 4 engraved lines. It looks much better now, more accurate and i am happy with the results.
Butterfly nuts are on order and I will install one on the lonely brass rod on the right when i get them.
Small washer added to this one.
At the front, there is a bracket for something called the "biscuit box". I never saw the biscuits so I had to repro the bracket seen in pictures, which fills one of the remaining empty space on the fenders.
I am almost finished construction. Remains to create the holders for 2 Jerrycans, one on the rear mud guard and one on the turret basket, plus a few handles and minor stuff and it will be ready for painting. Can't wait to get rid of the white hull and the old paint on the turret.

Regards, Louis

Wow! Those sunset photos make it look absolutely real. Outstanding!

Thank you Jimster

Here are the Jerrycans and holders.

The Sho't Kal has 2 jerrycans, either water or fuel. One is positioned on the rear mudguard on the right.
The second one is positioned on the back of the turret basket.
Shown here with a fuel Jerrycan but will be replaced by a water jerrycan on order from Forgebear.
Final back view of the Sho't Kal Centurion. All main components are now in place.
There are only a few handles and brackets left to do.

Louis

FANTASTIC Louis,

I hope when I get around to mine it turns out half as nice as yours.

Barry

Superb

Hi, thank you for watching.

With this post, the last items are added.

Brackets for the tow cables
Turn signals, from Tamiya Sherman sprue.
Shapeways latches on hull bins
Handles for turret hatches, outside and with some basic inside details.
Stretcher bracket on top of the rear bin
This is it, construction is over. These are the last pictures before the painting phases.