RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Thank you everyone, the model is slowly getting towards the finish line. I am currently going around the model to add the final details, and do some corrections.


Prime Portal provides good views on the tool attachment points. These are on the right side. It's complicated stuff. There are mounts for two shovels on top of each other, a sledgehammer under them and a bar on the side.


The tools coming with the model are of low quality. I am reusing them but i removed all the molded on attachments.



Every attachment point was re-created from scratch. I also had to plug all the holes on the fenders because they were badly located and should not be used for accurate placement of the tools. Also notice the new attachment point for the tow cable at the back.


A bit simpler on the left side with two pickaxes.


View of the fuel cap next to the driver.


Continuing on following post.

The molded on fuel cap is ugly and extremely visible on the front of the vehicle.


I therefore removed it and decided to scratch build a new one.


I think it looks better now.



What is seen here on the left of the glacis is called the biscuit box. I assume it is a ration box.



There is a frame for the stand.


Reproduced in brass L strips from specs taken from my Sho't Kal book.


I missed this bracket when i installed the Search light storage box.


Here it is.


Continuing on following post

The back plate has attachment points for what seems to be a fuel line, but it makes no sense for it to be outside the armour like that. I do not know what that is.


It does not seem to be important as it is missing on most tanks, the pipes seems to have been cut.


I therefore decided to only reproduce the attachment points.


The tie downs... I hate to create these in brass rods. The Voyager PE sheet for the ammo boxes for the M551 that i used on this build at 7 tie downs per sheet, enough for the Centurion. I think they look good and they have the right shape for the Centurion used by the IDF. I decided to use them.


Each fret also comes with a strap that will be handy for the jerrycans.


That's it for now.

Regards, Louis

Well done. Only a few bits will remain from the original model

Kaczor wrote: ↑Thu Nov 09, 2023 5:52 am Well done. Only a few bits will remain from the original model

Thanks Kaczor, true, other than the top of the fender bins and the side skirts, there is nothing on the original model that i did not change or altered significantly. As this is a late model Sho't Meteor, there was also a lot more modifications required than an early Sho't.


The construction phase is completed, i just need to do one correction.


Early in the build, i used the 1/35 DefModel Sho't mantlet canvas cover as a reference. It showed the cover version with the cutout for the coax machine gun mount. However, i determined soon afterwards that this was a mistake. As i was studying more and more pictures of the Sho't Meteor, i realized that none of them had the cutout.


It seems that DefModel fell into the trap of using the Meteor powered Centurions that the IDF uses in memorials and museums. As explained on my first post, these Centurion tanks were purchased from the Netherlands for display purposes and never served in the IDF. These are not Sho't tanks. These are Dutch Centurions masquerading as Sho't tanks. The hush puppy tracks are an easy giveaway. I fell in the trap myself for not realizing it before creating the canvas.


IDF Sho't Meteor (early or late) have the complete canvas on every pictures i have seen.

Notice the downward folds on top of the coax machine gun mount that need replication, and it is quite difficult to achieve. However, there is no standard pattern for every fold, leaving room for the builder to try his best shot. The idea is to achieve something that looks good, realistic or at least not too ugly…

Got to undo the cutout. In any cases, the cover cannot be done in one piece. Covering the machine gun mount would always have required a separate piece of canvas so this is not a major mistake requiring a redo of the whole canvas.


Going back to how i should have left it in September by removing the canvas retaining strips around the cutout.

A canvas section is made from the original latex glove material.


There will be a joint. But since the joint is located in a static area of the mantlet, glue and putty can be used to fix the new section in place without impacting gun elevation. The different textures could give me some issues, I’ll have to go through the phases to see and mitigate.


Here is the updated mantlet canvas cover. I managed to create some downward folds, not as good as i wanted but close enough. Once painted with a first coat of acrylics, it will be easier to see imperfections and perform additional corrections that will hide the joints. For now, this is the best i can do.


continuing on following post

As i am planning to use metal spare tracks on the glacis instead of the plastic ones, i decided that i had to remove the pins on the inside surface that will be extremely visible. As expected, i takes a couple of minutes of filing work per track link. I had to steal two links from the planned Sho't Kal track upgrade to have 6.


Redoing the gun bluing on the affected area, looking good.


This is it, the construction phase is over. These are the last pictures before painting.

A late model Sho’t Meteor with extended hull seems to still be a rare sight, even in 1/35 scale. But having done a detailed 1/16 Sho’t Kal Gimel as well, I can confirm the late Sho’t Meteor conversion is easier to do.


The model as it stands today. Next time you see it, it will be painted.


Regards, Louis

I said it when you built the cover originally, but your canvas work is an art itself. The repair looks great now, if you are going to improve it more.....wow!

I’ve been following your build, very impressive, looking forward to seeing it painted & finished.

Great looking tank and subject. Well done.

The level of research, achievement, methodology, execution, and improvisation almost wants this not to finish...........its such a pleasure to watch along.
And the beautiful background images of 'Hagenau' so early in the season leading to xmas is almost a good a viewing