Israeli Centurion - Sho’t Kal C (Gimel) - IDF 1980s - Build

BarryC · Post by **BarryC** » Fri Aug 09, 2019 1:05 pm

Louis,

You've created another spectacularly fabulous, superb masterpiece!

WOW!

Barry

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Fri Aug 09, 2019 1:47 pm

Thank you Eastern front, Adam, Tom and Barry !

Ad Lav wrote:Louis, you’ve done an amazing job on a fairly difficult to build kit from Ludwigs.

I bought this originally with the intention of making a mk3, 20pdr. After buying all he parts I got a bit shocked by the costs without electrics and sold it to Del.

Fast forward a few months Del sold it back to me, I built some more and then got shocked again at the costs as I continued.

Sold it to Tanknutz and then continued to build it for him, before he stopped the build due to growing costs and the difficult build.

Ends up in your hands, finished beautifully.

It is by no means an easy, or a cheap kit to build. I shall still wait for a mass released model!!

Ah, now i understand the whole story and the pictures of started builds that seems to be familiar. Yes, its complex. My suggestion to Panzerjaeger66 and Ludwigs is to create a simpler and much cheaper suspension considering that it is all hidden by the side skirts anyway... with maybe the more complex and accurate suspension offered as an option to those who really want it. This kit has a lot of potential but the cost and complexity of the suspension is likely what discourage many modellers. The super heavy elefant metal tracks are also a bit of an overkill and cheaper plastic alternatives could surely be selected.

Yeah… i wanted a Centurion for decades and tired of waiting for any mainstream vendor to produce it, i decided to have a build of a lifetime with this one so i put a lot in it. Including the kit, heavy shipping from the UK, Canadian customs %, metal gun barrel, TK-22, DKLM recoil unit, machine guns, accessories, figures and countless bits of brass strips, bolts, rods and plasticard sheets, it ends up about US $2000. But considering the 4 month of fascinating hobby i had and the facts it is a one of a kind (meaning there is no other exactly like it), i am quite pleased with the results of the project.

Regards, Louis

Panzerjaeger66 · Post by **Panzerjaeger66** » Sun Aug 11, 2019 2:23 pm

lmcq11 wrote:Thank you Eastern front, Adam, Tom and Barry !

Ah, now i understand the whole story and the pictures of started builds that seems to be familiar. Yes, its complex. My suggestion to Panzerjaeger66 and Ludwigs is to create a simpler and much cheaper suspension considering that it is all hidden by the side skirts anyway... with maybe the more complex and accurate suspension offered as an option to those who really want it. This kit has a lot of potential but the cost and complexity of the suspension is likely what discourage many modellers. The super heavy elefant metal tracks are also a bit of an overkill and cheaper plastic alternatives could surely be selected.

Yeah… i wanted a Centurion for decades and tired of waiting for any mainstream vendor to produce it, i decided to have a build of a lifetime with this one so i put a lot in it. Including the kit, heavy shipping from the UK, Canadian customs %, metal gun barrel, TK-22, DKLM recoil unit, machine guns, accessories, figures and countless bits of brass strips, bolts, rods and plasticard sheets, it ends up about US $2000. But considering the 4 month of fascinating hobby i had and the facts it is a one of a kind (meaning there is no other exactly like it), i am quite pleased with the results of the project.

Regards, Louis

Louis, you did and absolute fantastic job!
I´ve followed this thread with much interest and was astonished about the details and results you´ve got! Absolutely outstanding!
Ok, calm down Freddy

but I have to tell what I think about...

I´ve designed the Centurion in 2015 when 3D printing wasn´t that cheap nor had good quality, but I agree, a easier 3D printed suspension would make it easier to build. On the other hand, building or modelling makes our hobby fascinating, but need some skills...
I´ll talk about this option with Chris, but think that price won´t be changing, because manufacturing the styrene parts are cheaper than 3D printing.
I´d prefer plastic tracks too, but no change to find plastic tracks matching with the original Centurion tracks, that are so close than the Ferdinand metal tracks.

Cheers,
Freddy

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Sun Aug 11, 2019 10:57 pm

Thanks Freddy,

I personally much prefer plasticard than 3D printing. I find 3D printing parts difficult to work with, usually either too soft or too fragile, rarely impressed. Many modellers uses a thick compound to soften the lines but it also removes a lot of the details. Choices are personal, nothing is perfect.

Here is the crew. I am missing binoculars for the tank commander's right hand, but otherwise complete. The infantry captain is optional and removable. I used Verlinden no 666 for the sunglasses. Next step is to finalize the tank with tow cables, antennas, etc and it will finally be finished.

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:00 pm

and some more

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

: 1/16 RC Centurion tank IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Build

Post by **HERMAN BIX** » Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:02 pm

Breathtaking
Bravo

c.rainford73 · Post by **c.rainford73** » Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:27 pm

Absolutely spectacular work Louis! I'm in awe and beyond words.....

Post by **Son of a gun-ner** » Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:45 pm

Absolutely stunning

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Wed Aug 14, 2019 1:29 am

Hi, thank you everyone. After a 3 month build period, the model is finished. This tank is heavy with 11 pounds of hobby material on it. Here is the last set of pictures and 2 Youtube videos at the end of the post.

I did a few additions, such as tow cables, radio antennas, electrical cables and some final paint retouching. The model is quite fragile with all the details and items sticking out. So although it is heavy, it is a tank to be run in desert environment, and nowhere near bushes. It needs to be handled carefully.

Here is the final model under a different sunlight than last time. The sun has a lot of impacts on the color coming out in the pictures.

Final electronic check