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Alternative Decals for Centurion & Chieftain
Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2024 11:03 am
by zooma
I was wondering if anyone produces any alternative markings that could be used on my British HAYA Centurion and Chieftain tanks?
The Centurion probably stands more chance of finding an alternative set of decals than the Chieftain as more than one manufacturer makes a 1/16 scale model of it, whereas the Chieftain is only made by HAYA (?).
I admit to not knowing enough about modern British tanks markings and is something that I need to find out more about, but I do know that having several Chieftain and Centurion tanks likely to appear together in our small club in the near future with the same markings and registration numbers is not ideal.
More particularly, I would like to find out what markings and registration numbers would apply and may be available for a British Centurion in Berlin colours.
Maybe someone makes alternative custom decals (or spray masks) for these two tanks ?
Any information about this would be appreciated.
Bob.
Re: Alternative Decals for Centurion & Chieftain
Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2024 11:19 am
by Meter rat
Find some pictures of the model you wish to replicate, and send a picture with some details of the size you wish to Rad on here. Sizes, can be measured from the original model decals, and es mated from pictures. Rad is able to reproduce some quite detailed, and delicate stencils (spray masks). They are excellent quality, shipped fast, and not expensive.
Re: Alternative Decals for Centurion & Chieftain
Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2024 11:21 am
by Rad_Schuhart
Meter rat wrote: βSun Sep 01, 2024 11:19 am
Find some pictures of the model you wish to replicate, and send a picture with some details of the size you wish to Rad on here. Sizes, can be measured from the original model decals, and es mated from pictures. Rad is able to reproduce some quite detailed, and delicate stencils (spray masks). They are excellent quality, shipped fast, and not expensive.
Thanks for mentioning me
Zooma, you will see some examples here:
https://radindustries.wordpress.com/201 ... /stencils/
Re: Alternative Decals for Centurion & Chieftain
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 4:29 pm
by zooma
That sounds like a perfect solution.
I will find some pictures and forward them to Rad so I can buy some stencils from him to fit my HAYA Chieftain and HAYA Centurion.
Many thanks,
Bob.
Re: Alternative Decals for Centurion & Chieftain
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 6:11 pm
by Meter rat
Some inspiration for you Mr Zooma.
Up until 1982, British armoured vehicles in West Berlin were camouflaged in the standard pattern of green or green/black.
With the deployment of D Squadron, 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, the commanding officer started to challenge this way of camouflage as the vehicles always looked out of place in urban areas. After trials on cardboard it was decided that a rectangular pattern of white, grey and brown would best match the buildings, windows, doors

- 778AD9C6-7D4A-475D-9293-DA54C35351DA.jpeg (57.81 KiB) Viewed 1260 times
Donβt half fancy doing a Challenger.

- 86AFDBCB-88D6-46DF-8FC6-D2F2649DDE12.jpeg (103.75 KiB) Viewed 1260 times
Re: Alternative Decals for Centurion & Chieftain
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 4:45 pm
by zooma
That is rather nice
Is it one of yours?
It might be a bit ambitious for my painting skills

Re: Alternative Decals for Centurion & Chieftain
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 9:43 pm
by Meter rat
zooma wrote: βFri Sep 06, 2024 4:45 pm
That is rather nice
Is it one of yours?
It might be a bit ambitious for my painting skills
I wish. I just posted these, for fun, as you wanted ideas for Berlin Brigade. I fancy a Chieftain, or Challenger, in this camouflage, one day.
Markings for Berlin Centurions
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 4:59 pm
by zooma
I would like to find out about the markings that would have been used on the Olive drab painted Centurions that were based in Berlin.
When I can find out what markings would have been used (with some photographic evidence) I will get some stencils ordered so that I can finish my Olive Drab kit built HAYA Centurion accurately.
Re: Alternative Decals for Centurion & Chieftain
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 6:10 pm
by jarndice
Near side front fender a yellow disc with the numbers 58 within the disc (Thats the Cents weight) centre of the hull meets body The number plate, British army number plates of the 50s were a black rectangular plate with a pair of white numbers then a pair of white letters the first letter would be a "B" followed by a pair of white numbers, to the left of the nunber plate was the RAC Flash a square with a red triangle filling the top of the square and a gold triangle filling the bottom of the square, to the right of the number plate a black circle with the word BERLIN in red over a red outer circle surrounding the black disc. Centurions in Berlin often carried a name on each side of the turret below the side boxes.
Re: Alternative Decals for Centurion & Chieftain
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 9:09 pm
by zooma
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jarndice wrote: βSat Sep 07, 2024 6:10 pm
Near side front fender a yellow disc with the numbers 58 within the disc (Thats the Cents weight) centre of the hull meets body The number plate, British army number plates of the 50s were a black rectangular plate with a pair of white numbers then a pair of white letters the first letter would be a "B" followed by a pair of white numbers, to the left of the nunber plate was the RAC Flash a square with a red triangle filling the top of the square and a gold triangle filling the bottom of the square, to the right of the number plate a black circle with the word BERLIN in red over a red outer circle surrounding the black disc. Centurions in Berlin often carried a name on each side of the turret below the side boxes.
Thank you jarndice,
You were there!
I need to find some pictures of the Berlin Centurions to accompany your description- I will see what I can find.
With your superb description and some pictures to help show the scale I can get those spray masks on order
