Gamera

Oh looks cool, great job overall but I really love the rust on the mufflers.

Thank you. The rust was a combination of Vallejo 71.080 Rust and AK Interactice Weathering Pencil Set ~ Rust and Streaking Effects Set 10041

Oh looks cool, great job overall but I really love the rust on the mufflers.

GreySnake

Really like how the chipping came out.       

 

Thank you.

As I said I like that the more that you work on it, the less chipping you get. So getting it wrong should result in less chipping, so you can redo it to add more.

Over Christmas, I've started painting the Valentine.

The basic colours went fine.

Today I've started the weathering, with chipping using VMS chipping solutions for the first time.

I think I'll leave it over night and see what it looks like.

Looking good, especially the PE - nice one!

Great job so far! The Valentine is an attractive tank!

Bill

GreySnake

Coming along very nicely, really like how the PE turned out. 

Thank you.

I think I've actually enjoyed the PR work most. The intake on the roof of the turret was probably the most awkward as it had to bend two ways, but it went into place nicely.

Again, I'm so pleased I got myself a bending jig and good quality glue.

After a little delay, while I did some basic interior painting (I've built the tank with the turret hatches open) and faffed about on other things, I've completed the initial build.

The slow setting cement I ordered to ease the track construction still hasn't arrived. So I've ordered an alternative which should arrive in a couple of days. So I'm still to gird my loins for the track assembly.

The top and bottom halves of the main body are still separate so that I can get some of the painting done with the tracks off.

The only real issue I've had with the kit so far is the turret fit above the gun mantel. It looks like the cross member didn't come out of the mold correctly and is a little thin. It didn't line up with the other half until I persuaded it, and I've had to do some inexpert filling and filing to try to correct the problem. The fit around the back of the turret wasn't brilliant either, but that was corrected very easily with filler. Also I'm not really happy with the fit of the turret top plate. I think I may have another go at tidying that up. It's a shame as everything else has gone together fine.

I managed to lose a handle on one of the rear covers. It pinged off into room somewhere as I was trying to trim it, and I'm buggered if I can find it. So I've made up a replacement with brass wire, and I'm pleased with the result - at least for a first attempt at that sort of thing.

Thanks Bish, I didn't know that either. Always awesome to get an education here.

Gamera

That's interesting, I hadn't heard about the Centaurs lacking engines though it makes sense in the context. 

I kinda liked the US idea of just putting a pile of rockets on the landing craft and then unloading after pounding the living  out of the enemy with a massive barrage of them. 

 

Acctually the LCT(R) was a British idea, the idea being to create lots of holes on the beach for the troops to use as cover.

That's interesting, I hadn't heard about the Centaurs lacking engines though it makes sense in the context. 

I kinda liked the US idea of just putting a pile of rockets on the landing craft and then unloading after pounding the living  out of the enemy with a massive barrage of them. 

Until the Meteor engine was developed from the Merlin, I think engines were a constant headache for british tanks in WWII.

I didn't know that about the engines, but it makes a lot of sense - squabbles over which engine to use were a major part of the Cromwell/Cavalier tanks' problems.

Hutch6390

As a point of interest, the Centaur has those gradations marked around the turret because, for some reason, the original plan was to have them provide fire support by firing from on board a landing craft - they weren't really intended to be used as tanks!  The idea seems pointless - why not just fit some 4" gun turrets to a landing craft?  Still, they're a very interesting subject - I must get one!

I thought the same - The Centaur seemed the most interesting version of the Comet line because of this use. I believe the tanks were spare and originally were not going to have engines on D-Day. Just be in the landing ships providing fire support. I've even read that it was Churchill who insisted that they had engines fitted, so that they could be used beyond the initial landings.

Gamera

the 95mm Centaur sounds really cool

Hi Gamera - you're welcome.  As a point of interest, the Centaur has those gradations marked around the turret because, for some reason, the original plan was to have them provide fire support by firing from on board a landing craft - they weren't really intended to be used as tanks!  The idea seems pointless - why not just fit some 4" gun turrets to a landing craft?  Still, they're a very interesting subject - I must get one!

Rob: The Centaur looks really sharp! Sorry to hear about the decal issue there. 

Gary is right, Micro Set and Sol are fantastic setting solutions for decals. 

Hutch, thanks for the head's up- the 95mm Centaur sounds really cool.

And thanks for the website, lots of great photos there. 

I've just found a great resource showing details of the Valentine.

  https://hmvf.co.uk/topic/32534-restoration-of-a-valentine-mk5-tank-started/

It's a restoration so perhaps so will contain colour choice made by the restorer, but the details of the photos is superb,

garylee

For decals you might want to take a look at the microsol and microset system. I've been using it for many years and it makes such a huge difference you won't believe it. Using the Microsol and microset I don't even have to clear gloss coat flat paint before I put the decals down. I usually do anyway just out of habit, but it's not absolutely necessary. With this system, followed by a decent flat clear coat, the decals end up looking like they were painted on, and that's the point, right?

Thanks for the recommendation garylee. I've got myself some decal solutions but will try the Microsol and Microset if I don't get on with them.

garylee

Great work so far, Rob, and your PE work is just great. I can't wait to see the rest.

Thank you again

For decals you might want to take a look at the microsol and microset system. I've been using it for many years and it makes such a huge difference you won't believe it. Using the Microsol and microset I don't even have to clear gloss coat flat paint before I put the decals down. I usually do anyway just out of habit, but it's not absolutely necessary. With this system, followed by a decent flat clear coat, the decals end up looking like they were painted on, and that's the point, right?

Great work so far, Rob, and your PE work is just great. I can't wait to see the rest.

Thank you Hutch. 

The Centaur was brush painted with Humbrol enamels. That's where I started as it was what I was used to doing in my youth. I've now moved on to acrylics and have an airbrush.

Where I to do it again, I'd take a very different approach with the decals. Not helped by me getting them on the wrong edge of the turret on first attempt. 

Decals is something I've yet to get right.

In prep for the Valentine I've got some gloss varnish and decal application fluid. So hopefully I can do a better job this time round.

It's a learning curve.

Very nice Centaur - I really like the colour variation.  

Also known as Rob

Gamera If you want another 1/35th British tank I'd recommend the Tamiya Cromwell. Fits like a dream.

I was sorely tempted by this one, but held off awaiting the new-tool Airfix release (presently on pre-order) of the Cromwell Mk IV.  They're also bringing out the Mk VI (95mm howitzer) CS variant.

Gamera

Oh cool, nice work!!!

Thank you.

Gamera

If you want another 1/35th British tank I'd recommend the Tamiya Cromwell. Fits like a dream.

I have the built the Tamiya Centaur, which I think is the Cromwell kit with some alternative parts - the different gun being an obvious one.

Thoroughly agree that it was a nice kit to build.

Oh cool, nice work!!! 

And the PE bending tool makes thing MUCH easier. 

If you want another 1/35th British tank I'd recommend the Tamiya Cromwell. Fits like a dream. Only real downside is the rubber band tracks. I built the Bronco Comet recently and the Tamiya Cromwell fits MUCH better together. 

Bish

I'm guessing that the cenrurion is an AFV club kit (glad they are finally expanding the range of British versions) in which case if your mainly used to tamiya kit, you might want to brace your self.

I can see me wanting to get back to Tamiya after the Centurian - for a bit of relaxation 

Hutch6390

Bronco Comet, which seems fairly straightforward except for the indy-link tracks...

Yes - the Bronco Comet is high on my wishlist.

Hutch6390

Keep us posted on your Valentine, and how you get on with the VMS glue.

Will do!

Yes. It's an AFV Club Centurian. The IDF Shot version.

And this is the set of figures I've bought to go with it: