Centaur IV, 95mm Close Support, 1/35 Tamiya >NO PICS<

[Stikpusher]

Continuing with my self appointed task to repopulate the armor forum here Tamiya's 1/35 Centaur IV C.S. kit built straight OOB in the markings of the Royal Marine Support Group in Normandy, D-Day, 1944. My one exception to this being OOB was that the kit tracks broke shartly after they were put on, so I ended up getting some Hobbyboss indy links to replace them. So far my luck with those gluable rubber band tracks from Tamiya and AFV Blub has been like these in every case- they break within a short time of being put on the model. Other than the tracks, this kit (and the Cromwell) is pure "shake and bake", simple and fast to build. Definitely a good choice if your coming off a headbanging stress inducing build.

[Bish]

Now that's really nice. Whats the purpose of those markings around the turret, not seen anything like that before.

[Stikpusher]

The markings are for fire control on the run in to the beach. These were supposed to be lashed to the decks of barges to provide fire support for the final phase of the run in. Something like 4 per barge, and would be aimed and fired as a battery. External observers would direct their fire based upon the turret markings. In actuality, the bargess did not prove to be too stable or seaworthy, especially in the sea condtions of June 6, and these Centaurs operated as standard CS tanks supporting the RM Commandos on and off of their beaches.

[lawman56]

Stik, have you ever tried melting the kit tracks together, as opposed to gluing them? The old, (early 80s), Tamiya instructions used to show you how in one of the margins.

Basically, you turn the track inside out, link it together, then heat up a flat tip metal tool. I used an old flathead screwdriver that had a 1/4 inch blade. Once the screwdriver blade was hot, apply the flat side to the plastic post, and it will mushroom. I've put together "rubber band" tracks that way in 1983 that actually outlasted the model!

My M7, M4, and M5 all have the tracks done that way, and no problems at all. My Sheridan had grossly inaccurate tracks, so I replaced them with the only thing available, Fruil metal.

[Stikpusher]

Oh yes I have. I have plenty of armor builds that are on my shelves and nearly 30 years old now with those types of tracks. The problem is Tamiya and other companies went to this softer glueable plastic for their new kit tracks in the 90s. And for some reason, those tracks have all self destructed on my builds that had them. The older heat joined tracks have outlasted them by decades. I'll post some photos of old tracks that I did back then.