Tamiya 1/16 Centurion build and field test.

[RichJohnson]

I did something similar to 5th at idea with the howitzer Sherman, doesn’t work as well as you would hope. Not worth doing.

[Rubicon99]

Got some range time in with the new RichJohnson “L7 105mm” machined aluminum main gun I recently installed. The gun fit is better then the stock barrel (less wobbly) and this is much more accurate in all aspects of firing.

Shown here the Tamiya Centurion with new “L7 105mm” gun is firing at a target tank ~ 50ft (~16m).

[oldwolf]

Much detail work still to do but as soon as I had it running I had to take it out for a test run. It did very well on a bit over 3 scale miles of woodland path. The track didn't pick up much debris so clean up was quick. A marked difference compared to my challenger 2, which tends to badly clog its tracks. Once I get the skirts on this, we will see if it grabs and holds more stuff. It did pick up several confused aphids, no doubt wondering why something green wasn't edible.

[SoCalBobS]

Beautiful. I love the dark green color. Perfect for your AO. (Until winter!)

[oldwolf]

Well, then there are dark green pine groves, contrasting with the snow. Just have to pick ones spot a bit better!

[Rubicon99]

Much detail work still to do but as soon as I had it running I had to take it out for a test run. It did very well on a bit over 3 scale miles of woodland path. The track didn't pick up much debris so clean up was quick. A marked difference compared to my challenger 2, which tends to badly clog its tracks. Once I get the skirts on this, we will see if it grabs and holds more stuff. It did pick up several confused aphids, no doubt wondering why something green wasn't edible.

👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍 Great to see another Centurion built and out in the wild!!!

[sclui56]

Nice wolf. I bet everyone has started their build except me, but the upside is that I have more time to decide on the scheme. Thanks for sharing.

[RichJohnson]

Very nice looking. Good work

[oldwolf]

So far, I am very pleased with my new centurion. I haven't run it outside again, but if the rain has stopped tomorrow I may do so. My only small complaint is that turret rotation is lacking in fine, slow movement control. Perhaps I didn't lube it enough when I assembled it.
I do have a question though. It comes with Tamiyas newest control unit and I got their newest transmitter with all the buttons, to go with it. Both seem to work well. However, there is a function called brake mode, I think it gets assigned to button 8. What the heck is it supposed to do? I think I have it enabled, but whether it is on or off I cant see it making any difference in operation. Does it do something so subtle that I just am not noticing it?

[Rubicon99]

So far, I am very pleased with my new centurion. I haven't run it outside again, but if the rain has stopped tomorrow I may do so. My only small complaint is that turret rotation is lacking in fine, slow movement control. Perhaps I didn't lube it enough when I assembled it.
I do have a question though. It comes with Tamiyas newest control unit and I got their newest transmitter with all the buttons, to go with it. Both seem to work well. However, there is a function called brake mode, I think it gets assigned to button 8. What the heck is it supposed to do? I think I have it enabled, but whether it is on or off I cant see it making any difference in operation. Does it do something so subtle that I just am not noticing it?

It is typically used when climbing or descending an incline. It keeps the tank from rolling forward or back when/if you stop on a up/down incline.

The turret just takes time to learn how to make the fine slow movements.

If you like the HL control stick set up you can assign the FineSpec to adjust the channels to mimic it. I have the channel assignments if you would like them. Personally I do not like the Tamiya sick assignments then are slow and not intuitive. If you reassign the channels you still retaining all the Tamiya button function. No need to reassign those.

[oldwolf]

It is typically used when climbing or descending an incline. It keeps the tank from rolling forward or back when/if you stop on a up/down incline.

The turret just takes time to learn how to make the fine slow movements.

If you like the HL control stick set up you can assign the FineSpec to adjust the channels to mimic it. I have the channel assignments if you would like them. Personally I do not like the Tamiya sick assignments then are slow and not intuitive. If you reassign the channels you still retaining all the Tamiya button function. No need to reassign those.

Hmmm, that is what I thought it was supposed to do but I didnt see any difference between on and off. Maybe the slope was too steep or the button assignment didnt “take”. I will try it again. Button assignment is so simple it is a quick re-do.

I considered reassigning the driving controls but decided to give the tamiya set up a try. I did reverse elevation control. I like pull back for up and push forward for down.

The main reason I have found the lack of fine control on the turret rotation annoying is that I made the barrel lock functional and lining up the barrel is a bit fiddley.

[Rubicon99]

Barrel lock? I must have missed that in the control setting. Is it a “target lock” feature. The Abrams and Type10 have a target lock feature but I did not see this in the DMD11 manual.

[oldwolf]

No, I mean the travel lock for the barrel, to keep it from bouncing around. Gadget on the corner of the rear deck.

Now that you mention the Abrams though, I wonder if they will have downloadable configuration files (mostly a sound set, I imagine) for people who want to get DMD 11s to install in their older models?

[Rubicon99]

No, I mean the travel lock for the barrel, to keep it from bouncing around. Gadget on the corner of the rear deck.

Now that you mention the Abrams though, I wonder if they will have downloadable configuration files (mostly a sound set, I imagine) for people who want to get DMD 11s to install in their older models?

Got it the hull travel lock.👍👍

The Abrams does not use the DMD11. I am sure though that Tamiya has “target lock” in the 11 programming along with barrel stabilization and it just needs to be activated. The 11 is the newest system that the foreseeable future releases🤞🤞 will be coming with.

[oldwolf]

Actually, the G.B.C. system button setting seems to be for barrel stabilization. I ran a picture of the Japanese characters that seemed o be describing that function through an online translator and that is how it was translated. Naturally it would need hardware that doesn't come with the centurion but might come with the Abrams.

[oldwolf]

I took the centurion out on another slightly more than 3 scale mile run on my woodland paths. It is all done and having side skirts on made no difference in the amount of debris the tracks captured: practically nothing. Clean up afterwards was a breeze. As with the first run a few days ago, performance was exemplary. My challenger 2 with dklmrc metal rubber pad track almost always pulls in something that jams it and needs to stop and be cleared doing the same paths. It seems to be unusually grabby track. Maybe I should get some tamiya track for their leopard 2 and put it on my chally. See if it improves its operation.

[Rubicon99]

I took the centurion out on another slightly more than 3 scale mile run on my woodland paths. It is all done and having side skirts on made no difference in the amount of debris the tracks captured: practically nothing. Clean up afterwards was a breeze. As with the first run a few days ago, performance was exemplary. My challenger 2 with dklmrc metal rubber pad track almost always pulls in something that jams it and needs to stop and be cleared doing the same paths. It seems to be unusually grabby track. Maybe I should get some tamiya track for their leopard 2 and put it on my chally. See if it improves its operation.

Great to hear your Centurion is running good. 👍👍

The Tamiya Leopard 2 tracks are a big improvement over the DKLM tracks. Don’t get me wrong the DKLM are good but the Tamiyas are 75% lighter, just as strong and a little less “sticky” so the tank turns easier and tends not to pick up a lot of debris.

[sclui56]

Rubicon99 Have you figured out how to strengthen the idler mount yet now that the metal tracks are up for pre-order? Thanks.

[Rubicon99]

Rubicon99 Have you figured out how to strengthen the idler mount yet now that the metal tracks are up for pre-order? Thanks.

I don’t know if it will be needed 🤞 until I have the tracks in hand. The idler mounts have been rock solid and trust me I have abused the hell out of the tank and tracks over the last five months.

My Centurion is very heavy as I added a larger heavier 6000 9.6v NiMh battery and extra metal internal weight to the tank for better balance and handling. The metal weight i added is roughly the same as I suspect the new DKLM metal tracks add to the overall “sprung” weight of the tank. The weight I added has put “similar” stress to the track idlers and transmission that will be seen in turning and power needs when the metal track is added. I suspect I will be able to remove my added weight once the new metal tracks are on and thus have a net zero gain in overall stress being put on the idlers and transmission.

So if I what suspect is correct, I don’t see that there will be any immediate issues with the idler design. But time will tell. 🤞🤞

The tracks are available now on DLKMs website. They have 11 in stock at the time of this post. EXPENSIVE when shipping is added, but DLKM tracks are usually worth every penny.

[sclui56]

Thanks for sharing the additional info re weight on your sample, and with the type of driving you generally do, I think at some point you will flush out the issues if any. I think this is a new enough model that parts shortage won't be a problem, just need to be sure there are spare tracks available. Thanks for the info.