Tamiya 1/16 Centurion build and field test.

[oldwolf]

The track and suspension looks very flexible and speed seems good in your videos.

[Rubicon99]

That looks absolutely fantastic. I wish I could take the time it takes to do that/ have the skills to do it. I assume you do a lot of that with an airbrush. Do you paint the wheels off the tank when you have metal wheels? Remove the rubber part? On this and the Abrams I really like the load out you have, packs, bundles, tarps, etc. Can you tell me how you make things you make or if you are 3D printing or buying where you get them? Same question for figures. I've only been learning about tanks for a month, not even, 27 days now and already have four and two more on the way. Your posts have been very informative. Thank you!

Evan

There are only four colors of paint used on this tank. Desert Tan, Black, White and Rust. 98% of the tank is desert the other 2% is on small parts that were hand painted.

On this tank I painted the wheels on the tank but could have just as easily painted them off the tank.

On this tank the rubber was not installed before paining the wheels. I have paint both with rubber on and off the wheels in the past.

All my accessories are “kit bashed” from other tanks, bought or I make them by hand.

[Rubicon99]

Tamiya 1/16 Centurion tank.

Finished most of the base weathering. Went with a light dirty look as the tank will become naturally weathered with dust, dirt, dried mud and grime rather quickly. Which in turn tends to hide applied weathering.

The first test drive video of the tank in dirt is also now up on my Instagram @ fsttanks.

Tamiya Centurion 1/16 RC tank in IDF theme

Tamiya Centurion on test course.

[Rubicon99]

One final step before I closed up the turret cargo bins. I added small magnets to the inside lids. This is to accommodate later accessories and have the ability to mix and match new items at will.

[DavidN]

R99 is probably catching up with things at work. I can tell you where I bought my accessories:

German: www.andyshhq.com
Allies & German : www.forgebeartanks.com
hwww.rctank.de

[SoCalBobS]

the Tank Museum got a Centurion too!

https://tankmuseum.org/article/swiss-tank-donation?utm_source=The+Tank+Museum&utm_campaign=61a90f82bd-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_06_21_08_39_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9f8e541a11-61a90f82bd-98243624&goal=0_9f8e541a11-61a90f82bd-98243624&mc_cid=61a90f82bd&mc_eid=7c68377668

[Evan D]

That looks absolutely fantastic. I wish I could take the time it takes to do that/ have the skills to do it. I assume you do a lot of that with an airbrush. Do you paint the wheels off the tank when you have metal wheels? Remove the rubber part? On this and the Abrams I really like the load out you have, packs, bundles, tarps, etc. Can you tell me how you make things you make or if you are 3D printing or buying where you get them? Same question for figures. I've only been learning about tanks for a month, not even, 27 days now and already have four and two more on the way. Your posts have been very informative. Thank you!

Evan

[Rubicon99]

Tamiya 1/16 Centurion tank.

Accessory and small parts day. Next it is off to weathering and then the real fun part begins.....TRIALS COURSE & IR target range/zeroing.

[Rubicon99]

Rubicon, what's your opinion of the single-pin resin tracks thus far?

Real Centurion tracks are single pin so no short cuts there. Tamiya track are a reasonably tough nylon material. The tracks are well put together with clean detailing. The pins are stainless steel so the tracks run smoothly.

Durability remain to be see, but Tamiya nylon tracks are generally superior to HL plastic tracks (as a comparison). I will have a better idea about the durability aspect once I get the Centurion on my trials course and run some obstacles.

I will say regardless of the outcome of testing the tracks I will be buying a good number of spare links and a full track set once they become available. Better to have and not need then need and not have when it comes to Tamiya tracks.

[sclui56]

Rubicon, what's your opinion of the single-pin resin tracks thus far?

[Rubicon99]

I have just seen the step # in the manual of this last picture. The step # is at 75 . For the Jagdpanzer IV that I built, it has 46 steps. The KT I that finished only has 37 steps. Oh boy, I will be quite busy when I receive this tank in March.

The Centurion is by far the longest and most involved Tamiya build yet. It is not hard and goes together smoothly, it just has a lot of screws and small steps that must be done correctly.

[DavidN]

Finished up the last major parts and gave the Centurion its first powered driving test (now on Instagram @ fsttanks). Below are the last two steps I will be coving from the manual as the rest of the work is personal detailing parts and custom add ons.

I have just seen the step # in the manual of this last picture. The step # is at 75 . For the Jagdpanzer IV that I built, it has 46 steps. The KT I that finished only has 37 steps. Oh boy, I will be quite busy when I receive this tank in March.

[DavidN]

It is nice to have a new tank model in our hobby . Thank you R99 for the 1st built!

[sclui56]

Thanks for sharing the build, it is a very good looking vehicle!

[Rubicon99]

Tamiya 1/16 Centurion.

BASIC tan paint on and some “dry fitted” kit test placement. Next up is detailing parts, weathering and then trials course testing.

[Rubicon99]

This is a great project thread. Thanks for all your work on it.

By the way, what can all the buttons on the transmitter that came with the tank be set to control on it?

Just to be clear the Tamiya radio does not come with the US version of the Centurion kit.

Bob hit all the high points in function does everything he listed.

[Rubicon99]

I was curious about that also. I found partial info online:

Adopts a 4ch transmitter equipped with function buttons
The RC mechanism uses a 2.4GHz radio set that can be easily enjoyed by multiple units without worrying about interference. The stick-type 4ch transmitter is equipped with 10 function buttons that correspond to the various functions of the tank with one push, as well as the trim lever for each channel. In addition, various settings such as button functions on the LCD screen, channel swap that can change the channel position, and servo endpoint adjustment are possible, and various information can be displayed. It is also characterized by being able to store up to 5 models of uniquely set data.

Yep does all those things. I was going to run my DX8e in this tank but after using the supplied radio I see no reason it’s actually pretty decent for a tank controller.

[SoCalBobS]

This is a great project thread. Thanks for all your work on it.

By the way, what can all the buttons on the transmitter that came with the tank be set to control on it?

I was curious about that also. I found partial info online:

Adopts a 4ch transmitter equipped with function buttons
The RC mechanism uses a 2.4GHz radio set that can be easily enjoyed by multiple units without worrying about interference. The stick-type 4ch transmitter is equipped with 10 function buttons that correspond to the various functions of the tank with one push, as well as the trim lever for each channel. In addition, various settings such as button functions on the LCD screen, channel swap that can change the channel position, and servo endpoint adjustment are possible, and various information can be displayed. It is also characterized by being able to store up to 5 models of uniquely set data.

[oldwolf]

This is a great project thread. Thanks for all your work on it.

By the way, what can all the buttons on the transmitter that came with the tank be set to control on it?

[Rubicon99]

More test videos are now up on my Instagram @ fsttanks.