Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion) *** Finished ***

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splash
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Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion) *** Finished ***

Post by splash »

This is a shared build between David & Myself (plus’s anyone else who wants to join in) converting the classic old Airfix 1/76 scale Centurion MBT into the Swedish Strdsvagn 104, as you can see from the image below the Swedish Army made major improvements to the Centurion’s armour and at the same time changed the engine for a diesel unit.

Click the image below to view a set of images taken of the Bovingdon Tank Museums of this and other Centurions in their collection. link to walk around images

Image

The Centurion was one of the most successful tank designs ever, that change the thinking about tank designations, becoming the Main Battle Tank (MBT) as we know them today.

• A41 - Prototype Model Designation
• A41 (20mm) - Prototype fitted with 20mm Polsten cannon in coaxial position.
• A41 (Besa) - Prototype fitted with Besa tank machine gun.
• Centurion Mk 1 - Initial Production Model Designation; 17-pdr main gun
• Centurion Mk 1A - Improved V-12 diesel engine
• Centurion Mk 1B
• Centurion Mk 2 - 17-pdr main gun; improved armor protection; cast turret.
• Centurion Mk 2 ARV - Armored Recovery Vehicle; spade at hull rear; winch for 31 ton pull capacity.
• Centurion Mk 3 - 20-pdr main gun; first South African Export (1953) model
• Centurion Mk 4 - Proposed close-support model; fitted with CS 95mm gun.
• Centurion Mk 5 - Upgraded to 105mm L7 main gun; upgraded South African model; 12.7mm machine guns at coaxial and commander positions.
• Centurion Mk 5/1 (FV4011) - Improved Armor Protection
• Centurion Mk 5/2 - 105mm main gun
• Centurion Mk 5A - South African model with updated V-12 engine.
• Centurion Mk 5 AVRE 165 (FV4003) - Armored Vehicle Royal Engineers; fitted with 165mm demolition gun.
• Centurion Mk 5 Bulldozer - Combat Engineer Vehicle with dozer blade.
• Centurion Mk 5 Bridgelayer (FV4002)
• Centurion Mk 6 - Based on Mk 5; upgunned; improved armor.
• Centurion Mk 6/1 - Based on Mk 6; fitted with IR equipment.
• Centurion Mk 6/2 - Based on Mk 6/1; fitted with ranging machine gun.
• Centurion Mk 7 (FV4007) - Revised engine compartment.
• Centurion Mk 7/1 (FV4012) - Improved Armor
• Centurion Mk 7/2 - Upgunned Version
• Centurion Mk 8 - Redesigned barrel base and commander's cupola.
• Centurion Mk 8/1 - Improved Armor
• Centurion Mk 8/2 - Upgunned Version
• Centurion Mk 9 (FV4015) - Based on Mk 7 Model; upgunned and improved armor.
• Centurion Mk 9/1 - IR equipment
• Centurion Mk 9/2 - Fitted with ranging machine gun
• Centurion Mk 10 (FV4017) - Based on the Centurion Mk 8 model; additional armor protection; 105mm L7 main gun.
• Centurion Mk 10/1 - IR equipment
• Centurion Mk 10/2 - Based on the Centurion Mk 10 but with a ranging machine gun.
• Centurion Mk 11 - Based on Mk 6 model but with ranging machine gun and IR equipment.
• Centurion Mk 12 - Based on Mk 9 model but with ranging machine gun and IR equipment.
• Centurion Mk 12 AVRE 105 - Forward Artillery Observation Vehicle modified for AVRE.
• Centurion Mk 13 - Based on Mk 10 model but with ranging machine gun and IR equipment.
• FV4013 Centurion ARV Mk I - Armored Recovery Vehicle
• FV4006 Centurion ARV Mk II - Armored Recovery Vehicle with noticeable superstructure added.
• Centurion AVRE 105 - Assault Vehicle Royal Engineers; combat engineer model fitted with 105mm demolition gun.
• Centurion AVRE 165 - Combat Engineer Model fitted with 165mm demolition gun.
• Centurion AVLB - Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge
• FV4002 Centurion Bridgelayer
• FV4018 Centurion BARV - Beach Armored Recovery Vehicle
• FV4016 Centurion ARK - Armored Ramp Carrier
• FV3802 - Proposed Self-Propelled Gun System; fitted with 25-pdr main gun; never produced.
• FV3805 - Proposed Self-Propelled Gun System; fitted with 5.5" main gun; never produced.
• FV4004 "Conway" - Proposed Self-Propelled Gun System based on the Centurion Mk 3; fitted with 120mm L1 main gun; single production example.
• FV4005 - Proposed Self-Propelled Gun System fitted with 180mm main gun with auto-loader.
• FV4202 40-ton Centurion - Developmental Model
• FV4010 - Heavy Tank Destroyer (anti-tank missile launcher platform)
• Centurion (Low Profile) - Fitted with Teledyne low-profile turret system.
• Centurion (MMWR Target) - Radar Target Tank
• Centurion "Marksman" - Fitted with Marksman anti-aircraft turret system.
• Centurion Ark ( FV4016) - Assault Gap Crossing Equipment Model.
• Tariq - Jordanian Version
• Olifant Semel - South African Model fitted with 810hp engine; appearing in 1974.
• Olifant Mk 1- South African modified version featuring upgraded engine (750hp) and suspension; appearing in 1978.
• Olifant Mk 1A - South African upgraded version with locally produced 105mm L7 main gun; appearing in 1985.
• Olifant Mk 1B - South African rebuild model as an improved Oliphant Mk 1A; improved suspension; additional armor; V-12 950hp diesel engine; digital fire control system with laser rangefinder; appearing in 1991.
• Olifant 2 - South African version featuring 120mm LIW GT-8 rifled or smooth-bore main gun; improved fire control system.
• Sho't Meteor - Fitted with original Meteor V-12 petrol engine; based on Centurion Mk 5 models.
• Sho't - Israeli rebuild models; fitted with Teledyne Continental AVDS-1790-2A diesel engine; increased speed and range; 105mm main gun; increased ammunition; covers Kal Alef, Bet, Gimel and Dalet models.
• Nagmashot -Israeli modified Centurion for personnel carrier role.
• Nagmachon -Israeli modified Centurion for personnel carrier role.
• Nakpadon -Israeli modified Centurion for personnel carrier role.
• Puma - Israeli Combat Engineer Vehicle
• Eshel ha-Yarden - Israeli Multiple Rocket Launch System; single prototype example.
• Tempest - Singapore Model developed with Israeli assistance
• Stridsvagn 81 - Swedish Centurion Mk 3; 20-pdr main gun.
• Stridsvagn 101 - Swedish Centurion Mk 10; 105mm main gun.
• Stridsvagn 101R - Swedish Centurion Mk 10 with laser rangefinder.
• Stridsvagn 102 - Swedish Centurion Mk 3 with 105mm main gun.
• Stridsvagn 102R - Swedish Centurion Mk 3 with laser rangefinder.
• Stridsvagn 104 - Swedish Centurion Mk 3 with laser rangefinder and diesel engine.
• Stridsvagn 105 - Prototype Swedish Centurion Mk 3 with revised suspension.
• Stridsvagn 106 - Proposed Swedish Centurion Mk 10 with revised suspension.
• Bargningsbandvagn 81 - Swedish Centurion ARV
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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lancfan
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by lancfan »

Alan, work intruded last week but I should be ready to start in a few days, your pictures are a great help but I was not able to find a scale drawing of this tank online to properly work out the engine deck but I did find this brief YouTube video which mid way through the film shows the rear deck viewed from the turret, this will help in getting the engine cover right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UfAXpo1NgI;

Here are my box lid and contents shots.
Image
Image

David.
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splash
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by splash »

David I made an error and forgot that I’m off on holiday next week and won’t be back until the end of the month so shall we start during the first week in December ?
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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splash
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by splash »

I wonder if the engine covers are similar to the IDF SHO’T KAL?
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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lancfan
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by lancfan »

Alan, the first week in December will be fine- as for the engine covers, I do have plans for the Sho't Kal and yes it seems to be the same.

David.
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splash
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by splash »

I found this image as part of the kit review for the Sho’t KAL.

I recon we can use it for the basic shape for the engine decking :-D

Image
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by lancfan »

Alan, I've found a much sharper picture of a 1/35 resin Shot Kal engine deck, have emailed it to you along with the drawing I found.

David.
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splash
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by splash »

David,

Cheers for the image as you say it’s much better than the one I found, my thinking is the engine deck is going to be the toughest part of this build, so I might just cut off the old part and replace it with flat plastic card, then build it up.

what’s your thoughts?
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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lancfan
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by lancfan »

splash wrote:David,

Cheers for the image as you say it’s much better than the one I found, my thinking is the engine deck is going to be the toughest part of this build, so I might just cut off the old part and replace it with flat plastic card, then build it up.

what’s your thoughts?
I think that is the best way forward, the grills around the raised engine cover will be the most difficult part. Before I think about that I will extend the main hull parts by 2mm to correct the overall length as Airfix made the model a scale 6 inches too short.

David
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splash
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by splash »

Where are you going to add the 2mm, in front of the engine bay?

I have read that there is some controversy about the supposed missing 6in so I’m going with the kit as it is.
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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lancfan
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by lancfan »

Airfix designed the kit with evenly spaced bogies, if you check the plans and any pictures of the full size you will see that the gap between the middle and front bogies is slightly longer and this is where I am going to fit the 2mm extension.

David.
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splash
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by splash »

That makes sense
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by lancfan »

This is the third Centurion I have modified in this way and to make the task easier I previously made this simple jig, this slows things down a ittle as until the complete set of hull parts has been lengthened I cannot assemble the hull so as the song went this moves along "one piece at a time"
Image

David.
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splash
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by splash »

Now that is a cunning plan
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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splash
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Re: Stridsvagn 104 (Swedish Centurion)

Post by splash »

You got me thinking about this missing 6in so I checked my built Centurion’s measurements, against those in my set of George Bradford’s AFV Plans and I can see you are right there is an issue with the kits length.

So I’m going to take a slightly different approach, I think I will build the hull then cut it in half, then add a one 2mm thick piece across one half then add the other half when the 2mm has been trimmed down to size.
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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