Hi Everyone
So a little history into this AFV Club Centurion AVRE 165mm
So the design started with AFV club when we started designing the Australian Centurion Mk5 .
I had a designer come and stay with me and he measured 11BA46 at Duxford and 02BA33 at Chatham before they started design work on a centurion. Also took my resin Master with him.
I have been helping with centurion from the word go . But this has been my pride and joy and MH RIP MD for AFV club we had been talking and working on the AVRE for Four years prior to his passing to make it 100 % correct.
Just to clear something up the said designer went to amusing hobby yet still messed up the gulf centurion so much wrong.
So the box design is based on Norfolk Tank Museums vehicle which is in its original livery and actual one of its old crew. Which was used in later years to get correct measurements .
So the Rubber tracks came in to service same time as the AVRE Mk12 105mm and AVRE Mk12 H 105 mm ex artillery Ops fitted to take mine plough or dozer blade and fascine cradle. we did have a few in my Squadron and our ARV was on Hush Puppies.
Due to lack of steel track it it was decide that steel track be kept for war stock only and when the tanks went to the gulf they changed from hush puppies to Steel . But at least two still had hush Puppies on .
The breach and internal gun mount is a based on Norfolk Tank museums Vehicle track , gun all measured off this tank .
Commanders Seat is for seeing over a CHESTNUT Paling Fascine called a POGO STICK we did not use them too much.
In the kit you should have the mounting brackets steel tubes for the back basket to be stowed on the rear decks when carrying a Fascine with Gun depressed down the middle of Basket.
The fish plates and banana plates to attach a fascine and class 60 track way as well.
Should be a gun Mantel Cover as it is Unique to the AVRE .
New track adjuster Wheel late style
It was going to have both sets of wheels rubber and plastic I like the rubber ones due to detail .
I gave them a lot of AVRE pictures and I did ask for a Motorman, 26 ,31,26 corps and 32 AER.
I have had no input since passing of MH.
I also asked if a Separate Top plate be designed so that a Mk3 turret could be included as HALF of the 40 AVRE have Mk3 Turrets. I can supply a list if wanted .
I also asked for a crew in denims and SMG guns as that’s what we had when I was in 74-87.
Should also have Larkspur and clansman Radio bases and correct fire extinguishers .
I am a ex Armoured Engineer and I went on to work on tanks until 2019 making it 43 yrs on tanks in one for or another .
I have a fondness for the Cent AVRE even tho I spent most of my time on Centurion BridgeLayers , Chieftain AVLB served on AVREs to start with and still have the dozer blade knuckle from changing gear . Wrap your knuckles on dozer control unless you chopped two inches off the gear stick
My most favourite drive of a AVRE was the queens jubilee parade 1977 in sennalager,
I am only going on the CAD drawing I have which the model is based on.
Ossie