Introduction:

The third turret in the series provides the earlier Mk.3 turret that can be used to convert the AFV Club Mk.5 Centurion kits.

It too is based on the AFV Club kit turret with the appropriate modifications for the Mk.3 turret such as the different roof layout and most importantly the large rear turret access hatch which is provided as a separate part as is the left side port.

The Mk.3 Centurion also used the earlier 20pdr Type A barrel without the fume extractor and AFV Club have just released this as a metal barrel in set #AG 35018 and can be use with this conversion. Some Mk.3s also used the 20pdr Type B barrel with fume extractor as included in the AFV Club RAAC Mk.5 kit and checking references is best for the model being built to determine the correct barrel type.

The set has four parts, the full turret and separate left side port and linkage arm and the large rear access hatch with the standard of resin casting again excellent without any blemishes such as air holes or warping with the only cleanup required being small remnants of the casting block on the lower edge of the turret and some fine resin film in the hatch cut-outs and periscope aperture.

The turret is cast hollow like the kit turret and the advantage of having the complete turret in one piece is all the join seams for the upper roof (kit part I18) and rear bracket (kit part I37) and underside bustle fillet (kit part I29) have already been eliminated for you saving a bit of work.

The lower turret ring (kit part I28) is fitted inside the resin turret the same as for the plastic kit turret and this fits perfectly with the rest of the turret assembly for the hatches, side storage boxes and other details is as per kit instructions.

The detail on the mantlet cover has excellent contours and includes the canvas seams and the bolted strips around the edges as well as the bulge for the co-axial cover with the metal barrel fitting perfectly into the mantlet opening.

The rear access hatch has a small casting block and includes a frame seen on some hatches while not on others and can be removed if not applicable and checking references is the best option.

Resin turret and hatch parts




Underside of turret with perfect fit of kit turret ring
and blended in detail under the bustle.

Conclusion:

This set provides a quick and easy conversion to the earlier Mk.3 and again providing the full turret with mantlet cover included does all the hard work of filling join seams for you and thanks to AFV Club finding the early Type A 20pdr barrel has also been solved.

Highly recommended 7.5/10

See the Centurion Subjects page for other Centurion related reviews.

References:

Centurion Modern Combat Vehicles:2 Simon Dunstan Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1063-3	Centurion Universal Tank 1943-2003 Osprey New Vanguard 68 ISBN 9 781841 763873
The Centurion Tank by Bill Munro. Published by: The Crowood Press Ltd ISBN 1 86126 701 0 Hardback, 192 pages	Centurion in action Squadron Signal Publications No.2013 Stephen Tunbridge ISBN 0-88740-341-7

Thanks to LionMarc Model Designs for the review set.