Tamiya Chieftain Mk 8 & Italeri Landrover Build

[Deleted]

Ha Ha! here are my ingredients for my latest project a Chieftain on Salisbury Plain circa 1980's. Plus a Italeri Landrover thrown in for good measure!







And the inspiration,











The pictures where taken way back in the day by my friend Norman H who recently scanned his negatives to convert to digital format and discovered these superb pictures. I was immediately slobbering like an idiot when I saw them as the Chieftain's look really interesting without side skirts and the pictures of the tank crossing just screamed "build me"!! By the looks of them I would say they are Mk 8's as there is no stillbrew and some of the early fittings are still in place.

However I could be wrong but the castoff conversion set is a good starting point anyway. I plan to use some of this set and the eduard set as well plus will be making up anything else that I need. And as usual detailing as and when I think it's needed. The Landy needs very little in the way of extra details so I only really have to choose some figures for the standing MP. So get ready for some more Brit heavy metal!

[Tobi]

Now that looks like an interesting and rewarding project! I like classic kits.

Off to a good start Pete.

Cheers,
Tobi

[Leon]

Count me in Pete,always up for some heavy metal builds.

[wbill76]

Nice project in the making Pete, looking forward to this one.

[Deleted]

Nice one fella!!! This'll make for a tidy little dio....and just look how well maintained those tracks are!! ;)No chance of those getting thrown!!

[pantherf..-Email Not Valid]

I like this so I'll be watching closely!  

To those Chieftain experts on the side skirts/shields.  Was there any possibility that some would be missing like the WWII German armor was?






Jeff

[Deleted]

Usually all!!!! Except as Pete says,when they were OpFor on Salisbury Plain.They did serve a purpose,because either one of the middle two on each side,could be used as a dining table for the 4 man crew!!
Re the 'skirts',they were actually sometimes referred to as bazooka plates,for some bizarre reason?

[merseajohn/]

Ooh cool photos and kits, I have a chieftain in the stash so I'll be watching this one

[deafpanzer]

You and Dicky!!! Who will be next? Count me in... agree about cool pictures!

[1721lancers.]

Mar 11, 2014 16:45:15 GMT -5 pantherf..-Email Not Valid said:

I like this so I'll be watching closely!  

To those Chieftain experts on the side skirts/shields.  Was there any possibility that some would be missing like the WWII German armor was?






Jeff

Hi Jeff, the bazooka plates were either on or off. There was no in between, they were hooked on the bottom and then screwed into place at the top. Can't remember 
thread size but you needed a 3/4 inch spanner to tighten them up . The tiedowns on the plates were also excellent bottle openers .

Snipersmudge I would say that they are Mk9's, they have the IFCS fire control system that came with the Mk8, but the 50cal ranging gun has been removed.
Those pics are just fabulous, they certainly bring back a few memories
Edit: Get some Friuls for her, even if you cake the Tamiya tracks in mud they still look crap and will ruin your build .

1721Lancers

[jackh.]

Great project Pete, love the photos count me in on this.

[Deleted]

Cheers guys it's gonna be a great project that's for sure, nothing like a cheify model!

1721 cheers mate I wasn't 100% sure on the Mk8 but a 9 makes sense, I was going to use the kit tracks but will go with fruils just for the detail and the fact the skirts are off. Glad you enjoyed the pictures.

Dicky Yes it's a definite Chieftain fest at the moment. Like the Abrams fest we had before Christmas must be great minds think alike

[paulh.]

My kinda build!Looking forward to this!
P

[1721lancers.]

Hello Pete, I've been drooling over those (my keyboard) pics of yours, and have noticed something.
Does your mate Norman H. happen to know what the hell that vehicle is, which is lurking in the woods
just above the heads of the commander and loader in the 4th pic and above the left hand MP dude 
in the 5th pic?
I have tried blowing the photos up but still can't really see what it is 
Maybe a Cent ARV, but if so why? Mk9 Chieftains did not operate with Cent ARVs..... is there some kind 
of time warp here like the "Philadelphia experiment"       

Paul

[Deleted]

Mar 12, 2014 14:57:01 GMT -5 1721lancers. said:

Hello Pete, I've been drooling over those (my keyboard) pics of yours, and have noticed something.
Does your mate Norman H. happen to know what the hell that vehicle is, which is lurking in the woods
just above the heads of the commander and loader in the 4th pic and above the left hand MP dude 
in the 5th pic?
I have tried blowing the photos up but still can't really see what it is 
Maybe a Cent ARV, but if so why? Mk9 Chieftains did not operate with Cent ARVs..... is there some kind 
of time warp here like the "Philadelphia experiment"       

Paul

Yes Paul I noticed that too and have been wondering what it is, it's definitely got tracks and is too big for a 432. My only guess is that you are right and it's a cent ARV. It doesn't look like a chieftain ARV. One possible explanation is that it's a hulk left on the plain for training purposes but to be honest I always thought that any wreaks were placed in the impact area and tank firing ranges.

I'll ask my mate but we may never know!

[Deleted]

I'm not for certain sure,but it LOOKS like a Chiefy ARRV...not positive,but it looks like when you zoom in,the A frame of the pack carrying frame on the back superstructure.I do not think it is a Cent ARV,because I think from both those angles you would see the rear ground anchor??

[1721lancers.]

Mar 13, 2014 11:48:25 GMT -5 @chrisb said:

I'm not for certain sure,but it LOOKS like a Chiefy ARRV...not positive,but it looks like when you zoom in,the A frame of the pack carrying frame on the back superstructure.I do not think it is a Cent ARV,because I think from both those angles you would see the rear ground anchor??

Hello Cee Bee,  
you have a point with the anchor, but I'm gonna stick to the Cent and I should have said Centurion ARRV. If you check the rear left hand wing you can see a sort of space. This is typical for Cents because of the exhaust. Also if you look just below that wing you can see the track (I think), the track runs upwards from the sprocket to the next top roller. The chieftain track runs straight from the sprocket and not upwards to the next top roller.
Here's a Cent  I used to check against:

for discussion only:-



I just hope Norman H can shed some light in here

Paul

[bullardino]

Great project, can't stay away

[jackh.]

Nice to see a Danish Centurion ARV (the Cent have never been named an ARRV) and I would say it's a Cent ARV in the background.

[1721lancers.]

Mar 13, 2014 15:34:39 GMT -5 jackh. said:

Nice to see a Danish Centurion ARV (the Cent have never been named an ARRV) and I would say it's a Cent ARV in the background.

Jack thanks for the heads up on the ARV name mate. I was never any good at naming those repair vehicles, all we needed to know was, is it ours or theirs .

Paul

[bbd468]

Hiya brother Pete!

Im actually made it here before ya got 3-4 pages in!   Man, this is gonna be awesome, i dig the looks of the Chieftain. BOOKMARKED!!!

[Smudge]

Hi Pete

Looking forward to this mate; the Chieftain is a favourite of mine and I always wanted an Italeri 109 so it'll be interesting to see what you think of it...it is getting a bit.

What's the Castoff equipment set like? I've never seen their stuff I was going to get the newer set with the SA80's in.

Smudge

[Deleted]

Mar 14, 2014 10:56:29 GMT -5 Smudge said:

Hi Pete

Looking forward to this mate; the Chieftain is a favourite of mine and I always wanted an Italeri 109 so it'll be interesting to see what you think of it...it is getting a bit.

What's the Castoff equipment set like? I've never seen their stuff I was going to get the newer set with the SA80's in.

Smudge

Cheers guys don't worry I should be attacking the plastic this weekend

Martyn I know mate I haven't built a Chieftain since I was a teenager which is quite some time ago and then I built it out the box. I'm looking forward to building it with all the additions and extras I now know should be there.

The Italeri kit really doesn't look too bad I may change the wheels for a spare DEF set I have and tweak the canvas a bit but it should build up into a nice secondary vehicle for the dio.

As for the castoff set it's not too bad, mostly the important bit is the new engine deck. The turret racks are cast with gear in them so I won't be using these. The barrel is nice but does have a nasty seam line on the bottom which I hope can be sorted out. A few air holes in the castings but nothing a drop or two of superglue won't cure.
The afv kit is very nice, well worth the penny's just for the crew helmets. It also has loads of packs etc to fill up the baskets! I will take some shots of the bit's when I get to them during the build.

[danb.]

Looks like another great project Pete bring it on

Dan B

[wouter]

agree with the fellas, Smudge, will be looking forward to this one!

Cheers

[Deleted]

Right here we go! over the weekend I started on the Landy as I had a suspicion that it would prove troublesome and I was correct!
Lots of ejector marks, poor fitting of parts and loads of flash. I've been fiddling with the fit of the main body parts all weekend and have now got everything lined up. The rear body had to be moved forwards so that the doors would sit flush with it and not have a gap you could drive a pig through! However having said all that the details such as they are are nicely done especially the land rover badges.

As this will be painted in sub assemblies the doors and side windows have been modified so that they sit correctly and I can just add the windows after everything else is in place. My next task is to build up the rear tarp then start sanding and shaping it to a more realistic profile. I'm also going to use some accurate armour wheels as I feel the kit one's look too small.

[bullardino]

Wowee, nice take on the small landy

[deafpanzer]

Looking sharp! At first I thought it was primed because of its gray color but it was not! With your skill, I am sure you will be able to show it who's the boss!

[wbill76]

Looks like you've got the Landy well under control there sir! Nicely done.

[Smudge]

Smudge

Nice job on the Rover mate. I reckon the AA TUAAM's and antenna bases would look good on that as well.

Smudge
(obviously the other one)