Chieftain MBT with Gas Turbine engine

[Buzzbomb]

So what if the original UK work on the Gas turbine engine on the Conquerer test platform led to a Chieftain development.
Using the venerable Tamiya Mk 5 Chieftain as a basis... as hacking up a much more expensive/better Takom version is it bit over the top.
Besides.. I don't have one of those in the stash at the moment 

The standard engine deck top hull layout


Pretty much it will only be a cosmetic change to the engine deck, so hack out some old bit and get a base for the new bit.



Working more on the revised Engine deck and pretty much got most of it done. A bit of detail work around hinges, handles, cover mesh and similar hoopla to will be next



Also got me thinking about what else to fit to give it a point of difference, using this base Mk 5 version ?
The Brits went down the road of the Composite armour path, but I wonder how it would look with some ERA blocks  rather than the Stillbrew fitout ?
Thought bubble only, as there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the stock Mk 5 in this sort of timeline.

[Mig Eater]

Nice bit of scratch building  Out of curiosity Is the engine orientation placed length ways or across the hull?   

[Old Wombat]

 

[Claymore]

Nice work! Looking forward to this. 

[GTX_Admin]

What time frame are you looking at for this build?  Thermal imagers might be another addition.

[Gingie]

oh hell yeah!

[Buzzbomb]

Nice bit of scratch building  Out of curiosity Is the engine orientation placed length ways or across the hull?   

What ever orientation fits under the engine deck  I really have not looked that deeply for this build it is pretty cosmetic.

What time frame are you looking at for this build?  Thermal imagers might be another addition.

Looking at maybe late 80's, so yes going down that path

Small update, some minor work on the engine deck and getting the stowage bins and turret together.
To try and give this version a point of difference, I have added IFCS (Improved Fire Control System) and perhaps an early version of the Laser Targeting that replaced the IR Searchlight in the later marks and improved NBC Filter gear on the rear of the turret.


Louvres on the rear plate, still a bit to go there.


Almost there really

[Old Wombat]

 

[Buzzbomb]

The final tweak, if the Turbine makes the tank faster, then perhaps a track revision might make sense. to include rubber pads.
These are Leopard Tracks and I reckon I will go with them



The start of this train of thought was a pack of Resin Centurion Hush Puppy tracks I had in the tracks drawer.  The combination of not having a spare Centurion drive sprocket (the sprocket teeth layout is a lot narrower) and the fact that they were resin which required a bit of heat and bend business, killed of that plan, but some rubber Leopard tracks... why not.

[apophenia]

Nice! Those Diehl tracks look the business 

[Old Wombat]

 

[robunos]

Looking good . . .   

The start of this train of thought was a pack of Resin Centurion Hush Puppy tracks I had in the tracks drawer. 

sounds like my 'Spare Wings Box' . . .   


cheers,
Robin.

[Ramba]

Great scratch building of the engine deck and exhaust area.

[Frank3k]

The tracks look good and so does the engine deck!

[Buzzbomb]

So that is it for the build part.





Now firmly in procrastination stage... the paint shop

[Claymore]

Lookin’ good! 

[Kerick]

I feel your pain. So many of mine stall out at the paint stage. And yet there are those strange beings who strip the paint off a model they built last week just so they can paint it again!

[Old Wombat]

I feel your pain. So many of mine stall out at the paint stage. And yet there are those strange beings who strip the paint off a model they built last week just so they can paint it again!

Yes, usually because they didn't procrastinate & think it through before they painted the first time.

[Frank3k]

One of the many reasons i switched to acrylics was the relative ease of stripping the paint and redoing it - usually because I screwed up the paint job. Some of my builds have seen multiple paint-strip-repaint cycles.

[GTX_Admin]

One of the many reasons i switched to acrylics was the relative ease of stripping the paint and redoing it - usually because I screwed up the paint job. Some of my builds have seen multiple paint-strip-repaint cycles.

So PSR can = Putty-Sand-Repeat and Paint-Strip-Repeat.

[Buzzbomb]

All of a sudden, we are away
In primer


Then... ok.. Berlin it is. Let the Masking escapades begin


All in all it did not take long at all, just a single session. Man I love SMS paints... dry to move the next step so quickly.
Masking, masking, masking. Couple of oopsies that got a quick re masking, masking.. then where it needs to be




So a bit of detail painting, decals and then a bit of a weather.
Tomorrow is another day 

[Mig Eater]

looking good, I can just imagine the whine of the turbine ringing in the ears of the East German border guard  

[Old Wombat]

Woo-hoo! I'm an influencer!


Great work, BT!

And, yes, SMS paints are replacing Tamiya as my go-to for most things.

[GTX_Admin]

Looking good

[GTX_Admin]

I hope you don't mind if I post this link so people can read a bit about the original inspiration:  https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/uk-coldwar-fv200-turbine-test-vehicle/

[Buzzbomb]

Thanks team, the painting was much easier than last time I tried it, I suppose the experience helped, but it is also the 3rd crack at Berlin Brigade scheme.

I hope you don't mind if I post this link so people can read a bit about the original inspiration:  https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/uk-coldwar-fv200-turbine-test-vehicle/

More than happy, I used the same article as a refresher on the Brit progress on the the whole turbine development program

[Claymore]

 

[Buzzbomb]

Well that is about it.
What if perhaps a Gas Turbine version of the Chieftain was developed and went on to be part of BAOR during the late 80's through to the 90's ?

Other than an Antenna or two, that got overlooked,  I am calling it.







With some Berlin Brigade Pals


Engine Deck differences


I must say though, that the earlier BB chieftain on the right, was done a fair while ago using less information than is available today in books,
Hopefully you folks have enjoyed the Turbine Whine ride 

[Mig Eater]

Looking good

[Old Wombat]

Great finish, BT!

Looks like the TC's not a fan of the Turbine Whine, though.

[Frank3k]

It came out great and the Berlin camo pattern always looks good.

[GTX_Admin]

 

[Claymore]

 Another great job! 

[finsrin]

Looking like legitimate gas turbine Chieftain on the outside to me.  Interesting choice of subject.  Camo is appropriately distracting to the eye.