Centurion Tank Mk 5/1 Royal Australian Armoured Corps (Vietnam War Version)

Vespid Models, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green
 

Summary

Background

The Centurion was the primary British and Australian (amongst others) main battle tank of the post-Second World War period.

First used in Korea, subsequently Vietnam it was a successful tank design, with upgrades, for many decades.

The Centurion Mk, 5/1 featured the 84 mm (20 pounder) main gun, increased glacis armour, two coaxial machine guns - one .30 (7.62 mm) Browning & one .50 (12.7 mm) caliber Browning for ranging.

58 Centurions served with the Australian Army in Vietnam. 42 suffered battle damage, and two Centurion tank crewmen were killed in action.

FirstLook

Vespid has expanded their 1:72 scale family to include the Centurion Tank Mk 5/1 Royal Australian Armoured Corps (Vietnam War Version).

This all-new Centurion comprises 266 parts in grey coloured plastic, (many marked not for use), 70 brass photo-etched parts on two frets, one pink 3D printed parts, one turned metal brass gun barrel, four lengths of twisted wire and decals for five Vietnam War marking options.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

Thumbnail panels:

It would appear that all the parts on the sprues will be used.

In common with Vespid’s previous releases, surface textures are superb with a combination of recessed and raised structural features as appropriate. The weld beads are amazing in this scale too.

Moulding is perfect on my sample.

Parts breakdown is conventional. The lower hull is moulded in as a tub with separate front and rear parts.

Bogies are separate pieces with very impressive springs moulded in place. The road wheels are some of the best I have seen in 1/72 scale too.

Link and length tracks are included. Individual links are supplied to wrap around the drive sprockets and idler wheels, with long top and bottom runs and a few short runs to complete the tracks.

Track link detail is great and moulding is flawless.

Photo-etched mesh is supplied for the prominent turret basket and smaller details are on the fret too, including - for the brave - individual hand holds. More than 50 photo-etched parts are included.

A full complement of on-vehicle equipment and spare track links is supplied.

The tow cables are supplied as fine twisted wire.

The turret hatch is a separate part that may also be posed open or closed.

Clear lenses are supplied for the spotlight.

A lovely turned metal gun barrel is provided.

An orange-coloured 3D printed mantlet cover is also supplied in this deluxe boxing.

Markings are supplied for five marking options.

The decals are nicely printed and in register.

Conclusion

Vespid Models’ 1:72 scale Centurion Mk 5/1 raises the bar for quality and fidelity in a small scale kit.

This is a superb kit and I think Vespid's best to date.

Of course, this results in an inevitable buildability trade-off. There are a number of tiny plastic and photo-etched parts in the box and the parts count would be more typical of a 1:35 scale kit, so the Vespid Centurion will be best suited to a moderately experienced modeller.

This one won’t stay in its box for too long!

Thanks to Vespid for the sample