1:35 British Centurion Action X

British Centurion Action X (1:35, Amusing Hobby)

This is an injection-molded plastic kit of the experimental British Centurion tank with the Action X turret in 1:35 scale from the manufacturer Amusing Hobby. The kit offers precisely shaped parts, good surface detail and a compact package. The model is assembled and painted like a classic plastic kit.

The real subject

The Action X turret was a British development design of the early 1950s whose peculiarity was the omission of the classic gun mantlet; the aim was better ballistic protection and a more compact turret. The solution remained at the stage of prototypes and trials and was mounted among other things on the Centurion chassis for mobility and ballistic testing. It is therefore an interesting what-if of the Cold War and a welcome addition to a collection of postwar British tanks.

Building and painting tips

Before closing the hull it pays to assemble and, if you wish, to improve the running gear and to seat the road wheels carefully in one plane; bond the plastic with thin liquid cement and let the joints dry thoroughly. Spray the kit over a primer, complete the base color with shading in a lighter and a darker tone and bring the edges out with a dry brush. Refine the patina with a wash into the recesses and seams, and then create dust and mud effects on the running gear and the lower hull with pigments. The mantletless turret is a striking feature that deserves cleanly masked transitions between colors.

Who the model is for

• For fans of British armored hardware and of the Cold War.
• For modelers drawn to prototypes and unusual designs.
• For builders with experience of tracked hardware in 1:35.
• For collectors of the Centurion and its development versions.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.