Mike Land provides an In-Box review of the Spanish Army VRC-105 Centauro, a new release by Trumpeter in 1/35.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Great Review Mike! Definitely, this is gonna be one i'm going to be getting...

Can't wait for it to hit the Hong Kong stores so I can get it!

What amazed me is the size of it. Someone posted a link to a build log on another site where there was a pic of the Centauro next to a Ferdinand.. and it was much bigger! I always thought it was the size of an LAV25 or a Stryker.

Hisham

This one is also on my 2009 model to build

It's a real beauty, and the hull is about the size of a Leopard 2, it's that big. Loads of detailed surface parts to bring out with your favourite weathering technique, monstrous great gun ... what's not to like? I'm looking forward to putting it alongside AFV Club's M1128 when that eventually arrives.

Now, about that French 6x6 with the equally scary 105mm gun ...

Agreed, it is a beautiful kit, and well engineered too. Obviously, folks at Trumpeter did their homework. Of course, there's always room for improvement - that's what we have Prime Portal and other reference for - but what's in the box can be turned into a beautiful model.

One thing I'll tell you: right now, Trumpeter seems to be the best manufacturer when it comes to modern stuff. I'm waiting for more of their Strykers, and the MTVL, that's for sure. God only knows how I'd love to get my hands on a good Patria AMV, or an AMOS - and I'd say Trumpeter, sometime in the future, is my best bet.

Thanks for the review.

For those interested, there are some useful threads in Panzernet with photos of the spanish centauros:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/385039/message/1227113806/centauro+espa%F1ol+%28fotos%29

http://www.network54.com/Forum/385039/thread/1227199220/calentitas+de+hoy.......Centauros+Espa%F1oles+2%AA+parte

http://www.network54.com/Forum/385039/message/1227386348/por+donde+ibamos+3%AA+o+4%AA+parte..+da+igual-+Centauros+Espa%F1oles


And a list of vehicle names and license plates of Lusitania cavalry regiment:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/385039/thread/1227628202/nombres+centauro+RCL+Lusitania+n%BA+8


And some photos of VRC-105 in white UN colors here:

http://www.camionesclasicos.com/FORO/viewtopic.php?p=160273#160273


Regards

Just started my Centauro, looks like a really great kit. I've been wanting one in plastic for a long time. I'd really love to trick it out a bit, but there's no Spanish vehicle stowage available, unfortunately. Does anyone know if the Spanish Centauros have any flags or pennons on their antennae?

Evening guys,
I have begun construction on the kit and hope to get a blog started in the next few days when I can find time to take some pics. If anyone is interested, here is a link to the blog Hisham mentioned. Though I may not see eye to eye with the editor of the site, there are some guys there who do good work, and Brian is one of them. A couple of things he picked up on that I missed on the turret; the two armored antenna mounts part # A39 should not be used, as they are only found on the Italian version. Part # B14 should be lengthened and relocated to the rear basket as Brian did. I have only been able to find one pic with B14 located where the instructions tell you to put it, and that appears to be one of the very first vehicles Spain received. Whatever this piece is (antenna case perhaps??) the turret top location seems to be the norm, again, on Italian Centauros

Cheers,
Mike

edit: Thanks for the links Cesar, some good shots in those links.
Also here is a link to the discussion of paint and markings I mentioned in the review:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47209/thread/1226833439/Regimiento+de+Caballer%EDa+Ligero+%28RCL%29+Lusitania+8

Hi Guys

I see that Trumpeter has announced the Italian version

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/trumpeter.htm

Thanks for posting the photo links Cesar ,they will be of great help to me also,I see they have the tools removed ,this was the Same on the Italain UN vehicles in Kosovo ,does anyone know where the Spanish UN vehicles were headed ?

Hope to compare notes Mike !

cheers
Brian

Thank you very much for posting the links to those pictures!

Cheers - Dan

Anybdy of you knows the URL of the walkaround of the Spanish Centauro, which includes a picture from which Trumpeter got their "inspiration" for the box art?

Thomas

Actually I think the mounts are there, looks like part #'s 11 & 12 on the F sprue (pic #5 in the review). I think you would have to shave off some of the armor mounting points on the side panels that are attached to the front of the hull (also on the F sprue, the thin triangular parts at the bottom of the sprue). Other than that looks like your right Gary.

Mike

Yep, didn't look far enough through the directions .

Hi Mike

Do you or anyone else know what is written on this part of the Lusitania Centauros? ,I'm not even sure if it is letters ,numbers or a combination ,any help appreciated




regards
Brian

I found out , It is the vehicle names ,here is the list ,I think it is posted above also but i did not realize that's where the names were painted ( Doh !)

http://www.network54.com/Forum/385039/thread/1227628202/nombres+centauro+RCL+Lusitania+n%BA+8

regards
Brian

Hi Brian,
Well you answered your own question before I found it. Your paint job is looking good. I've gone way out of sequence and almost finished the turret, there were a couple of small glitches but nothing major. Last night I started on the suspension and just about have it finished. I'm still planning on posting some pics of the build, I just seem to be having a hard time finding time to take the shots with everything else going on (holidays, shopping etc. ect. ).

Best,
Mike

Looking forward to seeing it Mike , I have updated mine with a few more photos ,think I'm going to go down the muddy/dusty road

regards

Brian

For anyone interested, I finally got around to starting a blog on this one, here is a link:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/131501&page=1

Cheers,
Mike

I ‘ve got it here after several months waiting in China , with happy!! even this one debut to sell several late after abroad. But it is much cheaper in China