where can i buy an olifant model tank of south africa i have heard of brittish centurian hulls that have a conversion kit to make it into the olifant but i want to make one of the latest models any south african modellers on this site have any info about south african companys!!!!!

The only company I know of that makes the conversion for the Tamiya Centurion is a company from SA called Red Carpet Models. It produces the "Olifant Mk 1A" (Elephant Mk 1A)
Their info is as follows:

Contact Hennie Bresler at P.O. Box 1997, Garsfontein, 0060. South Africa.
e-mail: [email protected]
Tel + 27 12 998-5636 (Answering service) Cell + 27 82 887-6747

Firstly, which ‘type’ of tank do you want to build, meaning:

An Olifant Mk1a:
During Operations:
Ops Modular or Hooper etc.
During Training:
With School of armour, Army Battle School, RPS or NMR etc.
An Olifant Mk1b:
When I left in ’97 the Mk1b was just being introduced into the SANDF and would still be in quite pristine condition.
An Olifant Mk2:
As far as can be ascertained none have been bought / upgraded. Probably still undergoing or just finished trials.

Why I ask is as follows for example:

If you want an Olifant Mk1a in pristine condition, then the Tamiya kit with the Red carpet models conversion is for you.

If you want to build a training tank just before a refit (rather dilapidated) then you are looking at:

1. The Tamiya Centurion.
2. Adding a fume extractor to the main gun along with a few other mods (training tanks used the 84mm).
3. Changing the bins on the hull as well as repositioning the lights and spare tracks (Exhausts are removed and replaced with air filter boxescases).
4. On the turret you need to add the gunner’s periscope and rear turret basket.
5. Scratchbuilding or Red carpet models engine deck.

Sounds like a lot of work, but the most difficult is the engine deck.

Hey guys,

Can someone tell me more about Red Carpet? What's the quality of the set(s), what are the prices like, and the service?

Cheers

Olaf

thanks guys for all the help the tank i was wanting to build is an mk1 or the newest one that was just introduced into service a short while ago although the newes one i dont think will be a conversion kit since its a whole new tank