Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 06:50 PM UTC
This is a project I had been postponing for quite4 some time but finally found the patience and time to start.
I am using the AFV Club Australian Centurion kit with a 105mm gun barrel from another AFV Club Centurion, PanzerArt wheels, AFV Club individual lnk tracks and the Inside the Armour conversion set.
I found great info and photos from a Facebook group regarding the South African Ddefence Force. I also tried to see other builds but the Photobucket issue has caused many many useful photos to stop being accessible.
The build started by assembling the hull. Parts fit was great, and only the part forming the back of the hull was a little short where the part meets the engine deck. A 2mm plastic strip was used.
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 06:55 PM UTC
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 07:00 PM UTC
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 09:14 PM UTC
Looking great. I missed out on that conversion. Still hoping someone else releases a conversion or a kit
Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 09:22 PM UTC
Very nice work on your Olifant. I have the OOP Cromwell conversion that the Inside the Armour conversion is based on.
How are the smoke grenade discharger guards in your conversion? The ones in my conversion are extremely fragile.
"We're not the public service of Canada, we're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."
July 2005- General R.J. Hillier (Retired), Former Chief of the Defence Staff
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 09:34 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Looking great. I missed out on that conversion. Still hoping someone else releases a conversion or a kit
The biggest advantage of the resin conversion is the antiskid on the surfaces. It is very good. If HobbyBoss decides to backdate their upcoming Olifant 1b kit I am definately buying it.
Quoted Text
Very nice work on your Olifant. I have the OOP Cromwell conversion that the Inside the Armour conversion is based on.
How are the smoke grenade discharger guards in your conversion? The ones in my conversion are extremely fragile.
The set does not supply any smoke disharger guards, but it includes this in the instructions, hope you will find it helpful (click on the thumb, I have uploaded in somewhat large resolution):
Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 09:39 PM UTC
Thanks Nikos, I suspect the guards weren’t include because of how delicate the original castings were to start off with.
"We're not the public service of Canada, we're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."
July 2005- General R.J. Hillier (Retired), Former Chief of the Defence Staff
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 09:46 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Thanks Nikos, I suspect the guards weren’t include because of how delicate the original castings were to start off with.
Well, it seems kind of strange that they are not included, since Inside the Armour supplies the headlight guards, the antenna guards and the mesh for the turret stowage bin, parts that are also very delicate and easy to brake, espacially with the resin becoming more and more brittle as time passes. But I think that the drawing is very helpful, I will try to build them, as well as build the headlight guards instead of using the resin parts.
England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 175 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 11, 2018 - 01:10 AM UTC
there is supplied in the kit from inside the Armour, wire for making the guards, what time frame are you going for as they are a later fit to the Olifant. the smoke dischargers i'm referring to.
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 11, 2018 - 01:18 AM UTC
Quoted Text
there is supplied in the kit from inside the Armour, wire for making the guards, what time frame are you going for as they are a later fit to the Olifant. the smoke dischargers i'm referring to.
I got the set second hand so I did not find any wire in the box. My mistake that I did not mention this earlier.
I am propably doing a late version vehicle, with the IR periscope on the driver's hatch, the smoke discharger guards, the antenna guards and I want to add a .30 cal to the commander's cupola, but have not yet figured out where or how it is mounted on the late style cupolas.
England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 175 posts
Posted: Monday, February 12, 2018 - 04:57 AM UTC
The mount is to the left of the commander ockulor scope, links show it. The mount of gun looks the same as original mount.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Olifant_Mk_Ib_Commander_Hatch.jpgAttica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 15, 2018 - 06:00 PM UTC
Actually I am more confused because there are very few photos of an Olifant with the .30 cal machine gun mounted and I cannot make out if the use the original mount or not.
This is a photo from 1993:
This is an earlier one, exact date and time unknown:
This shows the machine gun covered:
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 15, 2018 - 06:03 PM UTC
England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 175 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 02:10 AM UTC
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 02:23 AM UTC
Many thanks for the information.
I have found another photo, is the mount ased on the cube the arrow is pointing at?
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 02:26 AM UTC
England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 175 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 02:42 AM UTC
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 02:47 AM UTC
I have some more if you are interested. Mainly hull details.
England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 175 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 03:37 AM UTC
yes please, it would assist myself and others in the future,
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 03:45 AM UTC
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 670 posts
Armorama: 410 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 12:54 PM UTC
Is there any way that I can build this tank without using the Inside The Armour resin parts?. I ask as I`d like this version but the problem is that ITA no longer makes resin parts.
Anything Will Fit If You Use A Big Enough Hammer !!
If you produce it in Injection Moulded Plastic SOMEONE is bound to buy it !
If you want it 100% accurate - SCRATCHBUILD IT !!
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 01:29 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Is there any way that I can build this tank without using the Inside The Armour resin parts?. I ask as I`d like this version but the problem is that ITA no longer makes resin parts.
You can try to make an early Olifant mkI variant.
You can start with the AFV Club Shot Cal 1973 kit. This way you get the modified hull. You will have to scratchbuild the rear fender mudguards, the front ones (not that difficult), the air cleaners and the rear stowage boxes. You will also have to make the headlights and their guards.
For the turret you will need to scratchbuild the rear stowage boxes and some other details and changes. I can provide measurments if you want from the ITA resin parts. You can find aftermarket smoke launchers (Voyager makes them I think).
You biggest difficulty will be the hatch of the commanders cupola and a couple of details like the fire extinguishers and the brackets holding the rear turret stowage bin in place. You can get the rear formation light from a Leopard kit.
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Friday, February 16, 2018 - 01:46 PM UTC
This is a Shot Cal kit being used on a build I found. You can get an idea for the work needed on the hull:
Cape Province, South Africa
Joined: November 03, 2013
KitMaker: 1 posts
Armorama: 1 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 25, 2018 - 05:21 PM UTC
Hi
I served at 1SSB Tempe in SADF in 1972 here is a link to a video but the pics are rather bad
https://youtu.be/0QbyPenxwqM search !SSB they have a museum at the base were I was stationed maybe you may find more info re mounting of gun I was a driver on the Eland 60mm and 90mm we called them Noddy Cars there was a tank squadren on our base E squdren if I recall they had Centurion Tanks later modified to become The Oilifant (which means Elephant by the way)
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Monday, February 26, 2018 - 12:00 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi
I served at 1SSB Tempe in SADF in 1972 here is a link to a video but the pics are rather bad https://youtu.be/0QbyPenxwqM search !SSB they have a museum at the base were I was stationed maybe you may find more info re mounting of gun I was a driver on the Eland 60mm and 90mm we called them Noddy Cars there was a tank squadren on our base E squdren if I recall they had Centurion Tanks later modified to become The Oilifant (which means Elephant by the way)
Many thanks for the info. Some nice shots in the video.
I am still adding details to the model, plus I found some nice photoetch for the mesh at the turret basket from the Chieftain Marksman kit. I will post some photos as soon as I am finished with detailing.
