Introduction

With all of the post-war main battle tanks, the British army has always sought to have sufficient enclosed stowage space, which negates the need to have great quantities of stores being carried on the external surfaces.
There are many reasons for this and while some of us may like to think that this offended the eye of the Sgt Major, the actual reasons were simple. In the widely forested areas of Europe, there was a chance of things being pulled off, blown off by shellfire, risk of fire or contamination in NBC attacks.

These bins being made of metal means that you can add dents and bends, if you so desire, something that is much more difficult in using the plastic items that are found in most kits.

The Contents

The set is presented in the usual Eduard re-sealable plastic envelope, with the frets being protected by enclosed cardboard backing sections. Upon removing the contents, the detail set comprises 3 frets of photo-etch, and a single folded A4 sheet of instructions. Theses instructions are clearly presented with pictures of the both frets and a colour coded key which explains the modifications marks that are given alongside the construction notes. In following Eduard’s instructions the following sequence is given:
Having removed the parts from the fret, before folding the lids need to have the distinctive strengthening ribs pressed into them by using a ball point pen pressed into and run along the pre-marked locations. Each individual bin and its corresponding lid then needs to be folded carefully ensuring that each part is square. Each bin and lid are then attached to the hull of the Centurion with the next piece of work folding and fitting the parts that make up the locking clasps and handles. Finally other small parts are fitted which include the clamps for attaching the free ends of the tow ropes.

In Detail

I have compared the parts with those supplied in the kit and as well as these bins adding a great more realism to the Centurion, they also offer the opportunity to show the bins open, showing any stores that you may care to fit. As I stated earlier in the review it is also possible to show realistic damage as could happen to the full size items. They are substantial sized parts and should offer very little difficulty to most modellers, the main parts that will need to watch as you build are the locking clasps, however if you also have the main set 35925, you will have plenty of spares from there as the parts are repeated.

in Conclusion

This is a nice set that is designed to add yet another element of scale realism to the new Centurion and will be well worth the effort spent.
When AFV Club releases their next Centurion Mk. 5, these parts will also be suited to that kit as these were standard fixtures during manufacture.