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REVIEW
Trumpeter VRC-105 Centauro
c5flies
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California, United States
Joined: October 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,684 posts
Armorama: 2,938 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 06:03 AM UTC
Mike Land provides an In-Box review of the Spanish Army VRC-105 Centauro, a new release by Trumpeter in 1/35.

Link to Item



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
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Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 06:32 AM UTC
Great Review Mike! Definitely, this is gonna be one i'm going to be getting...
Hisham
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Al Qahirah, Egypt / لعربية
Joined: July 23, 2004
KitMaker: 6,856 posts
Armorama: 6,363 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 08:18 AM UTC
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
seb43
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Paris, France
Joined: August 30, 2005
KitMaker: 2,315 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 01:10 PM UTC
This one is also on my 2009 model to build

pigsty
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United Kingdom
Joined: January 16, 2007
KitMaker: 1,226 posts
Armorama: 451 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 09:42 PM UTC
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 ...
mciszewicz
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Warszawa, Poland
Joined: February 01, 2008
KitMaker: 45 posts
Armorama: 35 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 10:39 PM UTC
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.
cesar
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Santander, Spain / España
Joined: August 10, 2005
KitMaker: 110 posts
Armorama: 107 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 10:51 PM UTC
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
jphillips
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 25, 2007
KitMaker: 1,066 posts
Armorama: 789 posts
Posted: Friday, November 28, 2008 - 12:18 PM UTC
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?
Kelley
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Georgia, United States
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 1,966 posts
Armorama: 1,635 posts
Posted: Friday, November 28, 2008 - 04:50 PM UTC
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
ScotsBrian
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United Kingdom
Joined: October 27, 2008
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 8 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 03:21 AM UTC
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

PiperDan
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 02, 2004
KitMaker: 180 posts
Armorama: 154 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 05:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text


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



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

Cheers - Dan
Violetrock
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European Union
Joined: March 09, 2003
KitMaker: 831 posts
Armorama: 791 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 08:01 AM UTC
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
Kelley
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Georgia, United States
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 1,966 posts
Armorama: 1,635 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 02:43 PM UTC

Quoted Text

For those who don't want to wait, everything is in there to do an Italian version. The only thing I couldn't find was the mounts for the later Galix smoke launchers. You can still use the Wegman smoke launchers on an earlier Italian version.


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
Kelley
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Georgia, United States
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 1,966 posts
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Posted: Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 08:13 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Actually I think the mounts are there, looks like part #'s 11 & 12 on the F sprue (pic #5 in the review).



Those are the mounts for the Wegman smoke launchers you use on the VRC-105. The Galix type used on the Italian vehicles mount on the front of the bustel racks mounted on the sides of the turret.


Yep, didn't look far enough through the directions .
ScotsBrian
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United Kingdom
Joined: October 27, 2008
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 8 posts
Posted: Monday, December 08, 2008 - 10:49 AM UTC
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
ScotsBrian
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United Kingdom
Joined: October 27, 2008
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 8 posts
Posted: Monday, December 08, 2008 - 11:05 PM UTC
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
Kelley
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Georgia, United States
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 1,966 posts
Armorama: 1,635 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 - 01:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

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
ScotsBrian
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United Kingdom
Joined: October 27, 2008
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 8 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 06:59 AM UTC
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
Kelley
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Georgia, United States
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 1,966 posts
Armorama: 1,635 posts
Posted: Friday, January 02, 2009 - 01:01 PM UTC
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
cunning
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Liaoning, China / 简体
Joined: February 23, 2009
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 7 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 22, 2009 - 03:45 PM UTC
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
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