Reviewed by Neil Pepper
What’s in the box?
The kit comes in 7 sprues a lower hull tub, poly caps, mesh and some string there is also a decal sheet with two options both for Normandy June. The sprues are in a dark green plastic and are very well moulded. There is no flash to be seen and the knock out pin marks are in places that look to be hidden once construction begins.
A little bit of history….
Confusingly there was 3 tanks designated as A27 and to differentiate between them they were called A27 Cavalier, A27 Centaur and A27M Cromwell. The Centaur Mk.I was equipped with a 6 pdr, the Centaur Mk.II was given wider 15 ½ inch wide tracks, the Centaur Mk.III used the 75mm gun and the Centaur MK.IV was equipped with the 95mm gun for close support.
The Centaur Mk.IV equipped the Royal Marine Armoured Support Group for the initial stages of the Normandy landings. The tanks were to be used as fire support from landing craft on the way in to the beaches. They were to have their engines removed, but this was rescinded so that they could land with engines in the tanks. The group consisted of the 1st and 2nd Armoured Support Regiments and the 5th (Independent) Armoured Support Battery, Royal Marines. After the landings the Centaurs continued inland taking on targets of opportunity. The RMASG were withdrawn on the 24th June. Their surviving Centaurs were passed on to X Battery, 53rd Air landing light regiment RA (12 vehicles). These were then passed on to 1st Canadian Centaur battery on 6th August. 4 Centaurs were also passed on to 6th Battery, 27th Light AA Regiment 51st Highland Division.
Accuracy…
The kit is very accurate and compares well in terms of published dimensions of the hull and wheels. Unfortunately there has been very little written about this vehicle so until someone with a good understanding of this vehicle writes about it we are working somewhat in the dark!
I thought it would be reasonably easy to build. But, no it isn’t. The differences between early and late models are sloping front fenders on early models, internal ‘V’ external track adjusters, and C or D type engine deck – the way to tell which is which is hit and miss. The changeover seems to be in the serial numbers 185***, and 186***.
Now all you have to do is find a photo of the vehicle you what to make and hope there is a serial number in the shot that is legible. The decals in the kit are for Hunter and Vidette (colour art work on side of box). Hunter I have a photo of and the serial is partially covered. I have no photo of Vidette but a colour plate in one of my books has it as 185102. So you have to work out which vehicle you want to build before you start.
Accurate armour makes a D type engine deck as well as a deep wading kit for anyone who wishes to add them to the kit.
Neil P.