Looking great Petr!

Thanks Lynn!
Finally did some work on the hull. Remains of the side armour have been cut and cleaned. Still plenty of work there but happy with the start :)

Collecting metal parts :D

Another one :)

Gunners armour
 

uh, MkIII armour is so higher than anothers?

No, just an angle of view I guess :) But the shape is a bit different.

Hull almost ready for new plates.

looks really good :thup2:
you have probably thought of this already but it would make life easy if you leave one side open until the internal work is nearly done.

Good idea ! Plus makes dropping the engine and box in so much easier !

Yes, I would love to, but it's not going to happen, I'm afraid :(
All "dirty" work needs to be done before the sandblasting and welding whole side on is a really dirty job. Nothing I would like to do with the engine in.
It would be perhaps possible on the riveted carrier, but can't imagine it one the welded one.

The welding shouldn't really be dirty matey if it's done right... The cleaning down with grinder and paddle wheel will make dust a plenty, but all that will vacuum out of the hull :D

Its running! :cheers:
First start after X years and it doesnt sound bad, I guess :)

https://youtu.be/6LN76pTt2TI

Sweet sound . . .

Well done, nothing like a V8 motivator to finish any project !

Looks and sounds good Petr!

Awesome. Looks and sounds great. It's a big step to getting it moving.

Thanks, guys! :)
New side panels ready for welding.

Another pieces to the puzzle ready :)

Finally got some time to continue on the hull. Few plates stitched today, more will come tomorrow :)
She is getting slowly in the shape, isnt she? :cheers:

Today's task archieved. With the help from my friend and big hammer :D

Just got two boogies (Canadian made), which will be eventually used as a replacement for my rear boogie wheels with damaged rubber.

Few more pieces fitted...

Hi, have a question regarding wading plates. It seems that on mine carrier the position of the plates on the driver's front armour is quite unusual.
On the preserved armour I have found remains of the weld, I guess are from the wading plate. But it seems that wading plate was welded too high, almost to the top edge of the armour, not in the position I'm used to know from the carriers. It's more like T-16's layout. From all the photos (Mk.II/III's) I know, plates on the driver's armour are welded app. in the line "lower side of the visor=lower side of the plate". Not here, I guess.
Have no idea if there was any official drawing/procedure issued or if it could differ from batch/serie/manufacturer...
So, have you ever seen it in such position as here? Or again I have some kind of rarity? Thank you!

I have made rough sketch of the upper plate above the division plate. Its been made just from the photos, so its not definitely accurate.
May I kindly ask anyone with Mk.II to measure basic dimensions for me? They are marked with letters on the sketch. Or possibly I overlooked some important detals, so detailed pics would be also great help. I will redraw it then and happily share with you.
Thanks in advance!

One mystery solved :D
Yesterday found traces of welding also on the lower part of the front armour. They were very well hidden under the paint, but they are there! So I have a standard layout of the wading plates, nothing special in this case! :D Sorry for confusing you :salute:
Also finished some work on the side armours, they are now ready for fitting on the hull.

Not much done for today, but still slowly moving forward. :)

Looking good.... :thup2: keep up the great work, glad to see another carrier rising up from the ashes.

Today's task completed. Dirty job but still fun :D

Few more parts ready for assy. Thanks Michael R. for the idea :thup2:

Carrier has got his nickname today (and some nice paintings too). "Toughboy" :yappy:
Credits to my daughter :D :thup: