Vickers fax.

[Jon Bradshaw]

I like you, wanted to do the 1937 version simply for the rarity of it and the joy of having a tank with a gun on it.
I see it looks like you are taking the safer approach and using the existing carrier drive layout?
I am making a series of very significant changes so that the drive sprocket is at the front.
I have gutted what was left of my "Log Skidder" and will attempt to make it run the opposite direction. (Running the original transmission in reverse)
Driver controls and all linkages will be rebuilt and positioned on the left of the engine facing over the rear drive axle. Turret will be directly behind it as per the existing examples in Russia.
I spent a few hours this week cutting off the firewall and extra bits added over the years. Next week I will sandblast the interior and get it primed for winter install of the drive train.
Engine will be offset to the right and connected with a custom driveshaft to the original transmission.
A huge project that I expect will take me all winter.
Pictures to follow as I forget to take them as I was cutting. Have before but no after yet.

Jon

[Jon Bradshaw]

Here are a few originals I am using as design templates.

[clarkray]

John,you are correct I am taking the safer approach.I believe that there is sufficient work there.I am using the same reference pictures as you are.Hopefully we will both come up with something interesting.

[Lynn Eades]

John, I haven't been there, but you can probably flip your axle in the hull to you a reversal. (putting the brake backing plates back on the same side afterwards)

[Jon Bradshaw]

Lynn- I looked at that idea and you are right using a universal carrier it would be that simple. The T16 has extra steering brakes and is mounted to the rear armor in such a way that it would be very hard to flip it over. The cast area inside the outer brakes, where it bolts on to the side armor would not bolt back on if it were upside down.
I talked to someone who made a conversion UC to Panzer MK1 and he said that the transmission was not the ideal way to go but that it worked. If he did it again he would flip the axle.... I did explore that option, but won't work.... would have been simpler.....

Clark- You are well ahead of me so far, so I guess we will see who gets to the finish first. If you have internal plans for the turret ring and mechanics of rotating I would love to see and discuss them.

[Lynn Eades]

Clarkray, I once worked at a place where we had a Clarke 8 ton forklift.
It ran a chrysler 318 petrol v8, left hand rotation. It had a different camshaft, and the crankshaft was drilled differently among other things. Some manufacturers have built Marine counter rotation engines to make matched pairs for boats, (unlike the likes of a Staghound where both engines are the same)

Just a thought.

[clarkray]

Jon for the drive I plan on using a chain locked in place over a aluminum ring(as a ring gear.) and a small sprocket to run around it.I am not sure yet about the rollers although I am leaning toward V rollers running on a rolled rod top and bottom.