VICKERS MK6B's resto

[Jesse Browning]

The halftrack seat adjusts. I never had it in any position other than all the way back. At 6’ tall, I had to remove the seat cushion and sit on the steel pan if I wanted to see below the windshield top rail. In the Sexton, the seat had to be adjusted just right in order for my knees to clear the instrument panel, yet still be able to lift my leg high enough to work the clutch, as low as possible to reach the shortened steering levers, but not too low as that made it very difficult to shift, and lastly, be able to see out the drivers hatch. Someone about 5’ tall with massive arms would have done well.

[Mike Cecil]

I've been away for a week or so, enjoying Southern hospitality in Georgia, specifically at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, and with friends in Alpharetta. A lot warmer in Georgia at the moment compared to Spokane!

Anyway, back to the business at hand ....

Barry Temple's excellent trilogy on the .303 British Service Cartridge, Volume 2, lists 14 different rifle grenade cartridges, 8 use Cordite as the propellant, the others Ballistite (indicated by a z in the nomenclature). The earliest listed dates from March 1915, and the latest, the H Mk.7z, from the 1950s. All except the H Mk.7z have open necks closed with a variety of stoppers such as tallow, fibreboard, shellac and so on. The H Mk.7z had a crimped (closed) neck in similar fashion to the .303 Blank.

I tried to sort out which cartridge went with which grenade(s), but Landers, Bonney and Oakley's otherwise authoritative grenade book frustratingly just states 'suitable [I]blank[I] cartridge' as the propelling agent! (my italics - as Tony has pointed out, the .303 blank does not have the power to project the grenade far enough - a proper rifle grenade cartridge must be used. I'll have to rib Garry Oakley about that next time I see him!).

In March 1935, the H Mk.1z C was introduced, which is the right vintage for use in the projectors on the side of the Vickers. It was superseded in November 1939 by an improved version, the H Mk.1z L.

Edit: I've just had a look at the Matilda handbook, the Matilda having a 'Discharger, Smoke Generator, 4 inch No.2 Mk.1 on the turret side, which I'm assuming is the same type as that on the Vickers - they certainly look the same. The projector fired a Generator, Smoke, No.8 Mk.2/L or 3/L which was propelled by a Cartridge, Rifle Grenade, .303 in, H Mk.1z. A box of cartridges was stowed in the Matilda turret, and eight spare smoke generators were stowed on the turret turntable. Colin: in the absence of a stowage list/diagram, have you detected any stowage mountings in the Vickers that look like they might house spare 4 inch smoke generators?

Great job on the details, Colin, as always!

Mike

[colin jones]

Hi Mike, I certainly have found plenty of holes and funny shaped brackets and it's a on going job to identify and put a name to them. As far as the smoke generator stowage that one is still a mystery to me but I'm sure it will be solved just like all the other have been here.

The traversing gearbox is progressing and I'm understanding the drawings more and more each day. One thing I have noticed when I am under the turret with the gear box and test fitting it, it would have been a real problem when the crew would have been bending down getting supplies from the floor stowage, they would have had to hit their head so many times on the handle. When I get to that stage you will see what I mean.
I have got the brake shoes fitted but need to make the handle and release mechanism before that part is complete.

[colin jones]

It is not exactly as per the drawing I have but its the best I can come up with from what I can see. Once it is all together it will be out of sight but should operate as the original did. I wanted to do more but the last couple of days here in Adelaide have been stinking hot in the low 40s. Not good for the shed but great for a cold beer .

[colin jones]

My traversing gearboxes are progressing well. I needed two small gears that are the final drive to the turret gear so I thought I would have a go and make them. I'm sure it is a very unorthodox method and I had no idea if they would work or even mesh for that matter. After completion I ran them around the big main gear and it was really nice. The teeth meshed with no catching at all so I am a happy vegemite with these. Again they won't be in view once installed but they will work as per the original.

[colin jones]

I still need to machine a stem for the final gear which incorporates a couple of bearings.

[colin jones]

The two boxes are basically complete apart from the mounting brackets.