VICKERS MK6B's resto

[Jesse Browning]

Beautiful work Colin. -11f here.

[colin jones]

Thank you Jesse, I wouldn't know what -11 deg is like, let alone work in it😮

[colin jones]

On to the turret baskets and both are almost basket cases. I think at most I will be able to salvage the surrounds as they are both quite sound and a few other bits and pieces. I will cut replacements for the both but only restore one at a time so I don't lose my patterns. There is a lot going on iside these and there is also three stays that connect it to the turret and that will be fun

[colin jones]

Just as well the shape of each component is quite solid and between the both I should be able to reproduce with good accuracy. It's incredible to see level of lamination in the aluminum and the steel parts are almost perfect. I will be a bit of a drawn out resto for these two parts.

[David Dunlop]

Those are projects in themselves, Colin ! Looks like they may come complete with electrical challenges, with perhaps a slip ring feeding power between hull and turret.

What was the typical crew complement for the turret (food lovers need not apply, I suspect)?


David

[Bob Carriere]

As an Army cadets we use to cram 4 teenagers in the turret of a Sherman plus the commander sticking out of the turret hatch...... we were skinny ....being tight in there we did not bounce around as much as we went over the rough field..... but the rides were short.

A few yeras ago I tried doing what I had done many times before as a teenager while visiting the Oshawa museum....... I crawled from the drivers seat through the narrow opening of the turret's basket,under the breech andout of the commander's hatch..... by then my shirt tail was out of my pants and was almost leaving my pants behind.

The only tank i have been in that was not confining and you coould crawl around inside was the Churchillbridgelayer at the war museum in Ottawa...... the turret basket had been removed for the firing mechanism of the bridge ramps and the sponsoon on each side are huge open areas when not loaded with gear......... mind you sittingreclining on your lower back and driving with some weird bicycle handle bars is really strange and vision like looking through a roll of toilet tube paper.

I have a lot of admiration for the tank crews and the courage to get into one of them contraptions.........crampeds, stinky, fuel smells, hot ......... and being shot at by every one.

Good luck with your basket case Colin.

[colin jones]

I know what you mean. I can't climb in and out of things like I used to but you just do what you gotta do
After de riveting one of the baskets and making the replacement tops, I will be able to get these two baskets back in to top condition again.