VICKERS MK6B's resto

[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.

[colin jones]

Both surrounds are in very good condition but most if not all of the internals are not but I will use as much of the original components as I can. I'm quite happy with what I have to work with. My poor workshop is in a bloody big mess so I think it's time to clear some mess before I start tripping over stuff.

[Lynn Eades]

So Colin, are they or are they not basket cases? (Sorry, I couldn't help my self )
Btw, have you thought of this? Without a doubt you have to be the most knowledgeable living person in the world on this model of tank. Not a farmer, but outstanding in your field. Well done Colin!

[Mike Gurr]

Colin,
I don't post much on here, usually on the Carrier forum but I do log on every evening hoping for another update on your project. Your work is excellent, I and I imagine many others very much appreciate your efforts in sharing your odyssey with us. Please keep it up and looking forward to seeing the running result.

[colin jones]

Well thankyou Lynn and Mike 😊 I certainly appreciate your comments. No Lynn they are far from it and just as well. I just can't imagine how the hell I would get all this information without these (not) 😁 basket cases and I'm so happy that there will still be some nice original parts back in these little tanks. I think it was mentioned before! How much or the original needs to bee there before its a replica.🤔 Hard one to answer.
Back to business😎 Making really good progress on these baskets as I have made the two floors and did a test fit and it's extremely tight and kept the original shape from 1936.

[colin jones]

I formed the 2mm ally over some marine ply I cut to the right diameter and used my air hammer to hug the perimeter. This is a very good way of getting the right shape and also great if you have to do more than one possibly two
There are a series of cradle type boxes that I am doing too. I reckon about a week and I'll have them both back up to speed.