Armour Dreams

[Jonathan Moore]

I can't believe how long it is since I last posted anything, Life has been very busy, obviously not with the tank and a lot of it not very enjoyable but I have still found time to make some progress.

As I said there has been progress but not that much and it mainly relates to the upper hull. I still had a few pieces to make such as the vision port covers and all the associated hinges, brackets etc and as I had made various modifications, the whole lot needed repainting. The vision port covers really caused me a mental block, I had already made three sets for the turret, I knew how much work was involved and I don't know why but it stalled the project for weeks. Then by chance a cheap CNC milling machine came up for sale, much the same as I started programming in the early 1980's and as I had parts that I needed to make for my work I bought it. It made making the parts very easy and much more enjoyable.

This week I finished the upper hull and lifted it on but I can't bolt it in place as I need make a rubber gasket for the fuel filler which will entail lifting the upper hull up again to fit the gasket.

And that's it for now.



Jon

[Jonathan Moore]

The turrets on and I have started fitting out the inside, my goodness it's a cramped environment. I think the only thing that they forgot when they designed the tank, was that three men have to fit in, as well as all the equipment.

Sorry for the picture quality, I will try and get some better pictures when it's all fitted out. It's certainly a lot slower doing things with the turret on as I have to keep climbing in and out but it's coming together now.

[Jonathan Moore]

I have looked at several other types of track links but I can't find anything suitable and I can't afford to have a set made, so I am make a set. I know, it won't work, I am wasting my time, I have heard it all but that is what I am doing.

I have made 5 part links, they are not pretty but then they are only first samples, to see how things will work. The first and obvious lesson was that if I am to make the 216 + spares I need to automate the process some what.

So i have bought a capstan to make the spacers, and a cnc milling machine to drill the holes in the link bars. Both machines are obviously old and needed some love and care before I started but they now work. It's like going back to the eighties when I started life as an engineer and very enjoyable but to be honest these machines are for my work life. I haven't programmed a machine for 34 years but it's surprising how easy it all comes flooding back.
Getting the machines is only the start of things. The CNC came without any guards so they had to be made and then a drilling jig had to be made so that 4 sets of link bars can be drilled in one operation. The capstan was used and abused so needed stripping before I could even start to organise things.
I tried bending the link bars with a manual press but it would take me ages to do the 920 required so I have made some very basic press jigs and modified my press by adding a air over hydraulic ram and hydraulic ejection fed from a hydraulic power pack that someone had thrown out as it didn't work.
From what I have achieved so far, I don't foresee a problem manufacturing the links and I know that they will fit together to form a complete track but how long they will last is another matter but as they say, he who dares........

[Jonathan Moore]

More pictures

[David Dunlop]

Nice to have you back posting again, Jonathan.

Your track links segment of this project is going to be a very interesting one. Will the links require tempering/hardening before being put to use?


David

[Bob Carriere]

....... what will you be doing in your spare time.......????

I wish you well....... at least your wife will know where you are for a while...

[Jonathan Moore]

Morning,

To be honest David I don't know and initially I have plans to do either. I found reference to fabricating track links in one of the cruiser tank reports which although found their life to be in the hundreds of mile, 600 I think, indicated that the trial was never repeated. The items that will have to be correctly treated are the track pins but at present I can't find any information, material heat treatment, on them so any assistance would be appreciated.

Bob, what's spare time, in my world it never existed.

Jon