VICKERS MK6B's resto

[David Dunlop]

Colin.

Are those internal, longitudinal plates protection armour for the intake and exhaust openings in the hull, or airflow guides? Did you have to cut new ones, or were you able to salvage the originals? Certainly a complex item in its own right!


David

[colin jones]

Thanks Alex, I will document and put up photo's as I go
Hi David, they are new plates and the original ones are still quite good but I have two of these tanks so I am just copying any part that I don't have on this tank. Between the two I have almost a complete tank less turret. They are pretty rough so I will be reproducing a lot of parts but that's the part I like to do.
Colin.

[colin jones]

The part I made today is at the front of the engine and under the air scoop. It is quite a heavy little cover and made of some 6mm and 12mm plate. My press brake didn't like bending it at all so I had to form bend it a little at a time. Luckily it is only a couple of foot long. It took a wile to get the convex bend and concave bend in the exact location so I made the plate wider than required and cut both sides after I has happy with the profile.

[colin jones]

Some parts I just have to cut with my angle grinder but it does a great job. There was a complex shape 12mm part which took a while to even work it out but I got it right at the end.

[colin jones]

For a smallish plate to make it was most of the day.

[colin jones]

That's the top part of it made. Now I need to make the rear angle parts for it and then rivet this part together. I did a test fit and drilled some holes and it is a very good fit. If only all parts could be made this simply it would be a 2 month project, but I would think it will be a 4-6month project at least.