VICKERS MK6B's resto

[Dave Mills]

Amazing work, machining down plate to match the original, true dedication.

Keep up the great work.

Also, to you Jack, you are a master at the metal work.

Cheers,

Dave

[Lynn Eades]

Colin, back to Jack's question. If the number had been 68 or 70, would you have answered differently? ..... Or to approach from another angle, is it because that part was made to specifically fit that hull? Does that number crop up anywhere else on that hull?
It wouldn't be too inconceivable for the British to do things that way???
Anyhow, nice work Colin. Nice to see them getting the surgery.

[colin jones]

Thankyou one and all! Lynn, of course I would still answer the same! It's all about maths you know !
I sand blasted the opposite one and it has the same number but a different shape part as you can see. So interestingly I would assume they were probably numbered for that particular tank. It's a shame they are missing off the other one as that would have been a great comparison.

[colin jones]

I welded the graft plates and had some trouble getting them to line up perfectly as you just can't blend the join if the alignment is out. I thought I would just show how I got some serious leverage easily as the plates are over 1/2" thick. I also concentrated on the mud guard as well.

[colin jones]

There were some support brackets to make which I had to go and get the right size 40mm x 8mm. I did a couple of bends in the hand bender and then made a jig.

[colin jones]

After I made the jig it was just a repetition to get them all the same. I used heat to get the last couple of bends, cut the excess by hand, welded the joint and ground them off inside and out. Test fit all OK.

[jack neville]

Looking good Colin. I'm glad I got a look at them before you started. Helps to appreciate the effort you are putting into them. It's amazing just how much squaring up the box makes to the overall appearance.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by colin jones

I welded the graft plates and had some trouble getting them to line up perfectly as you just can't blend the join if the alignment is out. I thought I would just show how I got some serious leverage easily as the plates are over 1/2" thick. I also concentrated on the mud guard as well.

Let's not lose sight of the craft style of construction for many of these old vehicles. The designer issued drawings, but at some industries those were taken only as a suggestion. Standardized parts, thoroughly managed workflows and strict adherence to plans was a lesson re-learned in WW2. Why were American tanks so widely used - because they were easily repaired and salvaged.

When the Canadian War Museum's M1917 Light Tank was being rebuilt, the workers at the industry benefactor's shop were frustrated trying to get it left/right symmetrical. Don Dingwall (?) had to tell the fabricators not to be so precise, and remember the working conditions where it was constructed originally. Once they parked their CADCAM viewers, laser cutters, CNC machining, and micrometers, the project picked up pace.

[colin jones]

Yes Terry, very true, they certainly were extremely good tradesmen back then. The machines were only as good as the operators but it now the operators are only as good as their machines. Both received great results.

I got the top off the trans today after a reasonable fight and the gears are in really great cond. I am even more confident this little tank will have it's original drive train running once again. I have a very good old school engine recon man taking possession of the Meadows next week to totally overhaul it. By the time I am ready for the engine he should be done with it.

[colin jones]

I am well documenting this project because of its rarity and have already taken a couple of hundred pics.