VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

The vision blocks are 1" thick and a full days machining to do both.

[colin jones]

There is also quite a bit of mechanism behind as well.

[colin jones]

And the last few

[colin jones]

I got quite a lot done in the last week. I made the light brackets and enclosures

[colin jones]

I also replaced the top of the exhaust cover as it was a bit too far gone for my liking.

[colin jones]

all mudguards are also complete.

[David Dunlop]

Nice work again, Colin. The two tanks sitting there gives your shop a real 'Vickers Production Line' look to it.

Interesting that when I was looking at the photos of the driver's vision ports, my eyes began to water and it made me shiver.

Any word on your engine rebuild to date?

David

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by colin jones

The vision blocks are 1" thick and a full days machining to do both.

If it took you a day to machine with modern cutters and equipment, think how long it took in the 1930s.

You are doing God's work, and I understand the determination to build something that isn't just another Carrier (with full apologies and sympathies to the hardworking Carrier restorers and students).

[James P]

God damn, every time I roll in on your build(s) I am in shock and awe at the series of miracles you are pulling off. I am so very glad to see your posts detailing the work and updates of your fantastic work and investment of time and effort at doing it right.

[Lynn Eades]

Just to make sure you aware Terry, that some carriers are more rare than these Mk.VI B, Vickers tanks.

Great work Colin.

[colin jones]

Dave, I don't think they gave a rats bum what happened to these machines after they sold them and having them buried in a dump for years only adds to their charm. No problems for the plasma cutter as I just got a new box of plasma's in.

David, there is actually 4 inlets but what they "ALL" exactly do, I'm not sure yet but no doubt I will find out when that part becomes a priority on the long, long, very long list of things to do.

Terry, those guys way back then probably did their work twice as fast as they certainly were tradesmen with eyes for great detail.

James the only miracles I have is my wife who never complains how long I spend in the shed and that is a lot as I don't think too many wives would put up with it 7 days a week.

Lynn, thanks for the compliment and we're looking forward to the cruise to NZ at Xmas time.

[colin jones]

Another rather eventful day. I happen to have a large quantity of half round head rivets but with some small modified press bits and lots of hydraulic power
I can change the head to any shape I want. the top of the intake covers have thin flat tops and the sides are thin mushroom style. As you can see I just put the rivet in a shank sized hole die, set my pressing depth and press away. I could probably do 2-300 per hour if need be. Then I cut them to the required length.

[colin jones]

I am trying to replicate all the little parts that may or may not be seen but I still think they're worth doing.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

If it took you a day to machine with modern cutters and equipment, think how long it took in the 1930s.

.

I would think with a large skilled workforce like Vickers would have had eg many toolmakers , fitters and so on, it would have been a fairly quick project. Britain was arguably the leading land of engineering back then . The machine tools they had in the 1930's were pretty damn good . The Germans had invented carbide cutters and others were going ahead with experimenting with carbide cutters . I have an old catalogue of Churchill grinders somewhere, the size and different types of grinders they made is staggering.

Britain had so many machine tool makers it's beyond comprehension.

This is a good insight into it www.lathes.co.uk but even that web site doesn't tell the whole story.