VICKERS MK6B's resto

[Mike Cecil]

Dave

Nice -no, outstanding job. Looking forward to the images of the test runs.

I suppose that you and Colin have investigated the legal aspects of owning/operating/displaying replica simfire weapons, so would you be willing to enlighten us on those issues please? For example, if Colin wanted to take his tank complete with replica MGs to Corowa (NSW) via Victorian roads, what legalities would he need to satisfy in each state before he traveled?

Mike

[Dave lean]

Hi Mike, As yet these issues have yet to be resolved, We shouldn't have any problems here in SA as we already have a number of similar SFRW's certified by SAPOL. However the interstate authorities are bound to be a problem no doubt. I heard of one fellow year before last at Corowa being threatened by the local cop that he would be arrested if he didn't remove the "broom handle" from the turret of his vehicle.. If this is true then you will appreciate our desire to not display the guns which would be a great pity. Anyway this is something that will need investigating with the appropriate people when the time comes. So stand by for more on this subject. cheers Dok.

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks Dave, that is interesting, and your story about the broomstick sort of mirrors my experience with the NSW police about 10 years ago over transporting some operational semi-automatic firearms between Canberra and Greytown, Victoria, and back again. They would be in NSW for maybe 5 hours each way.

Government-owned (but not Defence), and in a government vehicle. Victoria said go for it, no problem, thanks for the phone call. NSW wanted an application for a ministerial exemption, told us that would take months to process, and were pretty abrupt about it.

The solution, silly as it may seem, was to consign them to a civilian transport company, which are apparently exempt in terms of transporting 'prohibited' weapons if they are packed in a sealed box!! Go figure that one out: I never could.

I'll look forward to hearing how things progress on that front.

Mike

[Dave lean]

I guess when it comes to it there are the stupid, stupider and government officials.....Jokes aside it really is a pain when one comes in contact with some of these people, who - for reasons best known to themselves, feel that they must hinder not help or if they don't know the answer, find it easier to say NO ! And then hide behind the sign " aggression will not be tolerated, Police will be called" Anyway don't get me started.......

[RichardT10829]

came here as i am getting withdrawals, Colin how you getting on ?

[colin jones]

Hi Richard, sorry about your 'VWS' ( Vickers Withdrawal Syndrome) It has been extremely hectic of late but here is where I am. This is the double gun mount inside the turret. It has been rather difficult as information is extremely limited but with help of Dave Mills and the video of the inside of the PU%$#&)(AL Vickers, Photos of the Littlefield Vickers and various other snippets of information I was able to piece together what it was like and fabricate them.

[colin jones]

It was originally cast alloy so I had a bit of a time in the fabrication side. I did quite a bit of cut, weld, grind then cut off and do it again. It was one of those parts that was a lot of trial and fit until I finally was able to get the correct distance for the sight and the two guns. Thanks to Dave Lean making the Guns it made is considerably easier to distance parts out and it fits really well and it all elevates just as it should.