VICKERS MK6B's resto

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by colin jones

The stays are 3mm ally and they are tapered 200mm out to 340mm. I made a former for my press brake to get the 180 return on both sides. They are extremely rigid once pressed.

"...The best candidate, based on current evidence, for the earliest species in our genus is Homo habilis (meaning “handy man”). ..."

Spend 6 hours making a tool that does 3 perfect passes and is in use for all of 5 minutes. Sounds about right.

[colin jones]

Hi David, I guess it must have been the best idea. Access in these small tanks is very limited and I no doubt they would have tried numerous other methods. As the stays are all different in symmetry, they must be in specific locations for ease of equipment accessibility . I'm sure it will become clear as I progress
Terry, that's part of this job spend hours of prep to get minutes of results

[colin jones]

After checking the centre of my fabrication, I was very pleasantly surprised to see I am within 3-4mm off centre and that is quite a relief. Also yes the inspection plate in the floor is meant to be non central

[colin jones]

Still working on the first turret basket and I now know that the seat mounting blocks and brackets must be done now or I will lose access to those areas once the top is riveted on. Again, they must have thought that replacement of these parts wont require access as they wont last long once in service. It would be totally impractical to attempt to install these things in the tank.
What is really interesting is to see the makers centerpunch marks on these original parts and the part numbers still very easy to read after all this time and as I said before that I'm putting as many original parts back on no matter how small they are.

[colin jones]

I had to rivet the bins to the floor before the top is secured. I have ordered my rubber matting which will be here in a day or so.
I have saved almost all of the perimeter aluminium strips that hold the matting down and as I was cleaning some up I saw OS written in pencil. I will assume it was for "Out Side", as that makes sense to me. It has been there for a minimum of 86 years as it was in between the strip and the rubber and riveted together. The odds are not good that the person who wrote it is alive today.
Another part that retains some of the original history that may not be seen for another century or so along with the Centre punch marks and anything else that was done way back then.

[David Dunlop]

Nice progress, Colin.

Has the purpose of that small door become any clearer yet? From this side of the project, it almost looks like an inspection/access hatch, rather than a storage compartment door.

David

[colin jones]

Hi David, yes I am making steady progress. The small door has to be for gaining access only as there is no floor on the other side. It has to access to the electrical connections underneath.
I have the other basket on the bench to get that one up to speed. I think it took me a day and then some to get the first one off Then this one was about an hour. Knowledge is power