Tank Hunter Carrier Progress

[kevin powles]

Hi, Been working on the Tank Hunter Carrier this week, still loads to do but starting to make progress, I have attached some pictures, I know its got Mk2 rear fenders for now.

[Jordan Baker]

Looks real good Kevin

[RichardT10829]

Corrrrr !!! looks fantastic, i see you picked up a few stray's en route your kids must love it Kevin

[kevin powles]

Hi, Thanks for the comments, couldnt of done it without this forum, pictures are a little small, check the bigger ones out and more at photobucket.com just search for cherryturbox under people.

Thanks Kevin.

[kevin powles]

Hi, I have been putting in the fuel tanks the last couple of days, I have attached some pictures of what me and my neighbour have made, considering we made a set of tanks from drawings from a friends carrier (Mk2) and the remains of a British Mk3 tank (rusted to bits), it was not until I had a couple of rusted tanks, (one pictured) sent over from Brian Asbury we could make a comparision.......didnt turn out to bad!.

[RichardT10829]

Kevin, they look really really good ! i may have to obtain a copy of those drawings when the time comes for me to make my own tank too.

the carrier is looking real nice ! any pics of the tuther beasts

[kevin powles]

Hi, No problem Richard, If you going to make some I would suggest you make them from stainless steel, we made ours from mild steel, so we had to etch prime the internals and coat them on the inside with a tank lining liquid, I think the originals may have been galvanised, but saying that most tanks I have seen have suffered alot of corrosion.

I have posted some more pics, the mortar carrier is in bits at the moment being shot blasted, not looking forward to knocking all those pins out of the track next week.

[kevin powles]

Hi, Tank hunter test drive ready for H tracked vehicle driving test, good job the examiner was not around too witness the carnage and the look of terror on my face.

click on the link.

View here

[RichardT10829]

Kevin please tell me you didnt decide to take your test in it ? talk about making a difficult job tougher still. she looks mint Imagine you had the gun in place too....... how bad was visability Poor to shocking by chance mind the carrier looks absolutely mint !!!!! i hate you all, Shaun, Barry, Nigel, Ron, Bah............. green with envy i am

[martyn]

Hi Kevin your carrier looks nice but i wouldnt do a track laying test in it.....
What i would sugest is you hire a mini digger for a couple of hours and do it in that, a carrier is not a vehicle to drive on your own around the streets and in the test you are not aloud a passanger to guide you! I did mine in a 548 cargo and made sure it had lots of mirrors on it. well good luck what ever you decide to do it in

[RichardT10829]

how did your test go ? have you had it yet buddy ?.........and martyn am i right in thinking i can go get a mini excavator and do it in that ? i ask as its a glass bubble on top of a very small track base ? is it done live on roads or in a large car park ie cones gallore ?

[Ron Pier]

I managed to get my H licence by means of a mini digger. But I had a lot of hassle with VOSA, as strictly speaking the test should be on the public highway, with roundabouts and traffic lights etc. Therefore the vehicle should be road legal, registered and indicators and all. I found a sympathetic ear in our county area VOSA supervisor, who allowed me to do it on private land in a mini digger. AND....... a mini digger is not strictly track steer, but what is called skid steer? Ron

[RichardT10829]

there is a place advertised within the tracked section on milweb who do a weeks course and test in either CVRT or 432 for £600 may do that after crimbo. good luck with your test Kevin, if you have not already had it that is.

[Ron Pier]

Yes good luck Kevin. I enjoyed your video. I couldn't face the test in my carrier. I've got a buggered right arm after a motorcycle accident. The carriers are fine when your beetling along. But it's the slow speed shunting and reversing that knackers me up. I almost nearly once reversed into my neighbour's hedge. Ron

[kevin powles]

hi, thanks got the test tomorrow at 2 o'clock, not looking forward too it, reverse round a corner, turn it in the road to face the other way. done on the public road, the examiners bringing his mate to have a laugh, I meen look too. got indicators on it to use, dont need any other lights, just need to cancel the indictors and not forget. I have stuck on some bathroom mirrors so i can see when i mount the kerb.

too late to arrange a mini digger and learn to drive it.

theres another vid we put on youtube, the driving no better.

will let you know how i get on.

[Ron Pier]

Driving the carrier part will be fine, Just make sure you know your highway code. All the best. Ron

[kevin powles]

I Passed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!

I wish I caught it all on camera, it would of been suberb, after driving round the roundabout (I dont think they have these in Canada), when checking my rear view mirror there was a police car behind flashing his blue lights. I had to turn right and pull in then another police car then arrived and pulled in front of the carrier. It turns out sombody had called the police saying there was a armoured tank driving around the area, The two examiners explained the situation too them, so everything was ok, lots of pictures taken by the police on there mobiles by the four policemen and the examiners aswell.

One thing to note is I had two lee enfields, two bren guns and a sten on board and they didnt even bat an eyelid about that!!

the pressures off now and I am so happy, They even made me reverse round a corner which the DSA book says I dont have to do.

The trick is when taking the test in carrier is to put more mirrors on it than a mods scooter.

Will be on the piss tonight celebrating. HHHHUUUURRRRAAAHHHH!

[Ron Pier]

Congrats Kev! I'm sure the novelty value would keep the police and examiners in a jolly frame of mind. I bet your missus will get pissed off though! when you get stopped by plod on the Tesco run!!! I couldn't find the second YouTube by the way. Ron

[Ledsel]

Good show Kev.

[kevin powles]

A few shots of the tank hunter....ready to put on the 2 pounder when I find one.

[kevin powles]

More pics, check out the 'in the field' use of the antenna hook to hold on some spare track.

[Eric Korhonen]

Kevin, Did the photos of the engine cover I posted help you out ? Your carrier looks awsome. What condition was it when you started on it ?

Cheers

Eric

[kevin powles]

Hi Eric, Yes many thanks for the pictures, I will set to making the catch shortly. there are some pics of the carrier when arrived in the thread 'carrier mk1 instrument panel'
salute.

[RichardT10829]

I know where there is a 2pounder Gun on a pintle around the corner from me..... saved from the sea about 20 years ago and mounted in the chaps front garden..... may have to pay him a visit for you hahahahaha.


Rich

[Aidan]

Kevin Whaaasup wit your Gurls Givin the Yo Yo not my Bad, Dog. signs in your top pics? Aidan

[kevin powles]

Took the carrier out to the lowestoft veterans day at the weekend, alot of interest in the carrier among the veterans.

Also managed to get the engine covers in place, next job is the 2pdr shell racks.

Kevin.

[shaun]

HI Kevin,
Let me know next few shows you are going to, i think we need to have a trundle out with the 2 carriers some where. I have Puddle jumper out alot this year covered about 200 miles so far, even did a prom night on friday. look like you were parked with David and Bill at lowestoft. Are you bringing it down to beltring? I will be there with mine.
Catch you later
Shaun

[kevin powles]

Hi Shaun, I will be taking the carrier to Henham steam rally but thats not until september, (18th & 19th). I want to take it down to lowestoft air show (12th & 13th august), need to contact waveny council first to arrange.

I will be down the war and peace show for a day trip on the friday 23rd july, would love to take the carrier there for the week but have to work that weekend.

If you know of any other events local to us in the meantime let me know, dont know if 'power of the past' is running this year, dont mind driving it 3 or 4 miles but the tracks abit wornout.

Kevin.

[RichardT10829]

did the rear fenders i made fit ok or did they take a bit fettling ? they look pretty cool on the photo's

[kevin powles]

Hi Rich, Fenders fitted fine, thanks for your help rich, I blasted them, zinc coated them, sprayed in olive drab, put on the decals and them re-blasted the decals to make it look like they were orignals.