VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

This is number two turret basket almost completed. I'm also working on the hydraulics as well.

[clarkray]

Very nicely coming together!!!

[colin jones]

Thanks Clark, I am happy with it so far
I have fitted all the hoses I have to date and only need to measure 3 more and get them made.

[colin jones]

I still need to run pipes for the radiator and work out the cooling fan fitment. It all fits quite good.

[colin jones]

Been a bit of a stretch between posts Finished a few jobs for others including this sentry hut which is going to our local paintball park. I am now working on the turret basket installations. I know it's probably not the right place to put up these pics so the mods can delete if they want.

[colin jones]

This has been quite a long time coming to marry these two parts together so while I am waiting for my carby to be refurbished I thought it is time.

[colin jones]

I have to use my best judgement how the bracketry was made back in the 30s. I have made the brackets so the stays are easily unbolted for turret removal with or without the basket. I know the original was also done like this.

[colin jones]

It is really good to have the now married together and working. I have taken the whole unit out to finish the welding and I will also complete the other one as well. The seats are on the list for manufacture too.

[Tony Smith]

C'mon, Hanno! Where's the Forum Upgrade with the "Like" Button. This thread is screaming out for it!

For now, Colin will just have to make do with:

[Mike Cecil]

ditto

[David Dunlop]

Add another one!


David

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

C'mon, Hanno! Where's the Forum Upgrade with the "Like" Button. This thread is screaming out for it!

For now, Colin will just have to make do with:

Hello All,

Ditto for me, especially the part about being able to add a "Like" button. Colin deserves a string of them

Kind regards
Lionel

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

I confess, I'm an addict to this thread and this restoration(s). It's a life mission to see them in person one day. Fantastic and inspirational work Colin.

[colin jones]

🙂 Well, all I can say is thank you for you comments and it is very nice to know that there is still a lot of interest in these little tanks. I'm sure they will still be around long after I'm gone if they are looked after. It does give me great pride to know I am saving these for future generations to see what great achievements were made by the designers all those years ago. I do have a look back every now and then and see the different challengers there has been along the way. Fortunately, I don't thing there is any major ones ahead of me now.(Touch wood)🤔 But if there is then so be it.

[colin jones]

I have just completed the commanders foot rest and standing platform. I had to cut the original tube as it was impossible to get the old part off so I will internally sleeve the tube and reweld it back together. I will be doing the seats and turret hold down brackets next.

[colin jones]

I got a bit ahead of myself!! The foot rest is made out of aluminum and the original was cast. I had a look around my "Don't throw that away pile" and low and behold I find a piece of aluminium that just happened to be the correct thickness and to my total astonishment it ALSO just happened to be the same diameter . I don't know what the odds of that would be but it was the only piece of ally there. Anyway just good luck to me. I used my horizontal mill to put the diamond lines in it for non slip as per the original.

[colin jones]

I just got my carburetor back after a full rebuild so the radiator needed to be installed with the Fan shroud and thermo fan. I will have plenty of room for a oil cooler if needed. I have decided to use the original radiator for the other Vickers as it is in great condition and also another nice original part going back on.

[colin jones]

Radiator all fitted back in place apart from electrical and hoses.
I am also doing the other turret basket fitment. I decided to fit the other basket outside of the tank by measurement as it will be a lot easier.

[colin jones]

Getting turret number 2 up to speed. As I hadn't had a good look inside that one for a while, I forgot there was quite a bit to di in there. Fortunately I had most of the parts made previously but they all still needed to be installed. They are now except for the traversing box which I just painted prior to fitting. I still need to do a bit of rubbing back and repaint to get rid of some paint runs. Also testing the light I made a couple of years back.

[colin jones]

These are the turret stays, there are 4 of this style on each tank and two different ones which I am yet to fab. Can't have my turret bouncing off while driving

[Dave lean]

Russian ones seem to pop off pretty easily.........

[David Herbert]

That is because Colin doesn't build their tanks as he has a more deserving project at the moment.

David

[Lionelgee]

"Russian ones seem to pop off pretty easily"......... There is a new expression associated with this on the news recently - it is called a 'lollipop'

[colin jones]

I just made an inline temp gauge sender unit holder. The gauge is a original type that was in the Vickers but there is no where that I can connect it to. I definitely need this working so this is the only way that I could think of that was simple and hopefully effective.

[Tony Smith]

Great solution!

I realise you've probably used pieces of scrap to make it, but I wonder if using brass or aluminium would have been better for thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance?

[colin jones]

Hi Tony, you may be very well right, but there are quite a few steel parts I've already made in the cooling system and I will certainly be filling it up with a high quality coolant

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Gee - no posts from Colin since May 2022! I hope everything is okay Colin and that you have just been too busy to post updates. Also, that you have not been negatively affected by the flooding?


Also similar best wishes and thoughts sent out to Jack Neville who has been awfully quiet as well since the month of October.

Kind regards
Lionel

[jack neville]

Six weeks in Spain and Portugal Lionel. Now post holiday slackness.
Not sure about Colin.

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Colin.

I’m not sure if these are the same tanks as yours, but from the 5.45m mark onwards they feature a lot. I couldn’t easily see if this has been referenced prior in this thread, apologies if it has.

It’s an Australian War Memorial film, F01234
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C188837

Thought it might be of use in your rebuild.

Regards, Ian.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Ian Fawbert

Hi Colin.

I’m not sure if these are the same tanks as yours, but from the 5.45m mark onwards they feature a lot. I couldn’t easily see if this has been referenced prior in this thread, apologies if it has.

It’s an Australian War Memorial film, F01234
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C188837

Thought it might be of use in your rebuild.

Regards, Ian.

Hi Ian,
These tanks on the film appear to be Vickers Light Tanks Mark V. The tanks that Australia had were 10 off, Mark VIA and used for training in Australia, 5 went to NSW and 5 to Victoria.
I had involvement with the restoration of one of these and researched the history of it, and it now resides in a museum collection in the USA.

regards, Richard