T16 restoration starts in earnest

[andrew honychurch]

Its been a little while since I posted any updates on the T16, and to be honest its been pretty dull stuff going on. I have now refurbed 3 of the 4 suspension units but the best news was a trip to my metalwork chap today, who has made some real progress. This Carrier had spent a long while in Pounds of Portsmouth scrap yard and like so many had filled up with water which had not done it any good inside, so there was a lot of new metal work to do . This has involved new track guards full length left and right and across the back. Even the bulkhead behind the driver and gunner had rot in it at the bottom and even at elbow height! Anyway, we have now replaced most of this and I have also replaced most of the rotted out drain holes in the floor. This entailed having new rings machined with the correct thread and then letting into the floor where they had rotted out. You can see most of this in the photos, there will need to be quite a bit of making good once it is blasted but I am beginning to feel quite pleased and excited at moving on once again. Hope you enjoy the photos which are not brilliant as they were taken with a blackberry and are not that clear