VICKERS MK6B's resto

[Petr Brezina]

Good luck Colin, incredible work!

[Russ Gregg]

What an incredible project, I think you have crossed the line between restoration and forensic reconstruction. Thanks for the detailed pictures, I will be following this with great interest.

[David Herbert]

Well put Russ !

I would like to add my name to the list of deeply impressed people too.



David

[Bob Carriere]

I have seen better truck parts scrapped.

You have to be the most courageous and skillful restorer around. You are probably correct in assuming that you can replicate the boxy shape required to hold the gears in place the old fashion way.

Jay Leno, the California ex-night show host has a fantastic collection of vehicles and older TV programs on U tube...... one showing how they had a totally corroded complex valve cover recast using a scan from the old part. Now the guy is a millionaire and can afford to use the latest technology.

There was a press release recently on TV about the only two in the world 3D printer that are certified to make airplane components.. One is at GE the other is a joint venture between the University of Montreal and funding from the New York state............ they claim that eventually when it becomes more readily available and less pricey that it may revolutionize the manufacturing industry. They can produce, complex rare alloy titanium 3D parts from design to a finished machined product in 30% of the time needed in normal production with a saving of 30% on cost.

At the other end of the scale a local Hobby shop has a table top 3D printer made by Dremel that will make to whatever scale you need small parts for RC airplanes, boats, cars on demand...... he was making a replacement gear for a client when I was there......charges time plus material. Most of what he produces is already available on the web in digital form which he just downloads...... such as the upper torso of a pilot for a RC plane..... he scales it to the planes size with just a click....... he does not have a much needed scanner yet.

He had produced some mortar rounds for a local collector and one assembaled, the fins had to be done separately, and suitably painted they would scare a bomb disposal squad.

May we live long enough to see them reproduce a full size CMP......

Bob C

[Russ Gregg]

I have designed motorcycle parts that I had 3D printed to verify geometry on the bike before spending the money on machining. I believe it is also possible to 3D print a casting pattern, probably the approach that Colin's casting company was planning to use. It isn't cheap for something that size, probably well over $1000 and a full day on the printer. If they can't get a decent scan you could have the part modelled in 3D CAD and print a pattern from that. You would have to estimate the missing surfaces so it might not be 100% original, but in this case I dare say you'll never get called out on it. The only design constraint would be that it not hit the floor on the outside or the gears on the inside.

[colin jones]

Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I will most certainly do the best I can and well document the entire procedure how ever it turns out.
Colin.

[colin jones]

I have started with the end that bolts to the bell housing first. Because the bearings are 20mm thick, I have used a piece of 25mm thick plate so by the time I machine it down, I will have a bearing stop and also a wider top to allow for the studs to be screwed in. I am using my rotary table in the mill to achieve the bearing holes.