VICKERS MK6B's resto

[Andrew Rowe]

Not to hijack your thread, but his name is NED! , Cheers Andrew.

[David Dunlop]

Well, that’s two of your crew accounted for now, Colin.

David

[David Herbert]

Should post boxes have a thread of their own ?

Hanno, please delete this if you want !

David

[colin jones]

Andrew, is that in Aussie Ned or a Kiwi Ned.
David, any suggestions for the third.

Back to the serious stuff I have completed the centre shafts that hold the bearings for the gears. I have changed the design as the original is very complicated and from what I can see is unnecessary. The material used is the same as the gears but I won't be getting them hardened as they don't move at all.

[colin jones]

Each shaft is held in place by the recess top and bottom and there is no way they can move whereas the original is held in place by a wedge bracket and bolt. The last photo shows the heavy plate/bracket which needs to be bolted down to the underside with a series of bolts. Very strong once completed.

[colin jones]

I have all my parts back from being heat treated. The original final drive is now reassembled and the new one is also getting done.

[colin jones]

That's it now!! I have two complete final drives. What an epic that was, I think I would sooner make another two more gearboxes than one of these. For me! this part has been the most time consuming, intricate and difficult part of this whole project and it is only one of them. This type of work gives me a whole new perspective and appreciation what lengths some people go to for their project. Miniature steam trains, engines, cars, buildings and god knows what else has been restored around the world with hours upon hours but it's all worth it at the end. This is now the end of the drive train fabrication. I will now lift out the engine for the last time and get it running before it goes back in and the final drives can be installed along with the tracks. That light is now getting quite bright at the end of that tunnel.