VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

All my ammo tin trays are complete for both tanks and I'm now starting the raiseable light that is inside the turret and can be raised to about 400mm. I'm not sure of its purpose but it was in them so I need to make them.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by colin jones

I'm now starting the raiseable light that is inside the turret and can be raised to about 400mm. I'm not sure of its purpose but it was in them so I need to make them.

Hi Colin,
I believe the raising lamp was for signalling, probably used when it was not safe to wave the signal flags, or in the dark.

[colin jones]

Thanks Richard, that does make sense of its use and why it is retractable.

[colin jones]

Well into making the body for the signal lights.

[colin jones]

I had made the allowance for these when I cut the top of the turret.

[colin jones]

The light socket is out of a M35 light I dismantled to get the parts. The glass lens I bought on Ebay that was in India and about as close as I could get to the original shape and I gave it some volts to test it works.
I now need to make the sliding mounting brackets.

[David Dunlop]

Colin.

One of the photos in Post 834 shows a Vickers with one of these lamps deployed. Seems to be lacking the glass cover and the three steel studs look like they are completely above the top cover disc.

Perhaps someone can make more sense of the purpose of the lamp from this photo as it looks like if fully extended, it might be somewhat obscured by the cupola structure, except to the rear of the vehicle.

Some form of extendable Formation Lamp, perhaps?

David