VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

It's that time of the year when people go on holidays and if you don't have some things you need then you just gotta wait but that's ok, I just adjusted my direction and do some of the internal. I have enough or the original base to reproduce but not to use. It is all 2mm ally and they certainly used their aviation manufacture at it's best.

[colin jones]

They used a tongue and slot system to join parts and also rivets. Obviously when you set jigs for multiples then everyone will be precise. I am doing two individually but being extra careful to reproduce them with accuracy. I have many many dies for my punch but only one slot punch but how happy was I that it happened to be the right one After the parts are made, it is a simple operation of fit and bend the tabs alternately. Anyway it's a good change and it had to be done some time. There is quite a bit of steel threaded mounting block to make and rivet to the ally which is fiddly but very effective.

[colin jones]

I have now completed all components for this section of the turret base area x 2. Being aluminium, it is a lot lighter to handle and work with.

[colin jones]

My first thought of the tag and slot system was way over the top but the assembly was way quick once the parts were done. Some parts were rivetted but cleco clamps make that part easy. After I finished one, I gave it a test fit and all was good.

[colin jones]

I have posted a couple of pics of the original componentry I have and I can't help keep saying how lucky I am to have these parts. I just don't know how I could have done this with photos or measurements alone. Anyway you can see what I have to make next and I will have to make it around one of the original turret baskets I have otherwise it just won't turn properly.

[David Dunlop]

Must be a nice change from all the steel work, Colin.

Does the surviving documentation explain what all the bins are used for in the tank?

David

[colin jones]

Hi David, yes it is quite refreshing using different material and joining methods as well as doing some nitty gritty stuff too😊 I don't have actual documentation of the use of those very specific areas, but what I can say it the Vickers .303 tins fit nicely in there and the slightly wider ones I will assume they will take to Vickers .5 tins which I don't have any but if ANYONE has some spares, please let me know.

[James P]

Originally Posted by colin jones

I have posted a couple of pics of the original componentry I have and I can't help keep saying how lucky I am to have these parts. I just don't know how I could have done this with photos or measurements alone. Anyway you can see what I have to make next and I will have to make it around one of the original turret baskets I have otherwise it just won't turn properly.

As usual your work is stellar and I have nothing but the utmost respect for the time, effort and skills you are pouring into this project that is a true Legacy project. I fully get it about no matter how far gone a part or piece is it still holds a ton of value telling your locations for holes, shapes, radiuses, etc. I resorted to gluing huge flakes of rust together to determine a radius on one project. Looking forward to further posts of your work and the bring back to life of the tanks.

[colin jones]

Thankyou very much James, I appreciate you comment and I certainly agree that no matter how small the part is, it can hold vital information. Sometimes you don't know what a small part is until you get to certain stages and things just fall into place. I am at that stage right now. There are some small round wooden blocks bolted into the bin parts I am doing and I had no information as to their use until David Dunlop asked me if I had info of each bin use. After getting a Vickers ammo tin and putting it into the original part, I then realized they were spacer blocks for the .303 tins and could be unscrewed for the .5 tins. So that was great for me to find a use for them and now I will be making some of them as well. So a big thanks to David for asking the question
Anyway I had to make the rear door that has a pressing in it so I decided to make a press set for them. I need 1 for each tank and there is another door above which after these are pressed out and completes I can easily modify the press set to make a smaller pressing for the above door and then just de-weld the material for another use. As it is only aluminium, it will probably only take 15 or so tonne to form it and my pressbrake is a 40 tonner so there will be plenty of power.