25 Pounder info needed.

[tankbarrell]

Tony, the socket is for the horizontal air pump that tops up the recuperator air pressure.

[Private_collector]

Thanks Adrian

[Private_collector]

My sight door track is finished, courtesy of my neighbour.
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Typical that I am rostered to work this weekend, both days, and won't get this or the door onto the shield until Monday next wk.

Anyone have suggestions for suitable WWII Australian unit markings / TAC signage?

Once the telescope mounts and box frame are done, I will paint the entire shield properly and put signage on.

[Private_collector]

Having worked on the weekend, I had yesterday and today off. Monday I went to the beach and got thoroughly cooked. Today I went back to working on the gun.
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The sight door is in place. I initially had a big problem with the door binding along about half of the distance, and despite shaving a little off the back of the track, it wasn't much better.
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All I can say is I must have been tired, because it was easily fixed once it dawned on me that the problem was caused by the pivot point, not the track clearance. A thin sheet of plasticised paper was an instant remedy. The thickness I pruned from back of the track will allow me to apply a very thin anti friction sheet to back side of the door, in the area which is hidden under the track. I really don't want to scratch paint when sliding the door! The anti friction material SHOULD fix that issue. The unsightly nut holding the door in place will be replaced with a grease nipple......when I find where I have put them!
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To end the day, I started cleaning up the spade. Gee that timber looks good for it's age.
My original plan was to paint the blade green, then I had a rethink and thought black might have been better. I would prefer seeing the bare metal, so I'll take a drive to the gun shop in town tomorrow and buy a bottle of blueing liquid. If that looks good, it'll stay that way. If not, it will get sprayed black. The timber will get sprayed the same stain as the zero block. By the way, did I mention I put that on today too. Had to move the clinometer case up a little to accomodate the space, and now I have four holes to fill in!!!

P.S: Tomorrow I get the ground anchor cover back from sandblasting. Panelbeating will follow, no doubt.

[Private_collector]

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Hmmm, it's a bit, sort of, er.....lolly like.
Maybe the color will grow on me, cause I don't like it just yet.
Fading light could have made things look a tad more orange too. Looks like somebody stuck a shovel blade on a nice long stick of Blackpool rock!
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Can anyone identify this makers mark?

[Private_collector]

Made the brackets for the telescope case, this afternoon.
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I've been looking back through my files of reference shots, and gather both restraining straps for the telescope case are thick leather? Found two photos with webbing straps, but wonder if these were used for convenience instead of originality (says the guy making a fake gun)
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My bracket pair won't have the top of telescope case lean out so far as seen in the above photo.

Tomorrow afternoon, I'll start on the spares box carrier.

[Private_collector]

The telescope case brackets fit OK.
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In fact, the scope sits better than I thought it would.
Yes, it is actually held in place with string in the photo. I don't have any leather straps yet.
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Started on the upper shield locking mechanisms, and the latches were able to be placed in a way that doesn't look too ackward. Nothing like original setup, unfortunately, but that's my fault and I just have to wear it!

I did make a start on the spares box carrier, thanks to a neighbour who folded the parts for me. Got most of the welding done, but as it approached dusk the helmet had difficulties changing to/from weld flash, and I copped several closeup bursts in the eyes. Now partly blinded to shadows, I thought I could finish regardless. Made a significant error in one corner of the carrier, when I misloacted the MIG wire and blew a nice big hole in the metal. Attempted a remedy, and promptly jammed the wire into feed hozzle. Unable to clear this, the job came to a halt right then. I have a number of replacement tips, BUT do you think I can find them, noooooo!

Is anyone able to give me precise measurements for the spares box, and better still, some detail photos of the box itself? I would greatly appreciate that, because I will try to find a local wood wizard to build me one from scratch. We have a woodworks museum in Gympie, and one of the workers there (volunteers, mostly) may like to take on the commission to produce a replica for me. Besides, the gun itself is a fake anyway!