VICKERS MK6B's resto

[David Dunlop]

Colin.

Is the driver's hatch a two part clamshell arrangement? The recent photos posted suggest the assembly you just completed would be a lower portion that would be opened last and closed first, with a heavier angled upper door lapping over it in the closed position.

If so, does the lower door simply rest open by its own weight, or does it lock open and closed? I suspect a counterweight system of some sort will be part of any upper hatch setup. It would be quite a head flattener otherwise.

Must be quite a turning point for you now, actually thinking about instruments and other internal fittings.

Cheers,

David

[colin jones]

That's great Richard as that means that there should be some spare parts still lying around somewhere.
David, I am still a ways off the electrics but I don't want to leave things to the last minute as I am making quite steady progress now. I hope to have my other wheels back at the end of next week and that is only a few hrs to paint and assemble then it will get turned over an work on that one until it is the same as Wombat. In the two drawings shown, the blue circled are what I have just made and the red it what you are refering to. The other drawing is a complicated spring mechanism that holds the hatch open. I will have to ponder that one on my verandah with a cup of tea for a while . But your observations are indeed quite correct .

[colin jones]

After some very careful homework, cross reference and finding original holes in both hulls it all became as clear as the nose on my face. Now I know exactly where the brackets go and how they work. I have enough drawings and photos of Littlefields tank during its reconstruction to piece together the not so complicated shutters and spring loaded drivers top hatch. It's almost a shame I need to sleep as I can see it in my head and I want to get it made. I have machined both openings for the mech so they are identical. The pieces welded in the first photo is just so I can put it in the machine vice then I'll grind it off after. It's a lot simpler than packing it up on the mill bed and clamping it down as well as the angle pieces are easy to do with a rotating vice. A couple of days should see both of them done and the mechanism as well.

[James P]

Colin, that is jaw dropping attention to detail and going all in on the restoration work you are doing on these tanks.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by colin jones

After some very careful homework, I know exactly where the brackets go and how they work. It's almost a shame I need to sleep as I can see it in my head and I want to get it made.

36 hours and 72 cups of coffee later, job's done.

[colin jones]

Thanks James, gotta do what you gotta do. No time for coffee tony, except when my wife brings one out to me which is pretty often
I have spent the last few days making the drivers hatch opening bracketry and again I am really amazed at the accuracy of the drawings I have and they're not even actual workshop drawings. I am getting two springs made to suit the original as they are a very specific size and I will get them next week.

[colin jones]

I am constantly making jigs and press parts for accuracy.

[colin jones]

My internet is really slow today