VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

It's coming together quite well with a lot of milling in each vertical rod that connects the flat sections. They would certainly have been a very strong cupola. I think I might get these done a bit quicker that expected, but that's a good thing.

[colin jones]

I am making steady progress on the cupola's

[colin jones]

I'm just about ready to make the tops and they are now extremely heavy.

[colin jones]

I should know thing take longer than expected. If I was paid by the hour I'd be putting in quite a hefty bill by now. I am making very good progress.

[colin jones]

All those rivets I bought at an auction a few years ago are coming in very handy now. These Cupola's are a complicated bit of design and I can see why the next model had round ones.

[colin jones]

My two Cupola's are almost externally completed apart from a few rivets. I thought I would also share an easy way to heat solid rivets if you have a spot welder as it is far quicker than a forge, far cheaper than using an oxy set and very easy to use. These rivets take about 6 seconds to get to temp.

[colin jones]

While I am waiting for some more mushroom head rivets to arrive I thought I would also get a start on the other opening on top of the turret which is a couple of domed hatches.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by colin jones

...If I was paid by the hour I'd be putting in quite a hefty bill by now...

Colin, like everyone else I have been enjoying this thread immensely.
Your comment above made me wonder... are you keeping a trqack of your hours spent on these beasties?
H

[David Dunlop]

Hi Colin.

I am intrigued by those cupolas. Can’t help but think they would put quite a strain on the turret ring when the vehicle was not on level ground.

If the cupola is mounted off centre and the tank is at a high angle position, I would think the weight of the cupola would want to swing the entire turret until the cupola was at the low point.

Maybe that is why modern tank turrets are so symmetrical.

Beautiful work, by the way. Can’t wait to see the first one under its own power. Will you be at the controls???

David

[colin jones]

Bob, they would certainly make for a very different BBQ and the name "Vickers " has already been taken.

Howard, I did start to keep track of some hours but after the first 500 or so I just gave up. As it's been just over a year since I first started it would be a couple of thousand by now as there has been many many days of 12+ hours or more but who's counting. Interesting though, I'd be curious what sort of hours some guys would have spent doing their projects if they kept track .

David, I don't think it would cause too much of an issue as there would be quite a bit of weight at the turret basket with two men, radio batteries, Ammo and anything else that was at the bottom. The traversing gear has a hand release brake to stop it turning when not wanted and I would estimate the Cupola at around 100kg. There would be a fair weight at the front as well with the two Vickers guns and I can tell you one thing, I will definitely be at the controls when they do their first powered trial and I will certainly have it video recorded. I am still full of enthusiasm every single day I work on them because they are just so different.