VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

Here's a couple of Photos Russ took for me of the one at Borden. I thought the opening was some sort of ventilation area.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by colin jones

Here's a couple of Photos Russ took for me of the one at Borden. I thought the opening was some sort of ventilation area.

It turns with the turret so would be of little use as a ventilation item as it would only work when the turret was in on place. Spent cases collector does make sense and collecting brass in a bin that would be emptied 'after action' is just British enough to be possible. Though turning the turret to have it jingle down the side make little more sense that collecting it and just flinging it away by hand. A closer look at the Borden Vickers to see if there is a hole or chute on the mantlet might solve the mystery. Does the centre 'lid' piece hinge?

[45jim]

Looks like the rectangular opening on the bottom of the box should have a screen bolted in place. Seems logical that it could catch the casings and let them cool off without dropping them all over the upper hull.
Light tank casing catcher.jpg

[Colin Alford]

All,

There are a number of Vickers MG Manuals related to Tank and AFV mountings at this site:

https://vickersmg.blog/manual/tank-training/

The various .303 and .50 Vickers MG marks for use in Tanks and AFVs had cartridge ejection tubes fitted so that the ejection took place underneath the gun, forward and outside of the vehicle.

I am quite confident that the tray in question was the "cartridge case tray" mentioned in some of the linked documents.

One question that I have not worked through is why there appear to be 3 locations for belt boxes inside the turret. In:

https://vickersmg.files.wordpress.co...i-04-36-a1.pdf

under the description of "Mountings, M.G., No. 10, Mark 1" it states that
the mount was for "one .303-in. M.G. Mk. VI or IV and one .5-in. M.G. Mk. V. Alternately two .303-in. M.G. Mk VI or IV can be used in this mounting in light tanks, Mk V or VI." It goes on to state that "projections on the underside of the platforms are drilled for the belt box carrier"

Not having a good sense of the layout of the guns and trays for belt boxes, and also not knowing the dimensions of the trays, I wonder if the two outside trays are possibly used when two .303s were fitted and the central tray was used when a .50 was fitted?

Colin

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by 45jim

Looks like the rectangular opening on the bottom of the box should have a screen bolted in place. Seems logical that it could catch the casings and let them cool off without dropping them all over the upper hull.

Is it possible the screen is a museum addition to stop the public from using the slot as a garbage can?

[colin jones]

Well that's another question answered. I think there will be quite a few Vickers Mkv1a/b experts here by the time I have finished.
I am pretty happy with the turret outcome now that it is sitting on top of "WOMBAT" and also my son Andrew was very keen to put the ball bearing in place and put a lot of bolts and nuts on as well. He's a very good helper

[Tim Lovelock]

Looking fantastic, if I win the lotto, I might knock on your door 😁

[RichardT10829]

Simply amazing, won’t be long before we get video of her mobile and under her own power !

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by colin jones

Well that's another question answered. I think there will be quite a few Vickers Mkv1a/b experts here by the time I have finished.
I am pretty happy with the turret outcome now that it is sitting on top of "WOMBAT" and also my son Andrew was very keen to put the ball bearing in place and put a lot of bolts and nuts on as well. He's a very good helper

Colin, so far the pics have been truly amazing, but now it's time to up the ante. How about a video of that turret going around?

[David Dunlop]

Good evening, Colin.

Thanks for posting the latest photos. WOMBAT is becoming a brilliant looking vehicle once again. Congratulations on all your work to date!

What strikes me about the photos is how incredibly cluttered the front of the vehicle is, by todays armour standards. In that light, the capture bin for spent casings under the gun mantlet is a truly smart design. It definitely keeps everything in one convenient place for the crew to deal with coming out of action. You can well imagine what they would have to be dealing with otherwise, trying to fish casings out from around ventilation and access hatches, not to mention having the casings underfoot.

Out of curiosity, is WOMBAT’s last known operational base very far from you? I think it would be great fun to take her back there for a drive around after all her years away. Assuming, of course, the base still exists and is available. A sort of ‘Then and Now Trip’.

Sheesh! Now I am getting excited about what that big old Meadows sounds like in a Vickers when it springs to life! You will have to go live on line for that Colin. I will definitely have my bowl of popcorn and cold beer ready for the show!

Cheers,

David