VICKERS MK6B's resto

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Chris Suslowicz

'Electron' alloy (mostly magnesium) was used in incendiary bomb casings, and duralumin needed for aircraft in vast quantities, so neither would be readily available for aerial rods or mast sections.

Chris.

Just as a matter of interest, the gun mantlet on the Vickers MkVI was made of Elektron as were aero engine crankcases and wheels.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Just as a matter of interest, the gun mantlet on the Vickers MkVI was made of Elektron as were aero engine crankcases and wheels.

Hmm... I wonder if that was also the 'swarf' that my grandfather used to light his incinerator with in the 1960s? (Silvery metal chips that burned white-hot and would get a fire going with even wet garden waste. I suspect he got them from T.A.Savery in Bracebridge St where he worked - they made equipment for the aircraft industry, etc.)

Chris.
(Other bit of Signals history that turned up: the family used to grow chrysanthemums for sale, and used peculiar canes to support them (until my father suggested using sheep fencing laid on the ground and lifted up as the plants grew). Years later I wanted some staffs for semaphore flags, found a dealer with lots of them at Beltring, and realised just what the tapered sticks with a small screw-head part way up actually were: WW2 surplus flag staffs!)

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Chris Suslowicz

Hmm... I wonder if that was also the 'swarf' that my grandfather used to light his incinerator with in the 1960s? (Silvery metal chips that burned white-hot and would get a fire going with even wet garden waste. I suspect he got them from T.A.Savery in Bracebridge St where he worked - they made equipment for the aircraft industry, etc.)

Many years ago my neighbour told me how he worked as a machinist at Dunlop during WW2 making aircraft wheels from magnesium (elektron) and he said you only took a large cut on the lathe once as the swarf would then catch alight and the only way to put it out was a bucket of sand ...... then you have to clean the lathe.

I remember at school they had magnesium tape and set it alight in a jar, made a brilliant light.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Anyone heard from Colin about how things are going for him and any progress on the Vickers? When I saw new activity on this thread I was pretty disappointed it was not Colin posting up a detailed update showcasing his masterful expertise.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Mike K]

Got one of these, it fits into a brass cup . Think its part of a ground setup with a spike but not sure

[Mike Cecil]

No progress update since May last year .... please Colin, where are you up to?

Mike

[George Moore]

I hope all is well, this whole thing has been a major inspiration to me as a model maker. I fact am working on a 1/24 scale model of the VI B.
I do have one question however, the rear number plate appears to be hinged, and there is a tubular bracket of sorts supporting it. Can anybody shed any light on the arrangement please.

George.

[colin jones]

Hi George, email sent with photos

[Little Jo]

Hi Colin

G'day mate, been a long time since we heard from you. I do hope you are going OK. Looking forward to more updates. Covid has slowed a lot of people's projects. Stay Safe.

Cheers

Tony

[George Moore]

Thanks for those. Much appreciated.

George.