VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

Hello one and all, it certainly has been a fair time between drinks. I had to side step the Vickers for a while as I had a couple of jobs for people I had to do but I have managed to find just a little bit of time to fit the traversing gearbox. It required a lot of climb in, check, clime out type of fitting but it is done and it works an absolute treat. I can't believe just how easy and smooth it turns with zero binding. I still need to remove it and get the die grinder in and clean it up a bit. I will spend a bit of time on the engine tomorrow for preparation of installation. I still have more external jobs to do so I will have to squeeze in the Vickers when ever I can. I do suffer from Vickers withdrawals if I leave it too long.

[lynx42]

Strewth, Colin, 76 days you kept us all hanging out for an update, that is far too long. We are pleased to see that you do actually do other jobs as well. Keep up the excellent work.

Cheers Rick.

[Little Jo]

Hi Colin

I was getting a bit worries and about to send out a search party with the sniffer dogs to find you. I was getting withdrawal symptoms and had to take a Bex and a lie down. But now the sun is shining again and colin is back. .
Cheers Mate.

Tony

[colin jones]

Joe, you better get the bex powder checkout first as it could be something else . You can't be too careful these days. Rick, the odd outside job certainly helps with the dollars for this hobby as we all know.
Anyway, I separated the trans from the engine and found that the thrust bearing was jammed against the back of the input shaft shoulder so it needs to be machined off about 8-10mm or so. I never realized that as I was putting it together. I just thought it was a nice tight fit. I need a new one now as I broke the old one as I was trying to press the old bearing off. Not a bad thing really as a new bearing should have been on the cards anyway.

[colin jones]

I had to get another clutch as the other one I had was wrong. It required extensive modification.

[colin jones]

Nothing is simple when mismatching components and they just have to work.

[colin jones]

I had to get a new clutch, pressure plate, get the flywheel faced and drilled to suit the new pressure plate. Machine a surface on the bearing retainer plate on the front of the gear box. make a new thrust bearing holder and input shaft cover. Modify the old yoke to fit the new thrust bearing holder. It is now a complete new clutch system ready to be put together. There's a new road at every corner.

[Mike Cecil]

69 days .....

Another week and you'll be exceeding your own record of 76 days without a post.

We are all anxious, Colin, to see your progress.

Mike

[Dave lean]

Hi Mike, he's been up to his arse in crocodiles lately (and not the armoured kind). No doubt he'll reply when he has a second to himself....

[Mike Cecil]

Understood: I'll just have to be more patient.

Mike

[Ganmain Tony]

Colin...

I hope you haven't been eaten by a Crocodile!!

Whats the latest? Anything!! Just one post!!

[Chris Abraham]

I have been following the 37 pages so far of this very informative restoration and rebuild, truly amazing. When you do get back Colin after a well earned rest and fighting off the crocodiles, i would be very interested to what type of CNC plasma cutter set up you have, as it performs cuts like i have never expected from a plasma cutter, it performs just like a water jet cutter, very impressed.

[colin jones]

Hello everyone, as we are still sort of on lockdown and the job I still have is on hold I thought it is a good time to get back to the Vickers. I can't believe how fast time has gone. I had a workshop move around and tidy up and here is where I am at the moment. The engine and trans is in, exhaust made and fitted and I now need to concentrate on the final drives.

[colin jones]

I'll try again after I resized the gallery.

[colin jones]

OK so the problem was the photos were too big and for some reason it up ended them Anyway I will have to remember that. The Chev engine is in and it is a very, very close fit but that's OK as long as it is in. I custom made the exhaust and that too is fitted. I have to do some linkage and final drive completion which will take a while.

Chris, to answer your question about my CNC Plasma cutter. I am running a Hypertherm 85 and it does the job for me but is a far cry compared to a water jet.
Speed, air pressure and amps per cut is something that needs to be played with to get good results and of course clean tips. I also have a air dryer above my compressor and run it for at least 10-15 mins before I cut anything as water in the air is a definite no no.
Colin.

[Chris Abraham]

Thanks Colin, glad you are back, been waiting on the latest on this amazing project.

[charlie fitton]

Who'd have thought that there was a good side to the Corona virus?

[Little Jo]

Hi Colin

Thank you so much for again updating your excellent work on the Vickers Light Tanks again. I feel as if I have been starved for some time and I look forward to again reading and seeing the photos of your progress on your restoration project. My readers will be thrilled. Stay Safe.

Cheers Mate

Tony

[BradB]

Great to see the updates! I'll admit that since things went quiet in here, and after the fires we all heard about in AUS, I was concerned for you.

Glad that things are moving along! Your project is impressive.

Brad

[Jordan Baker]

Found these two photos from eBay.

[Lynn Eades]

Thanks Jordan. Now I know where they put the spade on a Vickers Light Tank
Nice shot of the "D" set aerial mount.

[Neil Ashley]

Presumably Gas Dectector Paint in the Aeriel Base.

[David Herbert]

Gas detector paint was supposed to be applied to a near horizontal area to make it less visible from ground level. Also the aerial is behind the cupola so not exactly in the commander's normal line of sight.

On the other hand I can't think of a better suggestion than that it was a recognition marking of some kind which does not seem very convincing.

David

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Neil Ashley

Presumably Gas Dectector Paint in the Aeriel Base.

I think the aerial base just has a standard rain shield fitted - these were natural rubber and I've seen the mounting spacers for Aerial Base No.8 (the WS19 one) in black, brown and white rubber (not to mention Canadian plywood and post-WW2 seam-welded steel from two dishes).

The rain shield could be white rubber, or more likely red/light brown.

Chris.

[Mike Cecil]

There is what looks like the barrel of a Mk.1 BREN sticking up out of the turret .... how does the hatch close??


Mike

[Lynn Eades]

I assume these are two shots are of two different tanks. I can't pick up on any camo paint on the left one.

Chris S., I have the full mount for the early U.C. with the brass gear type base pulled down into place by the big spring. This has a 7/8" bore and so receives directly the "D" set aerial section.
I also have two other bases. One is brown rubber which Im guessing is the ground mount (and should have a ground spike bonded into it?) It has the same sized 7/8" bore.
Lastly, I have another in fibre. This has obviously fitted into a receiver of some sort with 3 screw holes around the bottom at 120 degrees, and a stepped smaller dia. at the very bottom. This one has a smaller 5/8" receiver hole for the aerial mast. I assume this takes an adapter for an even smaller dia. aerial?
Can you educate me on the latter two please? I don't think any of them are the exact same as the one shown on the VLT above. There is one on the VLT at the tank museum (Bovington)

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

There is what looks like the barrel of a Mk.1 BREN sticking up out of the turret .... how does the hatch close??


Mike

I assume they have to stow the Bren properly first - the butt is probably resting on a seat or something.



Chris.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I assume these are two shots are of two different tanks. I can't pick up on any camo paint on the left one.

Chris S., I have the full mount for the early U.C. with the brass gear type base pulled down into place by the big spring. This has a 7/8" bore and so receives directly the "D" set aerial section.
I also have two other bases. One is brown rubber which Im guessing is the ground mount (and should have a ground spike bonded into it?) It has the same sized 7/8" bore.
Lastly, I have another in fibre. This has obviously fitted into a receiver of some sort with 3 screw holes around the bottom at 120 degrees, and a stepped smaller dia. at the very bottom. This one has a smaller 5/8" receiver hole for the aerial mast. I assume this takes an adapter for an even smaller dia. aerial?
Can you educate me on the latter two please? I don't think any of them are the exact same as the one shown on the VLT above. There is one on the VLT at the tank museum (Bovington)

OK, I'll have a go. <FX: puts research hat on>

The third picture (UC aerial and mount) is the final version of ZA.7833 Aerial Base No.1, described in the 1940 VAOS as: "Ebonite insulator; fitted with brass clamp and guide for aerial lead; mounted in magnesium alloy socket (toothed) fitted with M.S. chain; and 1 magnesium alloy ring (toothed); approx 7.3/4-in x 5.1/2-in x 5.1/2-in., overall; used on vehicles fitted with Masts, duralumin. Price (each) £1 12s. 0d.

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For Wireless Sets, No.1 the following bases are listed:

ZA.7540 Aerial Bases Mk.1 - Ebonite with brass socket and shield
ZA.7544 " Shields - rubber disc 6-in diameter x 1/8-in. thick. £0 0s. 4d.
ZA.7548 " Mk.I* - Ebonite, 4-in. dia., fitted with brass clamp and magnesium alloy socket. £0 17s. 0d.
ZA.7552 " " Spikes - M.S., 12-in. long x 1/2-in. dia., with flange and footplate welded on. £0 2s. 10d.
ZA.7560 " Mk.II Comprising G.M. serrated base; bracket; leaf spring and chain; and Wireless Set No.1, aerial base Mk.I or Mk.I*
ZA.7564 " Mk.III Comprising 2 toothed rings, 1 upper and 1 lower; 1 helical spring; and Wireless Set, No.1, aerial base Mk.I or Mk.I*

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W.S. No.1 Complete Station lists:

No.1A (For use on the ground.) Aerial Base Mk.I or I* plus Spike.
No.1B (For use in Trucks, 8-cwt., 4-wheeled, wireless.) Aerial Base Mk.I or I* plus Spike, and Aerial Base Mk.III
No.1C (For use in light tank.) Aerial Base Mk.II

Mast sections: 5 each for ground and light tank, 10 for truck station.
Mast spokes: 5 each for ground and truck stations.
Mast clamps: 2 for truck station
Spoke clamps: 1 each for ground and truck stations.

Masts, duralumin were 7/8-in diameter and fitted Insulators, W.T. 'B'. They were made in 3-ft, 4-ft and 6-ft sections and superseded the 5/8-in 'electron' mast sections originally used with Wireless Set No.1 - I assume the aerial bases were modified to take 7/8-in sections at that point, or (more likely) Aerial Base Mks I - III were declared obsolete and replaced by Aerial Base No.1 for the Wireless Set No.11. (Along with Masts, Duralumin being replaced by Aerial Rods 'D' in copper-plated steel as an economy measure.)

The 34-ft Steel Vertical Aerial was a redesign of the Mast, Duralumin, considerably simplified for mass production - the stays were assembled with wire split-rings instead of 'S' hooks and 'D' shackles at the top and stamped metal stay-tighteners instead of the earlier wooden type at the bottom end.

'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.

[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!)