Chieftain Prototype Build

[Stephen White]

Thanks Kian, good to know you're making good progress, despite the delays. If (when) you do have the prototype ready for TankFest, how about getting the Museum to have it do a short run beside the real thing? I'm sure we could arrange it if sufficient high vis jackets were worn.

[Armortek]

Cast parts did not arrive on Friday as we had expected - looking like it will be this week though. Unfortunately that very likely does not give us quite enough time to get the parts scheduled for machining and built onto the prototype, so at this stage we are no longer planning to have the prototype at TankFest.

On the bright side - here are some photographs of the commanders cupola that we are just finishing off making. For the first time we will have clear acrylic periscopes on our kits as we continue to push the boundaries.

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[John Clarke]

Another first, acrylic angled periscopes,
With a little work, miniature mirrors, back light and a eye ball transfer.
Imagine
Dusk falls, the night is silent, there's a killer waiting in the shadows, a quiet click from the heavly camouflaged turret, a very slighty eery glow illuminates from the commanders forward periscope.

Two eye balls peer mercilessly into the cold dark damp air, a blink...... then...................

"Target acquired"

"Incorrect font, white boarder"

"Shoot!"

"Target destroyed"

[Armortek]

FINALLY IN ....

In the blue corner and weighing in at 16.95 kg, the prototype Chieftain Turret.
Now for a quick whirl on the 5 axis and then we are all done

Feather weight

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[Phil Woollard]

Now that's a lump! Looks the business too. It's a good job I frequent the gym init?

[Stephen White]

Congratulations Kian, the result of a lot of hard work. It may not be obvious just what a complex shape each of these castings is on the real vehicle, as you discovered when you were measuring up the original. It's a pity not to have had the drawings available earlier but when these parts are set against the drawings, they will be extraordinarily accurate. It will be a unique and very impressive model.

[Phil Woollard]

Thinking outside the box for a moment and considering the logistics of building and indeed owning and running this very impressive model, when we need to lift the turret, and this may be a two man job for some, even now with say the KT we use the barrel and the bustle as lift points. I'm sure you guys have already thought about a very robust gun elevation/depression mechanism because it's sure going to need one? I can't wait to get working on this monster!

Maybe another consideration would be to keep the turret turn motor fixed to the hull and not fixed and so protruding from the bottom of the turret?

[Kevin Hunter]

Parts look great Kian, will you please show them again post machining?

Bearing in mind the turret weight, and as most of us don’t have the luxury of a “Woollard” in our workshops, why not a 1/6 gantry crane.......? Just a thought

[Armortek]

..... why not a 1/6 gantry crane.......? Just a thought

Actually It has been discussed Kevin.
We have no plans at the moment though as there will not be one version that suits all, but we are looking at ways to make handling and building heavy kits easier.

[John Clarke]

The Official HSE lifting technique
Back straight legs bent. Keep the load close to the body for as long as possible while lifting. Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body. If a close approach to the load is not possible, try to slide it towards the body before attempting to lift it. Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways, especially while the back is bent.


Turret looks great

[Kevin Hunter]

Joking aside, I do have a hydraulic engine crane..... hopefully the turret lifting eyes will be up the job?

[Phil Woollard]

These electric workshop winches are not much money and will lift the whole tank if you want it to, just think about the ceiling joist fixing before you commit. Most seem to hang from a 50mm scaffold pole quite happily, and just require a 13amp socket.
I use a slightly larger one to lift the shipping crate containing the tank onto the back of the pickup ready to be transferred to the carriers lorry.

This one is around £60 on the Bay.

[Armortek]

Since we can't really show any progress on the turret yet .. how about the rear deck:

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[Stephen White]

Missing from this stage is the “T Piece” which I guess will bolt onto the decks. Looking quite superb, Kian.

[John Clarke]

WOW