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Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Forum for discussion relating to the Chietain MBT
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Stephen White
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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Stephen White »

Richard, delighted to help. I've sent you some pics by email. All the best. Stephen

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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Been working on the front fittings, I think that I have a solution to make the light clusters look more authentic.
Attachments
Chieftain Mk11 19.jpg
The light cluster cages are nice just weld detail to add to those
The light cluster cages are nice just weld detail to add to those
IMG_19700109_204230_kindlephoto-12540156.jpg
Added the idler casting grease nipple.
Added the idler casting grease nipple.
Just about all the front plate welds are now in place, big fat buggers to. Also replaced the button heads with reduced head bolts.
Just about all the front plate welds are now in place, big fat buggers to. Also replaced the button heads with reduced head bolts.
IMG_19700109_204331_kindlephoto-12656354.jpg
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The kit light cluster bracket is bolted the original was welded, so I have a plan to do away with the bolts and make the bracket look like it is welded.
The kit light cluster bracket is bolted the original was welded, so I have a plan to do away with the bolts and make the bracket look like it is welded.
The leds ready to be fitted.
The leds ready to be fitted.
IMG_19700109_205814_kindlephoto-12772552.jpg
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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Stephen White »

Good progress Phil, cracking on. I guess you'll only put LEDs in the two outer lights? You wouldn't see anything with the naked eye with the IR lights, not that we ever used them, at least not with IR goggles. When the driver's image intensifier sights came in, some drivers used the IR lights but they actually degraded the II picture at short range and it was not popular with other crews.

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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Phil Woollard »

I must confess I was thinking of a bit of theater in having a dull red in the infra red lamp, not correct but would be interesting, now am I right in thinking it was just one lamp or were both the inner pair IR? I can remember the early image intensifier, a very bright light green image, the small arms device site was huge by today's standards and weighed almost as much as the weapon with a huge ni cad in the rear. 8)
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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Mark Heaps »

Either of each pair could be IR, it depended on how the lenses were fitted and the connection to them. You had to remove the IR lenses that obscured the visible light to confirm the bulbs were still servicable in that lamp. The only difference in those light fittings were whether they had a standard or IR lens.
And that two pairs were selectably switchable, one pair for normal and one pair for IR. Swop round the lenses by mistake, or connections to the fittings and you could get other variants.

Occasionally done be enterprising ECE´s to get the desired results. Bugbear to work out later when you took over from them.
Mark

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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by michael hilton »

Hello Phil, I am wiring the M3 Grant head lights. I have sent for a Turnigy Rc on off switch. I will be interested to see how you wire your lights. I'm enjoying your attention to detail, makes my head spin. I do follow the builds, some excellent modelling going on....Mick

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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by John Clarke »

Hi Phil

The component shop do a 2mm wired micro LED in various colours,

The micro LED's should be pretty good for those tiny side and rear lights too.

I'm going to put red LED's in the infra red lamps for a bit of fun :D and may use it as the last switched circuit on a sequential switcher I intend to use.
(It gives seven outputs from one switched channel on the transmitter)

A cree lamp should do for the search light. (Blinding Gov)

I always use warm white for head lights, those blue white lights are just pants on the 1/16 tanks, only just seen the plaggy Chieftain by Haya. nice if you like that sort of thing. Price needs to half though.
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hayametal.jpg
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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Mick I will use a simple rc switcher for the lights, that one John has mentioned sounds good, so come on John spill the beenz?
I bit more done today, things slow down when we are detailing some what. 8)
Attachments
IMG_19700109_210608_kindlephoto-83677349.jpg
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IMG_19700110_204820_kindlephoto-83937225.jpg
IMG_19700110_204836_kindlephoto-83961198.jpg
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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by John Clarke »

Nicely done Phil 8)
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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Phil Woollard »

I was a bit pushed for time yesterday so not many explanations but if anyone has any questions then please fire away. 8)
Attachments
From yesterday's post, the fender bracket detail is a lot of work but well worth the effort.
From yesterday's post, the fender bracket detail is a lot of work but well worth the effort.
From yesterday's post, the wading strip takes some patience to fit but be gentle as it's soft ali and a bit of a bugger!
From yesterday's post, the wading strip takes some patience to fit but be gentle as it's soft ali and a bit of a bugger!
The drivers hatch had a total of four locks if you count the hasp and staple for the pad lock.
The drivers hatch had a total of four locks if you count the hasp and staple for the pad lock.
Using a burr after drilling down a few mm  to form the hatch lock recesses.
Using a burr after drilling down a few mm to form the hatch lock recesses.
My method of adding the extra height required for the hinge.
My method of adding the extra height required for the hinge.
I have raised the hinge to make it more correct.
I have raised the hinge to make it more correct.
The 1/35 hull for excellent reference.
The 1/35 hull for excellent reference.
That's about as far as I have got with the hatch detail today and there's still a long ways to go, the hasp and staple is next.
That's about as far as I have got with the hatch detail today and there's still a long ways to go, the hasp and staple is next.
Last edited by Phil Woollard on Wed Nov 27, 2019 5:27 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Stephen White »

Good work Phil, progress. Sometimes a small detail just doesn't look right and a case in point is the wading rail around the driver's hatch. The Takom kit has it right, whereas the Armortek layout is too smooth a curve. There should be a distinct kink either side, to the rear of which the rail is straight. This pic shows it quite well. If the kit rail is soft, I guess it wouldn't be to difficult to change. Maybectoo late Phil?

Wading rail.jpg

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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Stephen White »

Chieftain Mk11 19.jpg
Just had another look at this one Phil. There are some very non-standard fittings on the glacis and I don't recall those lifting shackles being fitted in service. The bollards on the other hand were a vital bits of kit. How else would you mount your charger with dignity?

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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Thanks Stephen always appreciate your input, the wading rail is not totally fixed as yet so I can nip those sharper bends in either side no probkem. That 1/35 kit is very good reference point and I suggest any serious detailer ought to get one. Are you saying that I could add those hand rails to, as I sure would like to? The 1/35 kit has that long piece along the nose, I would also like to add that ? 8)
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4RTR Johnstone.jpg
4RTR Johnstone.jpg (62.35 KiB) Viewed 1148 times
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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Lots of fiddly time consuming bits and pieces made and fitted today. I'm loving this build but my God there is so much extra detail that you can add, all this might take a year or two for the part time builder but what a great way to spend your spare time.
I would like to add the fv number to just below the hatch but which number do I use, or do I make one up?
Attachments
My method of anchoring the drivers hatch rubbing piece, just form a leg when cutting the profile and simply drill a hole, say m3 and tap it home with a little cyno. The piece is not big enough for a threaded fixing.
My method of anchoring the drivers hatch rubbing piece, just form a leg when cutting the profile and simply drill a hole, say m3 and tap it home with a little cyno. The piece is not big enough for a threaded fixing.
IMG_19700112_154506_kindlephoto-44750768.jpg
The hatch hinge end can now be padlocked!
The hatch hinge end can now be padlocked!
Now the extra armour pieces that are added to the rear of the drivers vision block area are hard to interpret, would anyone have a good photo of that area of a mk5 for us please? That's the long angled additions like a collar around the vision block and protrude at a downward angle.
Now the extra armour pieces that are added to the rear of the drivers vision block area are hard to interpret, would anyone have a good photo of that area of a mk5 for us please? That's the long angled additions like a collar around the vision block and protrude at a downward angle.
IMG_19700112_154549_kindlephoto-44869205.jpg
The front "duck board" made and fitted, seems not all mk 5's had them but ours does now!
The front "duck board" made and fitted, seems not all mk 5's had them but ours does now!
I'm trying to keep it all as neat and tidy as I can for a professional finish, I hope you guys agree!
I'm trying to keep it all as neat and tidy as I can for a professional finish, I hope you guys agree!
I have now formed the correct angle in the wading strip and it really does look so much better.
I have now formed the correct angle in the wading strip and it really does look so much better.
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Re: Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

Post by David Brady »

Looking good Phil, nice and tidy build

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