Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

simon_manning · Post by **simon_manning** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:55 pm

I am enjoying the build also, chieftain rules the build roost at the moment, regards simon.

Stephen White · Post by **Stephen White** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 6:03 pm

Phil, I owe you a reply about the photos you posted above. I can safely say I've never seen any of the fittings I've arrowed on this pic. That doesn't necessarily mean they're not of official origin but I'm guessing they're either a trial fit or more likely something which has been added since the vehicle was disposed of.

: Picture 1.jpg (152.65 KiB) Viewed 1879 times

John Clarke · Post by **John Clarke** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 8:57 pm

With all those hand rails present do you think they've applied for a disability grant?

Steve Ellis · Post by **Steve Ellis** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:19 pm

I can defiantly say that none of the vehicles in my regiment where fitted with these, I agree with Stephen that they were probably fitted after disposal.
Anybody who has climbed into the drivers cab with the gun rear will know haw cumbersome it was without all those extra rails in the way.

Phil Woollard · Post by **Phil Woollard** » Sat Nov 30, 2019 4:55 pm

Lots done to the front plate.

Phil Woollard · Post by **Phil Woollard** » Sun Dec 01, 2019 10:10 am

More work done.

John Clarke · Post by **John Clarke** » Sun Dec 01, 2019 11:00 pm

Nice work Phil,
I've notice not all Chieftains had the collar fitted, I've wondered if it was a Mk thing or an add on. And can I ask why there's a hole in the splash board?

Phil Woollard · Post by **Phil Woollard** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 8:39 am

Hi John, I'm loving this build bet you are too ? I will be sad when I have to hand this model over to the boss! That hole in the wash board is to let the water out lol.

John Clarke · Post by **John Clarke** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 8:52 am

Phil it's the model that just keeps giving. There's so much more to look forward too yet. Just wait till we get the motion kit, then there's the turret and Dave Dibbs bits to lust over. and not a Maybach noise to be heard

Shame, I've got to go to work. but the pet shops boys will keep me going as "you are always on my mind"

Stephen White · Post by **Stephen White** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:58 am

John Clarke wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 01, 2019 11:00 pm
I've notice not all Chieftains had the collar fitted, I've wondered if it was a Mk thing or an add on. And can I ask why there's a hole in the splash board?

John, Phil, the Vickers drawing for the Deflector is dated 1969, so the design was available very early on in Chieftain's life. It was introduced after early operational experience. The Chieftain glacis with the reclining driver's position was new and there was no experience of the interaction with deep water. The troop trials revealed, as they were intended to do, that the driver could enjoy a thorough soaking if he was opened up and took a deep puddle too fast. The water flowed up over the glacis and rebounded off the turret down into his cab and his neck. The concern was not so much with the driver's comfort as with the risk that water would impinge on the batteries which were alongside his seat.

I've looked through my Regimental photos and the fitting doesn't seem to relate to any particular mark. This photo is from 1970 and there is no Deflector behind the driver.

It is fitted on this A Sqn tank in Berlin in 1972.

But not on this one in Tidworth in 1983. Mind you, the UK based tanks were always at a lower modification state.

: 4RTR James Younger 1983.jpg (98.07 KiB) Viewed 1618 times

So to answer your question John, the Deflector was not mark specific but was an in-service modification, fitted as and when a tank went through base overhaul.

Phil, I think a mouse must have got at your splash plate, the hole doesn't appear to be very common......

Phil Woollard · Post by **Phil Woollard** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 5:53 pm

These bins are going to take a while but looking like it will be well worth the effort.

I've just ordered a other 200 m2 hex fixings as I'm getting through them like crazy and some smaller more scale piano hinge for the bins.

Mark Heaps · Post by **Mark Heaps** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 7:00 pm

Stephen White wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:58 am
John, Phil, the Vickers drawing for the Deflector is dated 1969, so the design was available very early on in Chieftain's life. It was introduced after early operational experience.

So to answer your question John, the Deflector was not mark specific but was an in-service modification, fitted as and when a tank went through base overhaul.

Hi Stephen,
I do not recall it fitted on any of the Chieftains that we disposed of to get replaced by Challenger 1. It would also serve as a catch plate for any water coming over the bow. The water would first have to pass over it before it could be deflected on the way back down.

Possibly a well-meant in-service modification to deflect rain water coming off the turret front. Very good for the Berlin tanks in an urban environment, I would think, but bad for us going cross-country and fording.

Mark

Stephen White · Post by **Stephen White** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 8:03 pm

Mark,

If you had suffered a drenching from over - enthusiastic use of the right boot going through water you might appreciate the deflector. The Bovington D&M instructors used to encourage young troop leaders on our course to drive hard. Only the very wise had the sense to enter water at a steady pace and keep the bow wave ahead of them. If you hir water hard and then took you foot off, the bow wave progressed up the glacis and divided to flow around the drivers hatch. At that point, you breathed a premature sigh of relief, followed shortly after by the backwash flooding down your back. The deflector took the water moving back down towards the front to either side. Nothing to do with rain water. The deflector was not present on Mark 10 and 11, where the Stillbrew armor replaced it. As a consequence, those marks were vulnerable to driver’s dousings.

Back to Phil’s bins.

Phil Woollard · Post by **Phil Woollard** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 5:42 pm

The two off side front bins now have all the joints soldered. Ignore the brass hinges that are with the kit I have continuous hinges arriving soon. The plan is to have just the piano hinge roll visible, this will require a slither cutting off the lids using my very thin angle grinder blade.