Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

[Phil Woollard]

Wicked indeed it's getting bigger. Just the main instrument panel for now.

[Chris glover]

Keep on fettling Phil, Dave's not going to make it easy for you.

Super original stuff going on here.

I was thinking "Pop up Pirate" type animated Driver head like this idiot, push down the head and torso, close the hatch.
But I'm half and half on the detail thing now.

The drivers seat was the only decent position in the tank I could get comfy. Everywhere else just try's to maim you or remove a limb. Tripping hazards everywhere and the chance of ruddy great green lump pulverizing your body into the back of the turret too.
Otherwise all good.

This 5P had a green seat.
PC130499.JPG
PC130446.JPG

Those look like my feet !

[Christoffer Ahlfors]

"Can you spot the little toggle switch for the illuminating led for the drivers compartment"

Ha ha! Smart to make us look for details! There are plenty to find. Very nice and unusual!
Switch on the left hand battery, perhaps?

[John Clarke]

Phil, There's some very good use of Meccano going on here, it's always been a great for constructing sturdy frame works

Did I see an old Haynes model engine in the back ground? surly too big for the Donk..Sorry GUE, any other uses? I got one in the attic, do I need to find it out?

Chris, yes, that's your Tootsie. Not tempted to join the Clan again are you? Or are you still an owner? That was super Cent you had.

[Phil Woollard]

So long as you guys enjoy the progress posts then I'm happy. The meccano brackets are very usefull indeed for are hobby, well if your going to build extra details like I do they are.
Those 1/4 scale engines are way to big but contain many use full parts for me, I think it will be far to big to represent geu.
Some more of the drivers compartment photos be!ow.

[Marcus Kwa]

Whow! This is insane!!
Will you attach projectile racks on the batteries too?

Cheers,

Marcus

[Phil Woollard]

I may do just that Marcus!

[Marcus Kwa]

It would not surprise me if Dave is already planning an ammo load for the chieftain to store in those containers.....

Marcus

[Phil Woollard]

Some colour applied.

[Chris glover]

Phil, There's some very good use of Meccano going on here, it's always been a great for constructing sturdy frame works

Did I see an old Haynes model engine in the back ground? surly too big for the Donk..Sorry GUE, any other uses? I got one in the attic, do I need to find it out?

Chris, yes, that's your Tootsie. Not tempted to join the Clan again are you? Or are you still an owner? That was super Cent you had.

I am very tempted with all this Chieftain building going on . Alas long range shooting and a Landrover Wolf Defender are keeping me busy these days .Thats not to say I may dabble in the future.
That Chieftain we were standing in was stripped down to nuts and bolts last time I heard, it was going to Australia. I think the deal fell through though

Chris

[Stephen White]

'''Made a start on the ordinance containers, what part of the round was stored in these.....charge bags, I suspect it was kinetic rounds?"

The racks in the driver's compartment were for the stowage of 120mm projectiles. We carried various standard bomb loads but the most common options were either to stow 5 HESH on the right side of the driver's compartment and 5 APDS on the left or to stow 10 HESH, 5 a side. This was amended when Fin (APFSDS) came in but for Mk 5 the former was correct. The following extracts from Pamphlet 33, the gunnery bible, give you a flavour:

1. The amount of ammunition carried on Cheiftain is dependent on the mark
and state of modification to the vehicle. There are stowage positions on the
vehicle for:-
Mk2
and3 Mk5
a. Charge containers 36 42
b. Projectiles 53 64
c. Vent tubes - 6 magazines 84 84
d. Boxes of ·50-in RG 6 3
RESTRICTED 239
RESTRICTED
e. Boxes of 7·62-mm MG 30 31
f. Smoke grenades 24 24
g. Anti personnel grenades 6 6
h. Cartridges, signal/illuminating 12 12
j. SMG magazines 14 14
2. The charge containers will accept one APDS charge or two HESH/SMOKE
charges.
3. lt is possible to vary the proportion of rounds stowed on the vehicle. If,
however, more than a certain number of APDS rounds are carried, insufficient
charge containers will be available to match the number of HESH/SMOKE
rounds.
4. The following ammunition loads are recommended:-
&. Mk 2 and 3 vehicles (See Fig 90)-19 APDS, 34 HESH, 30 boxes of7·62-mm,
6 boxes of ·50-in RG.
b. Mk 5 and later vehicles - There are three suggested loads:-
(1) 20 APDS, 44 HESH, 31 boxes of 7·62-mm, 3 boxes of ·50-in RG. This
loading will mean a lack of APDS in the turret, as 10 APDS projectiles
will have to be stowed in the external bin. (See Fig 91 ).
(2) 25 APDS, 34 HESH, 31 boxes of 7·62-mm, 3 boxes of ·50-in RG. This
loading will mean that five APDS projectiles will have to be stowed in
the external bin. (See Fig 92.)
(3) 30 APDS, 24 HESH. 31 boxes of 7·62-mm, 3 boxes of ·50-in RG[/I


The bag charges were stowed in the turret. Note that there were fewer charge containers than the overall number of rounds stowed. This is because two HESH/Smoke bag charges could be stowed in one container.

This is the description of the charge containers:

1. When stowed inside the vehicle, the charges propelling are positioned inside
water jacketed bins which are partitioned with charge containers. Each charge
container is fitted with an individual lid and in the bottom of each container there
is a spring loaded dash pot. In order to prevent rainwater entering the containers,
the charge bin covers must be fitted at all times when the charge bins are not in
use.
2. The liquid in the charge bins is held at a pressure of 7 lb/in by two Schrader
type valves, one allows the liquid pressure to be built up, the other allows a
pressure gauge to be fitted.
3. The purpose of the water jacketed type bin is to minimize the fire risk within
the vehicle. The bins are filled and charged by a hand pressurizing kit.

[Phil Woollard]

Almost done now with making the drivers compartment. Some painting, and some wiring still left to do.

[Phil Woollard]

Thank you Stephen for that comprehensive guide, what are your thoughts or anyone else's for that matter regarding recreating a working turret search light, or as it was infra red should we not bother , I was thinking of a bit of theater and using a very deep red filter ?

[Charles A Stewart]

Hi All

Been mulling this one over as poor/cold weather forces me inside doing the smaller things. RS components;-Stock no 168-3986.

I don't know how bright it would be though.

Recycling option:- Cheap, maybe unreliable, but replaceable, B&Q 1.2 million candle power spot light, 7v!! light module less than an inch(25mm). Can't say anything about its duration, sorry.

I can confirm that once the spots have gone from my eyes.

Any help?

Cheers Charles

PS just had to illuminate track about to be flooded 100mtrs away

[Phil Woollard]

Interesting Charles