Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

[Mark Heaps]

Hi Phil,

My job was making sure the BV would work, along with maintaining and fixing the other electrical and electronic systems if time allowed.
Stephen White & John Heaps have more first hand knowledge of mechanical fittings and stowage points. However it looks to me like one of the later stowage points for a Fin round.
And yes, it was a grab handle on the roof. Going cross country on Stab, the breech could have been bouncing up & down like crazy. The loader would not have wanted to get in the swept area and eaten by the turret monster.

Mark

[Stephen White]

Sorry to disappoint but the photo shows a CR1 turret, not Chieftain. The stowage on the turret wall was indeed for a fin round and yes, the grab handle was for the loader to use, although in action he literally had his hands full, with the next proj in one arm and the other hand was used to make the loader's safety switch, the grey object to the left of the turret light. The panel on the left was the control cubicle for the NBC system. The two green boxes are Clansman radio boxes. When I took command of 2RTR, we were deployed on an operational tour with the UN and so I didn't have time to do a CR1 conversion. Almost as soon as we returned, we deployed to the ranges to resurrect our live firing skills. It wasn't a problem, CR1 and Chieftain had so much in common, that you could step from one to the other (in the turret) although it was a different matter for the drivers.

[Phil Woollard]

That dam internet! I did wonder you know as the turret interior front looks very angular! That's one of my better found interior photos, ah well you live and learn. How about these two?

[Mark Heaps]

Photo 1 - Early Chieftain due to early NBC panel control panel
Photo 2 - neglected vehicle due to boxes missing.

Mark

[Steve Ellis]

Is that a Chieftain or Challenger 1 turret interior?

[Mark Heaps]

First photo Chieftain due to the early NBC control panel. Second photo, I can not see anything to positively identify it as CH or CR1.
BATUS in Canada had a CR1 as gate guard and I know for a fact that cables were removed from it to repair a tank out on the prairie. The cable I needed was unavailable in BATUS so the crew of our 24D removed it from the gate guard and got it out to me.
Mark

[Richard Goodwin]

Mark,

Those pics are of the interior of 03 EB 20 who started life as a Mk2 and finished as a Mk10.

[Phil Woollard]

I'm working on the turret wall and roof detail right now, I really need some turret basket detail drawing or photos, anything that would help, even a cluttered photo with a basket brace in the background. Many Thanks guys

[Phil Woollard]

I've made a start on the turret basket, it's tight indeed but it will work. My plan is to bolt the gun elevation to the turret floor, more to follow tomorrow.
I have spoken with the boss and we both agree that for now the interior detail is more important than rc recoil, although manual recoil is and will be functional with the whole gun assembly able to move back and forth. Recoil may be fitted at a later date.
I have a selection of barrel concertina rubbers on their way, they have many more sections so we will see if they first fit, and secondly look any better, ideally I want the sag effect like the real thing.

[Phil Woollard]

Some interesting news, we are contemplating building the magnificent Thornycroft Mighty Antar tractor and trailer to complement Martin's Chieftain! This would be scratch built but using as many Armortek parts as is possible, the wheels and tyres have already been purchased. Not discussed which mk as yet but I would suggest the later example. The all up weight with a chieftain onboard would have been 101 tons! I reckon our model fully loaded could weigh in at around a quarter of a ton, 250kgs ?
Your thoughts gentlemen?

[Stephen White]

You’ll need to replicate the drink crazed MoJo in the driving seat and a crate of Slivovitz on the back seat.

[Kevin Hunter]

Bring it on..... how amazing will that model be?

[Dennis Jones]

Having built the Diamond T and trailer in 1/6th and with the Comet on board, that's nearly a quarter of a ton, I would love to build that one. I would also like to build the Faun in 1/6th but that with trailer comes out at 13ft 6" long and I expect this one to be longer.

Dennis.

[Phil Woollard]

Hi Dennis, your DT is famous for sure. How did you get on with making a strong enough drive train? There are some very nice big scale axle assemblies out there.

[Phil Woollard]

Busy day working on the turret basket, that's about as big a diameter as I can go without hitting all the cubinz underneath, the legs that I can't disguise can be removed as I make and install all the seats, ammo containers,cabinets and the gun mount.