Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

[Vince Cutajar]

I think I would choose the short one.

Vince

[Mark Heaps]

For anyone looking at replicating the details on their own model, Phil´s gunkit is FVGCE 4 ( ? ). If doing a later version with TOGS or Stillbrew, then you want FVGCE 10, Control Cubicle and PSU with the whee-bolt at the side of it behind the commander´s position. I joined Feb 1985, started trade-training about September that year and was trained to fix FVGCE 10.

Mark

[John Clarke]

I did think long and hard about replicating the fantastic mods Phil's done for about 30 nano seconds.
Computer says noooo.

[Vince Cutajar]

Some more progress.

I think I will be working on the folding stock next. Phil I am assuming that as this thing is going to be stowed somewhere inside the tank than the stock should be folded closed.

Vince

[Phil Woollard]

Yes vince , if the stock is printed separately we can adjust as necessary.

[Vince Cutajar]

OK. In that case it is better to make two type of stocks as it's too small to be functional. One type could be the stock in the folded closed position and the other type could be the stock folded in the open position.

Vince

[Phil Woollard]

Makes sense go for it. I'm printing the grenade box that is bolted to the off side turret basket side this morning.
This is one of my next challenges, the fuel tanks. These need fabricating and fitting before the engine goes in.

[Phil Woollard]

Lots of detailing parts.

[Mark Heaps]

Hi Phil,
Before you go to the trouble of making the fuel tanks, you may wish to check with John Heaps who would be able to confirm whether or not Chieftain had them. Challenger 1 and 2 did not, they were compartments in the rear panniers (the area above the tracks) which held fuel bags. Underneath each compartment was a drain plug, if diesel came out when you undid the drain plug then it was change the fuel bag time. I am not sure whether Chieftain had the same.

Mark

[Phil Woollard]

As I'm busy with other tasks Mark I will wait for John to see the post and hope he replies, many thanks for the advice.

[Vince Cutajar]

All parts of the Sterling have been assembled. It's not a work of art but should be OK considering these will be hidden in the innards of the tank. I am very sceptical that the parts will print properly.

All that remains is the magazine. Still haven't figured out the dimensions of the magazine especially the curve radius.

Vince

[Phil Woollard]

We can give that a go Vince , ref the magazine radius, it would be a big radius maybe 1 mtr

[John-Heaps]

Hi Phil,
Chieftain did not have fuel tanks per say, they were part of the panniers with flexible fuel bags inside bolted in and held in position by clips, each compartment had a bag and these were interlinked with balance pipes to the base tank, the only separate fuel tanks were the base tanks for the main engine and the GUE which were in the main hull, if you want to simulate the fuel pannier area you would need to add a wall along the rear pannier area, best ask someone who can take some photo,s to give a clearer idea if you want a decks open view.

If you did this you will also need to add the pipe work and shut off valves in the inside of the hull, i once had a GUE that would not turn off as normal, by closing the shut off valve from the pannier to the GUE base tank allowed the engine to run on until it ran out of fuel and shut down, then as usual REME to the rescue.

Cheers
John

[Stephen White]

As John says, the fuel bags were wholly enclosed within the panniers and could only be accessed through the oval shaped plates on the engine decks. They were not visible from the engine compartment.

[Phil Woollard]

Thank you gentlemen, so if I made plasticard examples they would sit inside the panniers just fine. Alternatively we could cad the fuel containers and print them out which might work quite nicely? The hull tanks are not possible as we have our motion packs in there.