Chieftain No 26 By Andy Musgrove

[andymusgrove]

Hi guys

Well this is my build - first time showing my work so please be gentle. .

Now please don’t expect miracles as I don’t get a lot of time to build. So this will be slow but there’s no rush.

So I am building a Mark 5 from my time in the Blues & Royals Which I joined in Germany on 17th Sept 1979.
My tank was call sign 14. And I was the troop leaders gunner.
I’m still searching for the registration mark for 14 however as I have no photos showing the elusive number...

So onto the build. I’ll show photos of what I’ve been up to.

It seems for every time I’ve put something together I’ve taken it apart twice . To modify or adjust something or other.

[andymusgrove]

[Vince Cutajar]

Pulling up a chair and some popcorn.

Vince

[andymusgrove]

Ok so first problem the 2nd photo is is upside down - if you open it it opens the right way up but how do i get it to show the right way up... ?

[andymusgrove]

Nice to have you aboard Vince - you'll see some of your handy work soon

[Richard Goodwin]

Nice to have you onboard Andy.

Try opening it up in Paint and see what it looks like; you can rotate it in that app if needs be as well as resize it to reduce its overall size. I normally reduce mine down to 25% of the original and that brings the picture down from Mbits to kBits.

[andymusgrove]

Thanks Richard I’ll give it a try.

[andymusgrove]

Clean up ans first test assemble of the hull.

Had to straighten the hull sides as they were a bit like a banana..

but the basic fit looked ok

Then degreased and sanded down and trial bolt together.

[andymusgrove]

[andymusgrove]

Hull Etched, Primed and Assembled - loosely
Final Drive housings Etched and Primed.

[Kevin Hunter]

Great to see you getting started Andy. Doubt I’ll be able to start mine until next year but there will eventually be two RHG/D Chieftains out there.

I haven’t come across your registration yet either, but I still have a mental note to check any photos I come across. Meanwhile I’ll be watching your build with great interest.

Kevin

[andymusgrove]

Hi Kevin

Thanks for the message - i started some while ago but have been very slow and thought it would not give much interest until i have something to show - I have more photos to add and ill try to get some more up tonight, its starting to get interesting....

I dont know how youre holding off starting yours but ill look out for it to pop up but it will be good to get them together at some stage....

Cheers

Andy

[Kevin Hunter]

I have some other part builds in progress. She who must be obeyed has put her foot down and forbidden me starting the Chieftain until the other stuff is sorted.

[andymusgrove]

Ok some more progress photos
Ok so i took the plung and cut the back off my tank - but completely forgot to take any progess photos of this bit - but take it from me 1/2 a days work lots of cutting filling and drilling involved and its still not finished..... the new rear plate is bolted in and i an waiting to see if i can get a friend to weld the inside... ill let you know if that happens or it gets bolted down - watch this space. also shown is an unfinished Hull inspection hatch. i made it too thick and need to get it bacl on the mill to thin it down a little.

Rear Mod.jpg (86.84 KiB) Viewed 4483 times

[andymusgrove]

More pics of the too thick access hatch.

The outer frame was made from 5mm Ally plate and the loose hatch made from 2mm Plate.