Chieftain No. 34

[John Clarke]

Thanks for the offer, but sorry to say Charles if I had one it would be a bin filler, so not required.

Extra tripping hazard on this picture, left of the round thingy.

As for texture paint, when the time comes I'm going to try some car under seal and a texture paint called Real Feel Textured spray paint and see which I like the most.

[Charles A Stewart]

Cheers John.

Nice photo of hatch, if I go mad I could add all sorts, so I am holding at where I am. I can/will add some crew clutter(no disrespect) later.

To save possibly questionable motives of using make up aisles, try spectacle cleaner tops, so much less explaining to the nice ladies in the shop.

Cheers Charles

[andymusgrove]

Charles

Yes thats it coming out through the Tarp Directly above the 1 if you like.

but in the scheme of things different marks/regiments did things differently, not sure if Stephen White could add to this dillema at all?

Best

Andy

[John Clarke]

To be honest Charles when the different Mk's first arrived, I would guess some of the lumps welded to the roof were missing and were only added when new tech simulators or other add on things arrived.
Like all AFV's, changes are made day to day, month to month, if they last long enough year to year. With Chieftain, Decade to Decade.

Another lump, different position. Probably to stop crews getting complacent, keeping them on their toes so to speak.

Chieftain "A rivet counters nightmare"

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[Mark Heaps]

To identify a few of the items
1 is the mounting point for the winky pot ( on this photo the insert or stalk is missing ). Sometimes the wiring was extended from here to mount the winky pot at a different location which is what appears to have been done on Andy Musgrove´s tank.
2 is the Battery Breather Vent Valve
3 was a modification only applicable to tanks fitted with TOGS & is a support bracket for the left hand cage. The TOGS barbette was longer than the searchlight housing which resulted in the cage having to be shorter & losing 2 of it´s previous mounting points.
4 I am not sure of a technical or mechanical reason for this but a cam pole could be slotted into it to lift the camnet off of the turret roof.

The round tube above 1 & 4 appears to be an antenna case

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[Charles A Stewart]

Many thanks gents for the lovey Photos of the loaders hatch and peripherals. Apart from every thing else I would like to to do the latches, a finishing touch to this part of the tank.

Take care and have a good weekend.
Charles

[Charles A Stewart]

good evening.

I thought I would share this weekends efforts, a bit of a compromise as soldering brass to brass was the easier option, for me anyway. However once painted, at a distance

Take care and thanks again everyone for all the info and photos.

Cheers Charles.

PS Holiday booked!! B&B 14 mins., allegedly, from tank museum, (Covid dependent that is).

[Richard Goodwin]

Looks good to me Charles! How do you manage to keep the brass tube still whilst you solder it?

[Mark Heaps]

They do look good !!

[Charles A Stewart]

Hi Richard and Mark.

Thank you

Tin both the tube and the surface(thoroughly sanded & cleaned of course + flux). One fork of a pair of fine tweezers shoved in orifice,(of tube ) balance, apply iron with steady hand (don't know how I manage). It did take a couple of goes as there was reluctance to bond a couple of of the tubes.

This is how I have interpreted the handles for now, given my skill set to date. A future update(typical Chieftain) might go ahead and make a tidier job of the engine covers. I am still learning, it is after all my first Armotek model.

Many thanks for the all info that has got me to where I am.

Cheers Charles

[Richard Goodwin]

Thanks for that Charles, I did wonder I think Phil used a Stanley knife blade or something like that to remove excess solder! Can ypu use standard lead/tin solder on brass and yes, I still have some of the old good stuff?

If you wait a year, you'll see what I have planned for mine

Didn't the PM once say 'we are all in this together'?

[Charles A Stewart]

Evening again Richard.

Yes I did use Phil's advice regarding the reducing of solder, All my bins and fenders are soldered, just don't look inside if you ever get the chance.
Fingers crossed they will hold together.

Charles

[Charles A Stewart]

Evening all.

A bit of a slow weekend, anyway all the engine hatches now fit/operate as they should. A couple of my soldered handles did come adrift during this exercise, but now fettled.

Pottered away on a fuel cap, I don't thing the result is too shabby, handle's a bit wonky, someone must have stood on it . Therefore a plan for the rest of the filled caps .

Acquired a job lot of the Slater letters for £12 from eBay, 1.5mm - 8mm, so I can now go mad should I wish so.

I will be visiting the Tank Museum in early August. I have booked a couple of visits, it would be interesting to meet anyone local connected to the forum, but it isn't compulsory honestly.

Cheers for now Charles.

[John Clarke]

Nice work Charles, skills building, Good to see you changed those funny looking supplied retainers on the inspection covers.
If the cast lettering doesn't turn you stir on Chieftain nothing will

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[Charles A Stewart]

Thanks John, strangely that's the photo I use as reference, blown up of course, thank you as you sent the original in the first place .

Take care Charles