Chieftain No. 34

[David Battson]

Hi Charles,
Great work on the baskets, all those turret details are really coming together. I've just found a photo of an early Mk3 with no mesh basket inserts, so I'm very happy to knock them off the to do list. Currently trying to sort out an indoor painting area. Once I can get some colour on to Chieftain, I'll be able to post a bit more progress.
David

[Charles A Stewart]

Evening all.

Hopefully, bin catches and bollards for the Chieftain, please support this campaign, not wanting to sound desperate: lol:

May I proffer this week's (actually2weeks) hacking and bashing: Yes, it's rough, but we are getting there. I present the NBC pack: -

Still some filing to do & a catch to do too.

For info I used M2x10 cap heads, M1.6/BA (?) an option possibly & replaced the AT plate & bolts, but I haven't squared off the inside of inlets.

Bolted to the NBC door by threading the existing hole, M4 and filling.

How's the plate hung on?

Tap(M2) the angles & super glue. At least one of screws though the angle will hold the plate in place, I hope.

Cheers

Take care

Charles

PS Must remember it's a tank, rough is good

[David Battson]

Hi Charles
More nice details coming together there. Didn't understand your 'plate' query , does the attached extract from the official 'User Manual ' help?
David

[John Clarke]

I think it was a rhetorical question David , either way it's very well done and looks very good

[Charles A Stewart]

Evening everybody.

I don't think there is enough Chieftain stuff going on, although I am guilty to a slight Panther bias presently.

It has been so wet up here; I had a daft idea and a lathe: -

Another coat of varnish, a touch of wear & tear and bobs your whatsit. Though if anyone has one a good closeup of the drive band, that would be handy for the next round, (Boom Boom).

Chieftain 34 hasn't run for over a year, it still works . It is the all the smaller components and reasonable detailing that I want to concentrate on over the winter, so there will be snippets here and there, as and when

Take care all and have fun.

Charles

[Vince Cutajar]

Though if anyone has one a good closeup of the drive band, that would be handy for the next round, (Boom Boom).

Is this any help. Third photo down.

viewtopic.php?p=75088#p75088

Vince

[Charles A Stewart]

Hi Vince
Thanks for the link, most useful.

Cheers Charles

[John Clarke]

Explosive stuff Charles, you'll be back.
Panther/(Actually Centurion) best tank from world war2.

[Charles A Stewart]

Hi Folks.

After a fraught 48 hrs. (another story ), a box of goodies arrived for No. 34: -

Once again, many thanks to those who put the effort in for a rerun of these parts.

Cheers Charles

[Mark Heaps]

Though if anyone has one a good closeup of the drive band, that would be handy for the next round, (Boom Boom).
Charles

High explosive rounds HESH ( High Explosive Squaush Head ) and the training round SHPrac did not have a drive band. The copper band was a sealing ring and would have imparted minimal spin to the round.
The kinetic rounds had drive bands so that the rifling in the barrel started them spinning giving them more stability in flight and making them more accurate.
Mark

[Charles A Stewart]

Thanks for the info, Mark, never too late to learn something new, as it is raining again tomorrow, I will rework my ordinance.

Vince (thank you) forwarded a link I had forgotten about from Phil's build, very useful too. I may even have a go at some of the other ammunition.

Cheers Charles

[Stephen White]

High explosive rounds HESH ( High Explosive Squaush Head ) and the training round SHPrac did not have a drive band. The copper band was a sealing ring and would have imparted minimal spin to the round.
The kinetic rounds had drive bands so that the rifling in the barrel started them spinning giving them more stability in flight and making them more accurate.

This is incorrect. All natures of ammunition on Chieftain were spun. One of the reasons the Royal Armoured Corps favoured HESH from a rifled barrel, as opposed to smooth bore and HEAT, was the increased accuracy of a spun round and the dual nature of HESH (H/E and anti-armour).

The only difference between natures was that APDS and Fin had nylon driving bands and a rubberised sealing ring, whereas HESH and Smoke had copper driving bands. The reason APDS and Fin had nylon driving bands (and front centering bands) was to make them frangible to allow the three petals of the sabot to fly off down range.

See the diagrammes from Pam 33, the Armament manual, I posted earlier.

[Charles A Stewart]

Hi All.

Cold & damp, therefore in the house, warmer, beer & snacks handy. As I said previously, I will pass on snippets of progress, so here is the latest.

The tools have been lying around for over a year, at least. Time to have a go: -

First the toolbox, based on one I acquired in the 1980's (the replacements were metal) before they went for "disposal".

We then added Armopax tools,

Any comments about "1943" dated adjustable spanners in the Chieftain tool kit, I will defend this, as I regularly use a 1954 WD spade (£21 years ago, bargain).

Last bit, the tool roll from Armopax will double as the GPMG cleaning tools.

Take care and compliments of the season to all.

Cheers Charles

[David Battson]

Hi Charles
The painting of those tools looks fantastic. I had to blow up the images to look for signs of photo shop trickery. The wood and metal effects are really very convincing.
David

[Charles A Stewart]

Thank you David I appreciate your comments as I do the acknowledgements.

Many thanks all

Charles