Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Forum for discussion relating to the Centurion
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Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Just lots of machining photos I'm afraid.
Attachments
Threading by hand with a machine!
Threading by hand with a machine!
Test fit without the locating add on piece
Test fit without the locating add on piece
IMG_20230406_144948.jpg
The add on
The add on
IMG_20230406_150005.jpg
IMG_20230406_150206.jpg
IMG_20230406_151019.jpg
Partially parting off the add on
Partially parting off the add on
IMG_20230406_155359.jpg
Centering the work piece
Centering the work piece
Cutting the leveling bolt location slots
Cutting the leveling bolt location slots
Turning the locating spigot
Turning the locating spigot
Truing the add on piece
Truing the add on piece
If you want a perfectly true thread this is the only way, just make sure the tail stock is not locked and so can travel with the thread
If you want a perfectly true thread this is the only way, just make sure the tail stock is not locked and so can travel with the thread
IMG_20230406_165653.jpg
It all fits nicely
It all fits nicely
I have to go for this standard of detail as Mr Dawe is very fastidious lol
I have to go for this standard of detail as Mr Dawe is very fastidious lol
On to the main body detailing of which there's lots
On to the main body detailing of which there's lots
Mechanical engineer.
2 Youtube channels, Phil Woollard and Magpiespyro. Facebook/ Phil Woollard.
Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Phil Dawe
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Dawe »

Worth waiting for! All we need are the clips to hold the front in place. 8)

Kevin Hunter
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Kevin Hunter »

Outstanding work Phil,

As always, thanks for taking the time to show and explain your work in progress. Watching that huge lump of aluminum gradually being transformed into the searchlight has been……illuminating? :D

Kevin

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Thanks Kevin, the body is in fact a little too long right now but I'm reluctant to trim it back untill we are certain as to the thickness of the glass lens that we are going to use.
There's still away to go yet.
Mechanical engineer.
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Oliver Brüninghaus
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Oliver Brüninghaus »

He blinded me with ... ... his turning skills
It's Grim Up North

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Thanks Oliver you make me blush lol. We have now decided on 1 mm lens glass so the main body has now been irreparably sliced.
Attachments
A searchlight with a Centurion bolted to it!
A searchlight with a Centurion bolted to it!
9953b9db95b8760aa7eca00c8cb0fdd0.jpg (52.71 KiB) Viewed 1063 times
This is sketchy so tiny cuts are needed
This is sketchy so tiny cuts are needed
IMG_20230407_152017.jpg
1 mm glass fitted and greasy
1 mm glass fitted and greasy
That's now to length
That's now to length
IMG_20230407_153133.jpg
Easy maths
Easy maths
I shall use the power socket and socket cap holder as Reference points
I shall use the power socket and socket cap holder as Reference points
The material I'm going to use for the rear stiffening pieces
The material I'm going to use for the rear stiffening pieces
The U channel needs milling down lots
The U channel needs milling down lots
Mechanical engineer.
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Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Phil Dawe
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Dawe »

Lovely Jubbly! :D

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

The searchlight detail starts now.
Attachments
IMG_20230412_141521.jpg
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This work is almost like watch making
This work is almost like watch making
The fit must be as near to perfection as possible, the rivets we are using have a head size of 1. 3 mm
The fit must be as near to perfection as possible, the rivets we are using have a head size of 1. 3 mm
Handles cut and bent up ready
Handles cut and bent up ready
I've just tacked the handles in place to check the fit and look
I've just tacked the handles in place to check the fit and look
IMG_20230412_162658.jpg
Mechanical engineer.
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Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Gary Richardson
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Gary Richardson »

Hi Phil

That is a brilliant bit of machining on the searchlight. Top notch.

Regards
Gary
2021 Late Tiger 1 Abteilung 301 (Funklenk), 2022 Churchill Mk3 AVRE, 2x Czech Hedgehogs, 2024 Triple span Bailey Bridge, M26 Pershing, 17 Pounder and Limber.

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

More watch making but we are getting there, we are referring to the piece as " the 1K searchlight" and that's not a reference to weight!
Attachments
I've only broke one 1 mm drill bit.
I've only broke one 1 mm drill bit.
IMG_20230414_143719.jpg
All keyed ready for paint.
All keyed ready for paint.
A bit of grey primer to check the finish.
A bit of grey primer to check the finish.
IMG_20230414_155341.jpg
IMG_20230414_155347.jpg
IMG_20230414_170705.jpg
Mechanical engineer.
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Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Damon Resch
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Damon Resch »

Such a pleasure to see the skill and craftsmanship you bring to your builds, Phil. Thank you for sharing your work, a true Masters Class on so many levels.

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

This level of detail is ridiculous.
Attachments
Air brush parts are great
Air brush parts are great
Very fiddly work, about as tiny as I'm comfortable with
Very fiddly work, about as tiny as I'm comfortable with
A waste , not really as this donor kit saves lots of machine time
A waste , not really as this donor kit saves lots of machine time
Air brush brass parts are just the job
Air brush brass parts are just the job
The pin becomes the center contact
The pin becomes the center contact
That's 1 mm brass tube
That's 1 mm brass tube
IMG_20230418_155444.jpg
Using the air brush fitting
Using the air brush fitting
This will be the socket blanking cap holder
This will be the socket blanking cap holder
IMG_20230418_165946.jpg
And it's all functinal
And it's all functinal
I'm relying on the earth through the outer socket cap, now to the bulb and it's wiring.
I'm relying on the earth through the outer socket cap, now to the bulb and it's wiring.
Mechanical engineer.
2 Youtube channels, Phil Woollard and Magpiespyro. Facebook/ Phil Woollard.
Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

After much farting around.....we have light. As I can't be bothered wrestling with the predictive text tonight use your imagination :D
Attachments
They say a picture says a thousand words.
They say a picture says a thousand words.
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I must remember to fit the little pcb, I guess the pcb is for over voltage protection?
I must remember to fit the little pcb, I guess the pcb is for over voltage protection?
I think the searchlight will have its own switched power supply
I think the searchlight will have its own switched power supply
Mechanical engineer.
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Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Vince Cutajar
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Vince Cutajar »

I'm a bit lost Phil.
What's being used in the searchlight? LED or bulb?

Vince

Phil Dawe
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Dawe »

That bulb looks the part Phil. It would be a shame to put an IR filter in front of it 8)

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