Armortek

Not much progress due to work trips.

Re-located the fuel filler caps according to Ray's photos. Finished the caps with the appropriate part numbers and mounted them, added the locking mechanisms.











Now for the driver's hatch.

Regards

Stephen

Work certainly does get in the way!
Good to see you are still making progress regardless. Fuel caps look great Stephen, can't wait to see the drivers hatch receive your "treatment".
Regards
Kevin

Work travel, the unexpected English summer and an Ashes Test - a conspiracy against tank building. Some progress on the idler assemblies, added a scale collet to the adjustment spigot and castellated the idler shaft retaining nut. Small beer but also preparing the drawings for the external fuel tank, driver's hatches and the one piece idler so some machining action to follow.





Regards

Stephen

Almost too hot to work this weekend but I've made a start on making a one piece idler like the one at the top:



The tank I'm representing for some reason acquired odd idlers. Given the amount of repetitive machining involved, one is enough.

Given the pattern of spokes, the idler will be made in two halves with interlocking hubs. First half underway, blank faced, turned to outside diameter using a custom mandrel for work holding:



Outer rim defined:



First profiling for the spoke webs:



More profiling:



Rear side profiled:



One weekend's work...



Regards.

Stephen

Was this a good idea? Two days on and the feeling that this is one of those jobs where the work will end up flying across the workshop, propelled by one over enthusiastic cut too many.

The real thing was too fragile in service and had to be beefed up. So I'm leaving it oversize for now and will see if I can make it look right whilst keeping some beef in the spokes. I suppose if it cracks, it will be the ultimate realism.....









Regards

Stephen

Hi Stephen
Looks like your mill is a manual one, as mine was when I made a P IV.
I have since retrofitted stepper motors, break out board and old computer to "CNC" it.
Its a steep learning curve but enjoyable. It is interesting writing the programs and "dry running" them. Then sitting or getting on with something else while the part is machined.
The CNC electronics kit cost £260, the computer was free, the CNC software £140, the cost in upgrading the leadscrws with ball screws £200 (all estimates) My labour was free.
All the parts were bought on E Bay.
The only draw back I have is I cannot take large cuts so I am limited to approx .04" deep Cuts in multiple passes.
Graham

Graham thanks. You're absolutely right about CNC but not enough hours in my day to do it. I did fit a power feed for the X axis but the irony is that I haven't been able to use it on this piece.

Finally got the first half to something approaching finished. At least I know it's feasible although it seems a long haul to do the second half. I've had to beef it up a bit compared with the original but that's a compromise worth making for the sake of it working properly. I won't bore out the bearing seats until the second half is fitted.











Regards

Stephen

The other half. It took a lot less time, once the various machining operations become repeatable but I wouldn't want to do second one:























Some finishing still to go but overall, I'm pleased. Now to check the fit on the axle and bore out the bearing seats.

Regards

Stephen

Hi Stephen.


Well done excellent as usual my friend.
Cheers Paul.

Hi Stephen,

Well done! Missed the thread update. Sorry have been totally AFK. 90% unpacked: unfortunately all my tank stuff is in the bubble wrapped 10%.

regards
Fabrice

Nice touch Stephen.

Another excellent, one of a kind build. Always nice to see your work.

kind regards
Tim

Stephen,
Awesome work on the idler! Very ambitious undertaking! You will be glad you did when they are finished tho. Great work!
Best regards,
Bob

Thanks for taking the trouble to comment guys and Tim, we've missed your work on here!

This is the stage where one ambitious cut too many and the whole thing could be ruined. Fortunately, the two halves went to together after a bit of fettling and the bearing seats line up. Breathe out. I had to turn down the flange on the axle a bit in order to get the centre track lined up. Just a couple of small details to add and then the axle caps to do. Started on detailing the idler on the other side, the two piece job which came with the kit.















Regards

Stephen

Bravo

super job steven! the relentless pursuit of perfection, its a mind thing, following this build with a certain amount of envy, regards simon.