I decided to start getting the crew members ready for the Churchill, I had a bit of luck as a well known seller had just bought a collection and I was able to obtain a Terry Davis figure plus all the kit to dress another figure. Steve McEvoy kindly gave me a figure who will become the mortar loader.
I know the camouflaged coveralls were not widely used, they were however introduced in 1943 and there is some evidence of their use in late 1944 even if it was as a sleeping bag. The main thing is I like the look of them and it adds a talking point.
After a bit of a lull I managed to get the exhaust deck connections completed and profiled. So, apart from cutting the lengths of pipe, that's most of the components ready for assembly. I still need to add the M2 studs and nuts onto the pipe joints, then reprofile the pipes as on the Churchill they are a mix of sizes and the last section of pipe goes down at an angle to the exhaust box. Following Steve McEvoy's advice I have obtained some 10mm clear tubing which I am hoping to insert into the exhaust system from the deck connection to the exhaust outlet. This should give a decent flow of smoke rather than it wafting about and oiling up the deck.
I will be repurposing the exhaust shields supplied with the kit. The legs will be removed and studs/nuts used as per full size. The rear cover is attached to brackets on the sides of the exhaust boxes.
I need to address the way I am going to fit the mudguards, I doubt it will be the full set. The weekend at Cobbaton really highlighted how much grass and straw the tracks pull up and carry onto the track slides. Although I have already reduced the slide height and skimmed the fixing bolts I think I will leave the middle section out of the mudguards.
I have now added most of the M2 studs and nuts to the various flanges. The top ones required to hold the exhaust shields in place will be added once the exhaust system is bolted in place. These need some M2 tube spacers and a two holed plate that supports the shields.
Just one photo to show the studs and how I have positioned the flanges. They are simply held in place with super glue before having the rust texture and effects added.
I have spent the morning getting the alignment with the deck correct before epoxying the parts together, very little leeway to ensure the grommet seals correctly. Now cutting the pipes to the correct lengths so it's starting to look like an exhaust system.
I have epoxied the first pipe and flanges in place having finally got the connection aligned and working correctly. Pleased with it so far but it did require a bit of reprofiling where the smoke pipe runs under the deck. This allows me to remove the deck with the smoke pipes disconnecting once the nuts are removed on the front bosses. I will get the studs level with the top of the nuts so they look more like bolt fixings. I can now start on the rear pipes and exhaust boxes which should be a lot quicker to complete.
A quick update on the exhaust systems. I have completed the exhaust boxes after making some end caps. I have also run a small bore aluminium tube from the front 90 degree bend to the exhaust box. This adds rigidity and should give a better smoke plume. Both sides are now firmly epoxied together making one piece per side, this makes removal much easier and will allow the rust effects and painting to be done in one go.
Next step is to make new shields as the kit ones are slightly to narrow for the mods I have made.
There hasn't been a lot of progress on the Churchill as I used the good weather to start priming the Bailey bridge. I have also injured my shoulder so having to be careful with certain movements. I bought a Welbike kit some time ago that will be placed on the Churchill keeping up the theme in the same way I have a bicycle on the side of my Tiger. Not sure a Harley or Indian would look right on the Pershing though .
Anyway as light duties are required I decided to build the Welbike and here is the result. I will try various positions on the Churchill until it looks right.
Regards
Gary
Honest, it just fell from the sky!
Needs some ageing and scuffs adding to the paintwork.
Hi Gary
Great work on the bike please post more on it.
It will look great alongside the Churchill.
Have a good one.
Kind regards
Steve
Cheers Steve.
I have started adding the paint effects now all the cables have been finished. The cables were black heat shrink tubing with some sections having a piece of wire inserted to stop it kinking. The spark plug cap was made from thin walled aluminium tubing with a small hole drilled at the end to allow the 90 degree bend. I had to drill holes where the cable needed to attach to the bike and use Araldite as superglue/plastic cement doesn't work on heat shrink. I will add a photo once it is finished and I find a place on the tank for it to stay.
Just a couple of photos of the completed Welbike that is going on my Churchill AVRE.
You can get an idea of its small size from the turret and hatches.
Now the Welbike is done I am going to get the exhaust system completed. There are some small brackets I need to make that will attach to the exhaust boxes and hold the shield in place. It doesn't appear they hold the boxes in place with the deck as I can't see any associated deck brackets /fittings in any of my Mk3 AVRE photos. As the manifolds are bolted to the deck and the sections of exhaust are bolted together I suspect there was enough weight for the boxes to just sit on the deck. I have added four shaped supports for the boxes to sit on, I think I saw this on a photo but seem to have mislaid it since.
There are quite a few different versions of mid deck fittings and fixtures on the Mk3, Mk4 and Mk5 and I am sure during the upgrade to an AVRE a mix of ideas and fitting could have been adopted so I am going with the system I have the most photos of and that I have had a chance to check out at the Tank Museum.
Most of the system has had Mr Surfacer added to give it a rougher texture ready for the rust effects. I am using red oxide primer as a base but have left the boxes in etch primer as I will need to either cut slots or drill holes depending on how I decide to attach the brackets which need to be functional.
Regards
Gary
One of four brackets, they are staggered with one on the front and one on the rear of each box.
Mk 3 AVRE exhaust system 2 close up.jpg (46.63 KiB) Viewed 130 times
