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 »

Lots more done and lots more underway.
Attachments
Squaring brackets required for the rear reflectors
Squaring brackets required for the rear reflectors
IMG_20221128_141530.jpg
I just as well make and fit the mud flap retaining strip while I'm here.
I just as well make and fit the mud flap retaining strip while I'm here.
IMG_20221128_152224.jpg
I'm not really keen on using brass but needs must, the reason.......when it "chips" it looks too shiny unlike steel.
I'm not really keen on using brass but needs must, the reason.......when it "chips" it looks too shiny unlike steel.
IMG_20221128_155643.jpg
Primmer
Primmer
I know I keep saying it but 12ba is plenty small enough to work with
I know I keep saying it but 12ba is plenty small enough to work with
All ready for the mud flaps, if we fit them that is
All ready for the mud flaps, if we fit them that is
IMG_20221128_163202.jpg
Best get this set out, bent up, drilled and tapped
Best get this set out, bent up, drilled and tapped
Mechanical engineer.
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Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Working on the mantlet and the turret mantlet mount
Attachments
The first set of steel strips made and drilled
The first set of steel strips made and drilled
Ummm
Ummm
IMG_20221129_152934.jpg
These are the profiles I'm after
These are the profiles I'm after
MantletCU.jpg (41.25 KiB) Viewed 2941 times
I see some builders have glossed over this work either not addressing it or not showing their workings.
I see some builders have glossed over this work either not addressing it or not showing their workings.
Lots of filler required here , more than one coat needed until it's right,
Lots of filler required here , more than one coat needed until it's right,
IMG_20221129_163506.jpg
Some rubbing down and another layer applied until it's right
Some rubbing down and another layer applied until it's right
Mechanical engineer.
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Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

A good finger drilling afternoon's work
Attachments
That 1/35 turret is a God send
That 1/35 turret is a God send
I managed to find a supplier of the strip steel on the interweb which was most convenient
I managed to find a supplier of the strip steel on the interweb which was most convenient
Nice reference photo
Nice reference photo
Filing a flat for the strip steel to sit on
Filing a flat for the strip steel to sit on
IMG_20221130_140537.jpg
The steel bends beautifully when cherry red
The steel bends beautifully when cherry red
Heat up bend and fit
Heat up bend and fit
Following the lines
Following the lines
Drill, peg and drill again
Drill, peg and drill again
IMG_20221130_164116.jpg
Not to much filler needed in this area
Not to much filler needed in this area
IMG_20221130_164749.jpg
All ready for another stab tomorrow
All ready for another stab tomorrow
Mechanical engineer.
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Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Finished the weather cover strip for now, the strikes are now becoming a pain in the arse as we are waiting for parts and tools to arrive.
Attachments
The mantlet work looks ok to me
The mantlet work looks ok to me
IMG_20221201_164310.jpg
IMG_20221201_164316.jpg
IMG_20221201_164322.jpg
I did start by using brass for the IR lamp bracket but it warped as usual
I did start by using brass for the IR lamp bracket but it warped as usual
IMG_20221202_145627.jpg
Ready for the IR  lamp bracket
Ready for the IR lamp bracket
I'm always silver soldering something
I'm always silver soldering something
I'm scaling from the 1/35 model and it requires only minor tweaks
I'm scaling from the 1/35 model and it requires only minor tweaks
Cutting the IR lamp bracket support end
Cutting the IR lamp bracket support end
IMG_20221202_160906.jpg
It's a big lump of steel
It's a big lump of steel
There's lots of milling required with this piece, I did notice that the IR lamp arm is tapered in depth being shorter on the right than the left ( as you look at the vehicle from the front) this I believe would have shed any rain water away from the canvas opening.
There's lots of milling required with this piece, I did notice that the IR lamp arm is tapered in depth being shorter on the right than the left ( as you look at the vehicle from the front) this I believe would have shed any rain water away from the canvas opening.
Mechanical engineer.
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Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Working on the IR lamp bracket and associated, I just as well get this all built while I'm here
Attachments
Set up if a bit sketch
Set up if a bit sketch
Milling the second taper
Milling the second taper
Milling the squares
Milling the squares
Adding extra steel to get the correct size at the lamp end
Adding extra steel to get the correct size at the lamp end
IMG_20221206_154131.jpg
Milling the mounting block
Milling the mounting block
Mounting block in place
Mounting block in place
IMG_20221206_162340.jpg
Cutting out the various bracket parts of which there are many
Cutting out the various bracket parts of which there are many
The lower bracket sits on top of the mantlet arm
The lower bracket sits on top of the mantlet arm
This is where the lamp bracket sits
This is where the lamp bracket sits
I shall cut a 2mm slot to take the upright bracket prior to silver soldering, I can then mill the bracket profile
I shall cut a 2mm slot to take the upright bracket prior to silver soldering, I can then mill the bracket profile
Mechanical engineer.
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Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

That IR lamp bracket is nearly done.
Attachments
Milling out the gusset footprint
Milling out the gusset footprint
All silver soldered so it's very strong indeed, 72 tons/square inch strong!
All silver soldered so it's very strong indeed, 72 tons/square inch strong!
There's a surprising amount of detail in this piece
There's a surprising amount of detail in this piece
IMG_20221207_144651.jpg
The lamp housing spigot thing
The lamp housing spigot thing
Swivel bolt slots x2
Swivel bolt slots x2
IMG_20221207_161758.jpg
A coat of grey primer will show up any imperfections
A coat of grey primer will show up any imperfections
IMG_20221207_161834.jpg
Those set bolts are used to line up the lamp with the weapons
Those set bolts are used to line up the lamp with the weapons
Mechanical engineer.
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Oliver Brüninghaus
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Oliver Brüninghaus »

It is always a pleasure to see the rapid progress.
The weather cover strip is superbly done and well worth the effort.
It's Grim Up North

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Thanks Oliver, I have now finished the IR lamp bracket and I've ordered the aluminum bar so I can turn the lamp it's self, it is just about as big as I can handle on my lathe .
Attachments
The tiny hinge parts turned ready for a little milling slot to hold the m3 thread whilst I solder it
The tiny hinge parts turned ready for a little milling slot to hold the m3 thread whilst I solder it
Very tricky silver soldering these tiny parts
Very tricky silver soldering these tiny parts
Hinge bolt in place and tight ready for the back piece
Hinge bolt in place and tight ready for the back piece
22 gauge for the back of the hinge, the four fingers you can see sticking up are ready to be bent around the hinge bolts pivots .
22 gauge for the back of the hinge, the four fingers you can see sticking up are ready to be bent around the hinge bolts pivots .
Difficult to see the work piece
Difficult to see the work piece
22 gauge can be simply bent around the hinge bolts once bolted in situ, this forms the female part of the hinge
22 gauge can be simply bent around the hinge bolts once bolted in situ, this forms the female part of the hinge
Turning the bolt end stops
Turning the bolt end stops
IMG_20221208_155324.jpg
The captive hinge bolts have been 100% successful
The captive hinge bolts have been 100% successful
Last edited by Phil Woollard on Sat Dec 10, 2022 3:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Phil Dawe
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Dawe »

Those bolts are superb Phil, well worth the time and effort!

David Battson
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by David Battson »

Hi Phil,
Lovely fabrication work on the bracket. It's great to see these parts being made up in steel and operational as well.
David

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

The aluminum for the IR lamp body turned up today, who needs the Royal Mail.
Attachments
IMG_20221209_132115.jpg
As I said it's about as much as my lathe can handle.
As I said it's about as much as my lathe can handle.
First job is to turn the end sections that hold the glass.
First job is to turn the end sections that hold the glass.
IMG_20221209_152854.jpg
IMG_20221209_154040.jpg
Once bored out with a step to hold the glass on the ID and the outer ribs formed it can be parted off
Once bored out with a step to hold the glass on the ID and the outer ribs formed it can be parted off
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Kevin Hunter
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Kevin Hunter »

Have been looking forward to seeing how you planned on tackling the IR spotlight. Thought you might go the 3d printed route, a la Stephen White.
Watching with great interest.
Kevin

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Kevin I can't believe how big the lamp is, I'm not keen on the thing myself.
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Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Whilst we are waiting for dimensional information from the tank museum regarding the IR lamp sizes I shall get on with the loaders hatch work.
Attachments
This arrived recently, how can the Chinese do it so cheaply , and it's not half bad!
This arrived recently, how can the Chinese do it so cheaply , and it's not half bad!
IMG_20221215_142414.jpg
I'm not really looking forward to this work.
I'm not really looking forward to this work.
Remember the rear hatch will in no way open correctly as it crashes into the cupola!
Remember the rear hatch will in no way open correctly as it crashes into the cupola!
Patterns
Patterns
The most convenient way to cut the parts from the plate
The most convenient way to cut the parts from the plate
Tidying the roughing
Tidying the roughing
Still roughing at this stage but squaring off at the same time
Still roughing at this stage but squaring off at the same time
Tongues
Tongues
IMG_20221215_161258.jpg
A tip, you can use a centre drill as a milling cutter for those tiny slots that tend to break the standard 2.5mm slot drills
A tip, you can use a centre drill as a milling cutter for those tiny slots that tend to break the standard 2.5mm slot drills
IMG_20221215_164130.jpg
Milling the tongues down untill the fit is perfect
Milling the tongues down untill the fit is perfect
Mechanical engineer.
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Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

Phil Woollard
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Re: Mr Dawe's Centurion.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Just machining really.
Attachments
.....and a bit of hand work to
.....and a bit of hand work to
The kit hinges And surrounding areas need to be replaced in a big way as you will see in later posts
The kit hinges And surrounding areas need to be replaced in a big way as you will see in later posts
IMG_20221216_135741.jpg
Squaring off
Squaring off
Using a surface plate and scribing block to mark out
Using a surface plate and scribing block to mark out
IMG_20221216_141922.jpg
All marked out
All marked out
IMG_20221220_134342.jpg
Four of everything
Four of everything
I did consider using those white metal male hinge pieces but they are not quite big enough
I did consider using those white metal male hinge pieces but they are not quite big enough
Squaring off
Squaring off
Hand saw again
Hand saw again
Roughing out nearly done
Roughing out nearly done
A nice tight fit ready for drilling the pin holes
A nice tight fit ready for drilling the pin holes
IMG_20221220_163948.jpg
Lowering required now
Lowering required now
Mechanical engineer.
2 Youtube channels, Phil Woollard and Magpiespyro. Facebook/ Phil Woollard.
Commission builds considered. Pm for my email.

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