Armortek

I have to agree with Adrian and Martin on this build.

David

Last bit for the Swiss Army Knife is the spring loaded plunger which acts on detents on the frame to hold the sight in its two operating positions. Making bespoke springs on the lathe is quite easy - the challenge is making them to size. It's largely trial and error.







Time for it all to come together, mount it and apply prime and final paint.











On the to next assembly.

Thanks for looking.

Stephen

Hi Stephen
Wow the level just keeps getting higher.
Stunning work

Derek

Thanks Derek, Model Engineer Exhibition next month?

Next assembly is the comd's MG mount, alias the ".3000in Browning MG Mounting No 7, Mk 1":



The base is relatively simple:





Seeing Mark Lawson's excellent video on Milliput welds, I thought I'd add an alternative for smaller welds, using 3D fabric paint. This is widely available for decorating T shirts and can be applied direct from the tube with a stippling motion and then pushed into shape with a toothpick:





Regards.

Stephen

Hi Stephen
I will be at The London Model Engineer in January its on
the 20th to 22nd as normal at Alexandra Palace.

Derek

Stephen, along with your 3D fabric paint for weld lines it’s also possible to use Cyano gel, I haven’t personally used this method, it may not be favourable nor cheap on large runs such as hulls.

Thanks Mark. MG mount platform, with locking pin and retaining chain:





The gun cradle is a challenge, partly because it isn't easy to see how it works and partly because it's seriously fiddly to replicate. Optivisor magnifying glasses came to the rescue.





The rear locking pin has a curious arrangement with a knurled knob which tightens against a rotating arm - why they didn't use a simple pip pin beats me:





The front pin locks with a thread cut to M3:





Added the saddle which provides the elevation:







The .30 Browning is the Soldier Story one from the Henry Kano figure.

Regards

Stephen

A couple more details added to the commnander's MG mount:

Firstly the spigot which joins the mounting to the mounting plate:



Next the Link Exit Chute, which allows the .300 links and empty cartridges to fall clear of the weapon and not jam in the mounting:







It's slow progress working out the dimensions from photos, to make sure everything aligns and works. I've now made a start on the .300 cal ammunition liner mounting. Again, these went through various stages of modification in the light of operational experience and I have to work out which standard was relevant to 064 in late 1969.

This is the first build standard for the Mounting, Browning .300 in MG No 7, Mk 1:



In Vietnam, there was clearly a problem with securing the liner, witness this photo in which the liner has been tied on:



A local modification was introduced in Vietnam to add a reinforcing strap was added to support the liner, the remote firing handle was removed, as was the foresight. This can be seen in this photo of 064 on the Nui Dat range;



And here on an earlier squadron tour (note Denton the Duck, the troop mascot sitting on the .300 barrel):






Post Vietnam, a rather more substantial mounting for the liner was introduced, together with a new spring loaded upper catch;



The model will have the middle version, the early mounting as modified on operations in Vietnam.

Regards

Stephen

Hello Stephen
OK, when you are finished the complete Browning we will see a firing MG in 1:6 scale.
Regards
Frank

He's probably working on it Frank !!

Dennis.

Aah, Dennis. Secret's out. Mind you, don't tell Gill, after the blank firer saga, we'll need to keep this one quiet.

Thanks to Mike Cecil, I now know why they had to fix the liner mounting in Vietnam and subsequently modify it. When the AA MG was introduced around 1954, the British were using up wartime stocks of .30 call belt supplied in either the wartime M1 liner or the modified M19. A retaining catch on the mounting engaged with the bracket on the side of the liner and a spring loaded plunger engaged with the lip formed by the recessed bottom of the cans.



By the time of Vietnam, Australian stocks of .30 belt were supplied in the M19A1 liner, which was substantially different and lacked both the shelf and the recessed bottom, so the MG liner mount effectively had nothing to latch onto:



That's why the strap arrangement was introduced as a local mod and after Vietnam, Australia adopted the modified MG Mount No 7, Mk 2.

It all goes to re-discovering and preserving some of the technical and operational history, which might have been lost.

The Ammunition Box Carrier is pretty straightforward:



It hangs from the MG trunnions and has two lugs which align it with the MG mount:



Added the ammunition feed guard and the two original retaining catches:



Then the foresight mounting bracket (although the foresight itself was removed in Vietnam) and the liner support straps:






That's it pretty much complete.

Regards

Stephen

Time to assemble the kit of parts:



Mounted and with a trial ammo can (WIP) added, with, of course, some bullets:









Regards

Stephen

Stunning piece of design and construction. You'll be building watches next. Probably in 1/6th scale too

> (although the foresight itself was removed in Vietnam)

There must be a "lack of foresight" joke in there somewhere...

Adrian.

The level of detail you are adding to this model is exceptional the .30 cal mount must have been interesting to solder together.

Hello Stephen
Outstanding work!
Kind regards
Frank