Chieftain build by Phil Woollard.

[Stephen White]

Tasty examples. After much thought I think I would like to aim for Tango 34 Bravo, the BATUS example MK10 so not to far from a MKV but things could change.

Hi Phil,
Tango 34 Bravo is pre-callsign change but not a BATUS example, no zap number, and not a Mk10, no MRS mirror.

Phil, Mark, the perils of internet research based on artist's impressions. I can't remember when BATUS introduced the vehicle (as opposed to personnel) ZAP numbers but it certainly wasn't in place before the early eighties. Your T34B example can therefore legitimately represent a BATUS tank. Under the 1970s callsign system, it's the troop corporals vehicle in the fourth troop of C Squadron. (The exercising major unit was then always a "square battle group" ie with two tank squadrons and two armoured infantry companies and a whole host of combat support and combat service support). The base colour for BATUS tanks on delivery to Canada was Light Stone and the NATO green was invariably sprayed over. (In BAOR, the base colour was green, with Black over).

The T34B silhouette is a bit flaky, the triangle bins for example don't look right but nevertheless, Phil, it's clear what it's supposed to represent. It is a Mark 3, 3G or 3S but not a Mark 3/3 or later. That means if you followed the picture, you'd have to modify a number of things on the Armortek Mark 5 model, not least replacing the NBC pack, deleting the MRS and adding a .50 ranging gun. It would also certainly have Larkspur radios. The barrel is the early L11 with the fatter fume extractor.

It would make an interesting model, no doubt.

[Phil Woollard]

I love you guys! I think? Well I still have a few months to digest all this wonderful information, in the mean time take a look at this MK5 taking a k to the rear. See what you think was incoming, I can hear an artillery round or possibly a mortar.

[John Clarke]

I'm sure we can mend that tank given the chance, a few tubes of P38 and lick of paint.

It's not quite clear what happened there, maybe the rear guard tank gunner had a twitchy finger or just did'n't like the C/O in the lead tank. I can imagine it's so important that you get on well with the chaps in your troop.

Here's Eddy sporting his new "bone dome", courtesy of an Action man flying helmet, He's holding an original helmet which needed a bit of trimming, neck and front edges, but the ugly shape is pretty much there. Sadly it's difficult to see the headphones but they in are there. Eddy had to go though a lot to get the helmet on, first his head had to be dunked in boiling water to soften it up a bit, then with the headphones fitted I had to squeezed the head with finger and thumb to get the head to go in the helmet. Finally pushing on his face with the thumb to put the shape back into his head, adding a mic, edge trim, rivets and hole fillers.
I think he's pleased with it. I think he'd be even happier to see how his ride is coming along.

[Mark Heaps]

Surely someone here has got a 3-D printer or a good friend with one. Produce crew helmets as a set of three at a reasonable price and I am sure they will sell. Us Armourtek Chiefie owners will have better things to do than fighting on ebay for action man helmets.
Mark

[John Clarke]

Well I did think Eddy's helmet at 3 quid and a penny was a bit steep, but that's what happens when you have to fight off VAM (Vintage Action Man) collectors, that penny was the all important clincher to the deal. Suckers
The basic shape is there, it has the ugly fenders that you can sneak a pair of modern day bin's in to it with a suitable mug of boiling hot water.

I love the idea of 3d printing for plastic items found on the tank, but lets not settle for plaggy bits replacing cold hard steel orrrrr brass or aluminium or quality metal castings.
We make metal tanks here
Let's hope no one makes a resin helmet, it would take a month to dig it out .

Eddy was always going to be the driver and the commander was always going to be wearing a beret and head set.

Eddy also loves the fantastic new picture's from Stephen on his thread, thanks. Great to see the Chieftain starting to come together

[Phil Woollard]

Found this lovely old driver training film whilst researching the old girl. Take a look at the driver training ground including the simulator and the Tank Museum itself back in the 60's, that sure has changed a bit! The driver is an expert for sure just listen to those gear changes

[Stephen White]

Great video Phil, thanks for posting. Take the largest spider in Bovington, place it on a convenient junction on the model and instruct the trainee driver to take a route that finds it. The camera magnified the model scene many fold. Oh, and remember to stand on the trainee driver's hatch. Hairy spider legs in giant close-up........

[Mark Heaps]

That is nasty, Stephen but I like it !

[David M Wilks]

Found this lovely old driver training film whilst researching the old girl. Take a look at the driver training ground including the simulator and the Tank Museum itself back in the 60's, that sure has changed a bit! The driver is an expert for sure just listen to those gear changes

Cheers for that link Phil, brings back thrilling memories of being let loose driving a chieftain around Bovington for a few hours, as reward for painting tanks in the museum over the years (when they were skint), only 10 minutes instruction with the quote “if yer can ride a motorbike yer can drive this” ,happy days!

[Phil Woollard]

We are thinking of offering a "full engine and gearbox" and a "half engine and gearbox" for the Chieftain, we are at the discussion stage at the moment, is there any interest in these additions?

[Kevin Hunter]

Definitely interested to see how this develops Phil. I’m sure it’s a great idea assuming the motors/option packs are leaving room?

Thought about trying to scale up from the Accurate Armour pack, but my skills aren’t a patch on yours.
Kevin

[Phil Woollard]

Hi Kevin, I shall fit one what ever, it will need to be fully assembled along with the transmission and then cut to fit over the electric motors and their gearboxes. Until I have assembled the lower hull, fitted the motors and the motion pack I can't be sure just how much of the engine and transmission will need removing. It will be a tricky time consuming first but that's what I like!

Then of course there's the other engine, the "donkey" to make, it's a good job we have such a large cavernous hull to work with

Check out this video of the lump being removed from a privately owned Chieftain.

[John Clarke]

I like the idea of the dummy L60 and cooling system, but where will the speakers be placed?
I'm guessing forward will be taken up with Armortek's new speed control module, together with sub control units, maybe some in the turret , batteries under the turret and motor gearboxes at the rear with smoke unit.
I think space might be at premium at the rear judging from experience with my mates Comet. The motors took up quite a bit of space in the rear (not like German tanks) I know it's a smaller vehicle but it had a flat belly plate where as Chieftain's shaped belly plate will probably have to have a false floor plate fitted to mount stuff on it.

All this taking up precious space, I also take it there's a new type of sound module on the way. Maybe a shaped speaker cowling could give the impression of the L60 and radiators so reducing the loss of sound. I suppose it's all down taste and one idea against another.

A good idea maybe and has probably been discussed, is to put the majority of the control gear in the turret like the latest Tamiya Leopard and depending on access, all sorts gear could be fitted. Certainly it's where you would put the gun stabilization and gun flash/ smoke equipment. Leaving a lot more space for a quality sound output system.

[Phil Woollard]

Be good to see the new modules to get an idea of their dimensions

[John Clarke]

Not sure if anyone has seen this site, but it has a Pretty good set of 83 quality Mk11 Chieftain reference pictures .
There's also a Mk10 walk round too with 136 pictures at the same site.

http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/erik_j ... php?Page=1