johann morris

Did anyone see Warbird Workshop, they rebuilt a really early spitfire and it's accepted as an original, the son of one of the war time pilots even sat in it and seemed moved to think that his father had flown it . Of course his father hadn't flown in it and the only original bits appeared to be several taps, a very small panel and the restorer made a big point of telling us that the straps over the foot peddles would have originally been fire hose, so that is what they used, other than that the whole plane was new. What they have created is a very expensive replica or toy that could sell for £4 million why not just be honest, it's no different to building a replica whippet but oh, how the builders of the whippet and other such creations are frowned upon even ridiculed for there efforts. Personally I can't see what all the fuss is about, bringing something back to life that has long since disappeared or now sits motionless in a museum can only be a good thing but just be honest about what IT actually is and before anyone mentions it my Panzer II must be original as it has an original shovel attached to it. Jon

Wow!

I received my copy yesterday and although I have only had time for a quick shifty, it looks really interesting. Ordering it was easy and the delivery was very efficient. Many thanks, Jon

An interesting book but silly question, where can we buy a copy? Jon

I don't do facebook, I tried it once but I really don't see the attraction, there again, I only post on here and MLU and really only use the internet for buying stuff and research. I may be alone but in reality my projects are for my own interest and enjoyment and many I have never put on the net. Are there really many people out there that are interested in what we are doing, personally I am flattered when I get a response to my posts but I wouldn't stop doing the project if I didn't. There are some incredibly talented people on here and I really enjoy reading their posts but facebook appears to be populated by those who have a lot to say but very little to offer. As for my project, I am still making the components for the track links, all 4140 components and it's testing my patience's, so why would I inflict that pain on the forum, as soon as there's any real progress I will be posting again. Jon

Nice project I look forward to further updates. What's facebook? Jon

I think that I have mentioned this before but If I haven't. There is a good book, well at least I think so, published in 1944 It answers lots of questions including that regarding the use of cast iron Thanks for your support, if I didn't think that It would have a chance of success I wouldn't be doing it but I am quietly confident that it will, at least for the limited use that it will get. Nice of you to say so, I am certainly enjoying the project. I would have taken some more pictures but my camera has given up the ghost. Jon

Evening All, Sorry that i haven't been posting but I have been busy on other things. I have looked at several other types of track links but I can't find anything suitable and I can't afford to have a set made, so I am make a set. I know, it won't work, I am wasting my time, I have heard it all but that is what I am doing. I have made 5 part links, they are not pretty but then they are only first samples, to see how things will work. The first and obvious lesson was that if I am to make the 216 + spares I need to automate the process some what. So i have bought a capstan to make the spacers, and a cnc milling machine to drill the holes in the link bars. Both machines are obviously old and needed some love and care before I started but they now work. It's like going back to the eighties when I started life as an engineer and very enjoyable but to be honest these machines are for my work life. I haven't programmed a machine for 34 years but it's surprising how easy it all comes flooding back. Getting the machines is only the start of things. The CNC came without any guards so they had to be made and then a drilling jig had to be made so that 4 sets of link bars can be drilled in one operation. The capstan was used and abused so needed stripping before I could even start to organise things. I tried bending the link bars with a manual press but it would take me ages to do the 920 required so I have made some very basic press jigs and modified my press by adding a air over hydraulic ram and hydraulic ejection fed from a hydraulic power pack that someone had thrown out as it didn't work. And then there's the welding, a very simple jig for the main frame but the jig for the horns is yet to be made. From what I have achieved so far, I don't foresee a problem manufacturing the links and I know that they will fit together to form a complete track but how long they will last is another matter but as they say, he who dares........ Jon

A gentleman who lives near me has a 4 year old range rover which he is selling because of the enormous increase in his year insurance premium. When he contacted the insurance company, they told him that the increase was due to the vehicles appeal to thieves and the ease that it can be stolen. He is in his 60's and lives in the back end of nowhere, I can't remember the exact figure but it was somewhere around £4000. Jon

That's ok, I thought for a minute that my prayers had been answered. Evening All, The turrets on and I have started fitting out the inside, my goodness it's a cramped environment. I think the only thing that they forgot when they designed the tank, was that three men have to fit in, as well as all the equipment. Sorry for the picture quality, I will try and get some better pictures when it's all fitted out. It's certainly a lot slower doing things with the turret on as I have to keep climbing in and out but it's coming together now. Jon

Where did you see that advertised? I haven't found anything yet that would fit, maybe I am not being imaginative enough. A member of the MLU forum stated that there were loads of tracks about that would fit in the construction industry but when I sent him a Picture he went very quiet. Jon

No sorry, I wish that I had seen the advert sooner but there you go. Thanks, Jon

Hi Seb, Have you still got a steering box for sale? Regards, jon

Evening All, I can't believe how long it is since I last posted anything, Life has been very busy, obviously not with the tank and a lot of it not very enjoyable but I have still found time to make some progress. Niels, thanks for information and the link but social media is not a world that I enter into. However just as the project nears completion and on a totally unrelated search, I came across a German web site that has masses of different manuals including most of Panzer II ones but it appears to have disappeared from the internet. As I said there has been progress but not that much and it mainly relates to the upper hull. I still had a few pieces to make such as the vision port covers and all the associated hinges, brackets etc and as I had made various modifications, the whole lot needed repainting. The vision port covers really caused me a mental block, I had already made three sets for the turret, I knew how much work was involved and I don't know why but it stalled the project for weeks. Then by chance a cheap CNC milling machine came up for sale, much the same as I started programming in the early 1980's and as I had parts that I needed to make for my work I bought it. It made making the parts very easy and much more enjoyable. This week I finished the upper hull and lifted it on but I can't bolt it in place as I need make a rubber gasket for the fuel filler which will entail lifting the upper hull up again to fit the gasket. And that's it for now. Jon

It's strange, I don't get it on any other site and the chrome pop up blocker is on. The question is, have the moderators or those in charge allowed pop up ads to boost revenue, which, seeing as they are not commenting seems highly likely.