Jump to content

restoration of a valentine MK5 tank started


monty2

Recommended Posts

A group pic of the completed mid bulkhead louvers, the bottom one I had not done until recently. I had to make some tooling up to swage the hole. The crankshaft nut ends flush with this lower cover when installed. The hole allows you to turn the engine over without taking any panels off. Then we have more pics of the floors. First we have the R/H front floor from the driver, next is the L/H drivers floor and then there is the R/H mid section and then the rear section of floor. Last are the two covers that go over the steering lever cross shafts, L/H and R/H. Cheers from The Tank Factory.

DSCF7433.jpg

DSCF7438.jpg

DSCF7439.jpg

DSCF7441.jpg

DSCF7445.jpg

DSCF7447.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We now have the seat completed, ready for it's fitting. There are basically two models of seat, the earlier Mk2/3 had a seat that had more up and down movement, than the Mk5 with fixed height. There is provision for the seat back to be adjusted as well. The fourth picture shows the all important oil can holder that mounts on the floor to the front and right of the driver.

Next pic shows the corner stowage boxes, mid bulkhead , R/H side ,for the 7.92mm B.E.S.A. ammunition. Last we have the internal Pyren fire extinguisher bracket that mounts on the L/H side wall above the master battery switch, a must for putting out those pesky little fires that might happen when ammunition is exploding!

Started her first trial session the other day. There was a couple of issues that needed attention after our first run. The convoy light did not work........ it needed a bulb! and the Tank kept varying off to the right. After a count up of the track links, we had an extra link in the L/H side would you believe! Cheers from The Tank Factory.

DSCF7448.jpg

DSCF7461.jpg

DSCF7462.jpg

DSCF7451.jpg

DSCF7456.jpg

DSCF7495.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

We have Comms! , installation of the rebuilt 19 set , installed on it's mounts in the rear bustle of the Turret. A few leads to run out and connect up, and when the Turret is fitted into the Tank, we can power it up. One thing to remember is DO NOT transmit without the aerials up as this can cause damage to the radio, but using the intercom is OK.

The last major exercise, is the rebuild of the Turret basket. I am using a combination of original parts and remanufactured parts. The basket consists of several assemblies to make this intricate item. There is an inner hub, a "wagon wheel" , floor plates, outer 2pdr shell holder- lower rack, upper 2pdr rack , 4 x side plates that hang the basket from the Turret ring, and internal fit outs for the floor area , plus the 3 seats, Commanders, Loaders , Gunners, all different. And don't the British love bolts! Cheers from the Tank Factory.

DSCF7698.jpg

DSCF7677.jpg

DSCF7694.jpg

DSCF7701.jpg

DSCF7703.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, It will not be far away from your neck of the woods. The final fit out of the Turret continues. First we have the Commanders hatch head pads, then the ever elusive Helleson Lamp holder, upper L/H corner inside Turret, Next pic shows the gasket between the electrical rotary connection housing, between the hull base and the Turret basket , more of a protective dust seal I would expect , made from industrial felt. The last couple of pics show the drivers forward R/H stowage box, the little side box on the side is for the periscope cleaning brush. Just out of interest , has any body ever come across these as a spare part? , they are maybe about 4'' long and the head I think is at right angle to the handle , and quite a stiff brush , for wiping mud, etc off the lenses I would expect. The last pic shows one of the stowage boxes for the BESA 7.92mm expandable ammunition cans, this one mounts to the R/H side lower hull Turret area. Cheers from The Tank Factory.

DSCF7720.jpg

DSCF7709.jpg

DSCF7732.jpg

DSCF7711.jpg

DSCF7712.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

The "Mother of all Baskets" , this latest series of pictures shows the story with regards to the Turret basket.... room for 3 guys!. First we have the inner hub , then comes the floor plates, and the four droppers from the main Turret ring that attaches to the bottom of the basket. The one with the checkouts goes by the traversing unit. The diameter is about 1270mm. Cheers from the Tank Factory.

DSCF7747.jpg

DSCF7750.jpg

DSCF7748.jpg

DSCF7763.jpg

DSCF7755.jpg

DSCF7753.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But wait there's more! , here we have the upper 2pdr shell rack holders , the conduit assemblies for the basket, lower angle supports , BESA empty case catch basket , inner sheet metal ring for the floor , the "wagon wheel" support frame underneath the floor, and last the main lower shell rack holder that the 4 vertical droppers will attach to. Cheers from The Tank Factory.

DSCF7770.jpg

DSCF7775.jpg

DSCF7779.jpg

DSCF7781.jpg

DSCF7783.jpg

DSCF7790.jpg

DSCF7793.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The assembly commences. After all the components have been found / made / reformed / test fitted and blasted and painted 4 times, we are at the exciting stage of fitting together for the final time. It felt like we have used up about 300 x 5/16" machine screws and bolts in various lengths to complete this integral unit. The hub with the conduit , was important to set that up first, and then the floor plates , and then this unit bolted to the lower shell rack ring , with the 6 angle gussets, then the 2 x halves of the inner sheet metal ring , the 4 vertical droppers and the other internal fittings. Some fittings use the same bolt hole for several applications so the order of doing up bolts is fairly crucial .This week should see the whole complete Basket and Turret come together and lowered into the "Hole". The main Tank is on standby to receive it, as everything is wired up and waiting patently...... a process that can not be rushed, as once the basket is in , there is little room to move for bolting any fittings. Cheers from The Tank Factory.;)

DSCF7794.jpg

DSCF7797.jpg

DSCF7845.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The basket is now mated to the Turret, will show some better pics in a few days. These pics show the electrical hand controller that has been taken from our test bed and bolted to it's 2 x angle brackets in the basket, and wired in . It will be very interesting to see how fast it will turn the Turret electrically . The basket has also received it's new wiring. The 19 set will be running on 12 volts. There are versions of the 19 that can run on either 12 volt or 24 volt, there is a switch inside the power supply unit that has to be physically set to the right voltage. The last pic shows the loaders seat, which bolts to the floor of the basket on the R/H side. Cheers from The Tank Factory.

DSCF7874.jpg

DSCF7864.jpg

DSCF7876.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Tank has entered the "Turret Receiving Bay" at the Tank Factory. First pic shows the "Hole" where the Tank will receive its' new rebuilt / refurbished basket and Turret. Then arriving overhead we have the whole ensemble , a good 3 tonnes.

Slowly she enters the "hole" for her final resting place....touchdown! The tolerances are all so typical everywhere on the Val, being there is only 1/2'' clearance against any fittings that are already there. It pays to have the whole setup sitting pretty level off the crane . I will let the pictures do the talking.;) Cheers from The Tank Factory.

DSCF7905.jpg

DSCF7903.jpg

DSCF7918.jpg

DSCF7920.jpg

DSCF7923.jpg

DSCF7924.jpg

DSCF7927.jpg

DSCF7929.jpg

DSCF7931.jpg

DSCF7937.jpg

DSCF7938.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Andrew,

 

when we bought it we where not 100% sure what quality to get on the end of the day. Two years later we are very close to the finished project and we are pleasantly surprised on the quality and craftsmanship you have put into it. Looking forward to see it in real life soon.

 

 

Regards

 

Ralph, Art and Peter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Adding a few more of the last little trinkets to the stowage.... first we have period dated pick head , shovel and crowbar. Next is the 2" smoke bomb rack that's mount to the R/H side of the interior of the Turret. Last up we have the extra 2pdr stowage rack that is situated under the Commanders seat, this rack just clips to the internal sheet metal ring work. Cheers from The Tank Factory.

DSCF7960.jpg

DSCF8054.jpg

DSCF8052.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...