eddy8men Posted June 11, 2011 Author Share Posted June 11, 2011 the top armour above the drivers seat was removed to allow easy access into the front of the hull which considering my waistline is a good idea. in the first pic you can see the armour top plate sitting at an angle on the hull resting on the side if you follow the hull side toward the back you'll see 4 large bolt holes on top on the outside of the hull. these are the turret ring retaining bolt holes, this is how they managed to get a 20 pdr to fit, by simply welding a plate onto the side with 3 strengthening gussets underneath which extended the hull enough to fit the 66" ring needed to take the 20 pdr. such a simple modification it makes you wonder why they didn't do it from the start and fit it with a 17 pdr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted June 12, 2011 Author Share Posted June 12, 2011 the first pic is the centaur which is an early version of the cromwell, i'll explain why i put it in later. the third pic shows the rear and the has writing on it, the mk 6 denotes the type of tank, the mk6 has the 95mm close support gun and the type f denotes the type of hull, the early hulls had the drivers hatch opening on top but it was found that the hatch could not be opened when the turret was traversed at an angle as you can see in the pic of the centaur, this was not ideal when the driver needed to bail out which is why they changed the hatch to side opening, there are various other changes to stowage aswell but the basic construction is the same as the earlier marks. T120582 is the army reg number and when i get round to searching the archives at bovvy will supply me with the tanks history. Ps 251-32 is the finnish army reg number from it's time as a charioteer, it served in the finnish army from the mid fifties until around 1980 when it was put into storage and was eventually auctioned off in 2006. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 T120582 is the army reg number and when i get round to searching the archives at bovvy will supply me with the tanks history. I wouldn't count on it. All you'll get is a copy of the Key Card where it will be one of several and it will give you it's post-war number and engine number together with it's disposal fate. The best way is to work backwards from the Charioteer card. This will cross reference the ZW or ZS number to its ZR, (presumably) Cromwell number and that card will confirm the earlier details. Individual record cards are, AFAIK, extinct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted June 12, 2011 Author Share Posted June 12, 2011 thanks adrian, it's funny but these things are never as easy as i think they're going to be. messing around with old tanks is a pretty harsh learning curve and not for the feint hearted that's for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 At least being an optimist allows you to take on anything. Better to look back and say 'I shouldn't have tried that' than 'I wish I had'. Anyway, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_shadock Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Hello guys, I really enjoyed to read this thread and see the pictures. I can't wait to see more photos of this restoration. For sure, the Cromwell will be a beauty once finished !! kind regards Pierre-Olivier http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzers.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 thanks pierre your website has been an inspiration to me and many others, keep up the good work. here are some more pics for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 few more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 the turret ring shown is from the centaur and was in remarkably good condition considering it had been on salisbury plain for 40+ years. once the ring is fitted the transformation from charioteer to cromwell is complete, although there are also one or two other bits to put back on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFowler Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Great to see this restoration all coming together mate ! Please keep the fascinating photos coming ! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 i have to say that all of the above work has been carried out by bob grundy and his team at british military vehicles and i couldn't be happier with what he's done so far, not just the quality but the speed and efficiency and all at a very fair price, thanks bob rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertrack Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 The tank look's like not to much rusty ! Very interesting project and complete :nut: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 yes the tank is in amazing condition even the brake seals were still useable which is something that i thought would have perished years ago, i guess i just got lucky. the engine has been rebuilt already and is waiting to be refitted, the gearbox is also done and hopefully next week if the weather holds the hull will be blasted and primed and the refitting can start. the only hard part is the turret which is in a bad condition and will need to be patched on the roof but it's no big deal and can be done with a little time and money. the only problem i have is the main gun which i cannot find, maybe i will be able to get onto the ranges and swipe one but if not i can always make a dummy up until something better comes along. next year i think i will be driving it :cool2: rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tankysteve Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Hat`s off to you Rick for taking on the project & preserving our Military History & to Bob & his team for their hard work. Keep posting the photo`s etc as it`s fascinating to follow. Look forward to seeing it thundering around the areana at W & P 2012. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 no worries steve, preserving our armoured heritage is what i'm all about :thumbsup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_shadock Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Rick, what will you do with the Centaur hull wreck? It will be turretless once the Cromwell is restored. Pierre-Olivier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 i have few options open to me with regard to the centaur, i can leave the turret off and convert it to an arv which would be alright with me as i served 14 years in the reme or i could use a mocked up turret or an original and put it to back to a gun tank but using a meteor so it would be a cromwell, i would like to use a liberty but they are as rare as rocking horse sh1t so it will have to be a meteor. i'm also considering getting 5 or more turret rings made from my original before it's fitted, this would enable me to get the centaur back to a gun tank and would help any other restorer's with their projects. rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Sorry to miss your update Rick...nice to see some good images....did you invest in a new shiny digital camera:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Grundy Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Sorry to miss your update Rick...nice to see some good images....did you invest in a new shiny digital camera:D No he is a tight wad, photos taken with MY shiny digital camera.................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 no new camera, bob has been keeping a record of the restoration for me here's a few of the centaur hull getting a bit of attention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whittingham warrior Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Does that sand blaster do gates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 turret basket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 a few close ups of bob's ring the fella you can see drilling bob's ring, is colin a close friend of his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrettkitt Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Does that sand blaster do gates? Suspect so he will be blasting my Sankey trailer this week just have to paint it then :undecided: Looking good for Beltring and A & E better start saving up and buy a petrol station Edited August 30, 2011 by ferrettkitt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Grundy Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Does that sand blaster do gates? He just loves blasting gates, he does them for no fiscal reward as you well know........ Edited August 30, 2011 by Bob Grundy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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