philm1

Also I have been slowly cleaning up the turret internals with the plan that if the component was in reasonable condition to clean and refit. If not then a repaint. All back in now including new piping for the periscope washers. Just the machine gun mount to do. I don't have the turret ring so if someone has one lying about or any othe components you think I need please let me know. Washer bottle, traverse indicator dial, radio gear are also items on the need list.

Also over Winter a Breech Block arrived in the mail. A bit more paper work required than usual to get permits following a terrorist attack here in NZ. Firearm ownership all that bit harder now. I have stripped it all down, cleaned, re assembled and fitted back in the Breech Ring. One difficulty I did have was removing the Firing Mechanism. Had I read the manual properly it all makes sence in hindsight. Breech Block must be in the Breech Ring. Set Lever to Safe. Fire the Striker Mechanism (this bit wasn't in the manual but it worked for me). Rotate the Striker Mechanism and remove.

Gosh a bit slack in posting seeing the last one was 22 June. I guess Winter hibernation kicked in? I haven't been completely idle though. Gearbox oil filter and hoses fitted. So in the front I really only need to re bleed the brakes and I can then re fit and plumb up the radiator.

Pleasing to see the changes.

Generator had been stripped and rebuilt some months ago but still needed a repaint plus the air intake sheild was US so a new one was made. At the same time of painting the dirvers firewall was repainted ready for fitting. A bit cooler outside so we used the workshop heater to help the paint dry.

Air cleaner stripped back, repainted and re fitted.

Work still progressing with more parts off the shelf and fitted. Each with it's own clean up and restoration as you go but progress is progress. As Andrew pointed out We needed to recover the donut type coupling off the old gearbox and fit it to the replacement. This was done and the drive shaft installed.

Good spotting Andrew. I will recover the coupling off the other gearbox. Ready by Easter lol. I hear on good authority there's another Scorpion that will be at the Easter Rally unattended at nights...... Busy at work is slowing things down currently so aim will be Labour Weekend at yours. Phil

A bit slack on updating but we have installed the engine and had a brief test run. Everything went and sounded good. We used the Ferret as the slave battery. Next will be to finish off the gear box and coolant plumbing so we can run it longer and even try to move it under it's own power. Thanks to Todd who helped with the install and getting it started. received_393756131415242 (1).mp4

Wiring of the new instrument panel almost complete. Once finished focus will switch to getting the engine ready to install and try and start.

Firewall back in place and starting to fit out. Looking at the pictures it was August 2016 when it was removed. Out in August 2016 back in January 2019.

Final bits of the brake & Steering plumbing also completed. Bleeding to follow.

Barrel now back in place. I marked out in more detail where the interrupted screw threads were on the barrel and the engage, disengage marks so when it was re fitted I had a much better idea that it was set up right. Slotted back in and now no need to ever remove it again hopefully. Pine trees in the distance

Thanks for your comments and photo. I hope ours can get to that stage in the near future. In answer to your question. Unless I really had to remove the breech or barrel then I wouldn’t. It is doable without removing the turret but everything is very heavy and what seems a simple process is, but can take a lot longer than expected. The breech components I stripped and cleaned on the bench I could have done if the breech was fitted in the turret. The difficult part I have found with the barrel on the first attempt to re install it was to see where the markings are to engage and dis engage on the breech. Originally when I removed it from the turret you may have seen earlier in this forum that it had seized in place. You could face that prospect as well. If you were to remove the barrel and leave the breech in place I believe you will need to - Remove the anti rotation key on top - Remove the locking plate in the breech - Probably loosen the barrel stop - The barrel should then rotate and be able to be pulled out - I would suggest making makings (paint) on barrel and manlet etc so you know where it has to be positioned to re insert A couple of diagrams attached. I have a lot of manuals scanned if you need any further reference material.

Trial fitted the yoke and noticed the bobbin where we had done the weld repair was screwed on the wrong way around so took it off and corrected it. The way it was would have fouled the breech ring lining up properly. Breech ring now installed. You need to be a pigmy World weight lifting champion to lift an hold this in place to then fix the yoke. With 2 of us in the turret and using a small step ladder we managed to balance the breech ring and line it up (after a longer than expected time). Wouldn't want to do this as a field repair.

To add more work to the list, I dismantled the breech ring to give it a clean before mounting. Seemed pretty idiot proof to pull apart and reassemble.

External turret grenade boxes have had new hinges fitted and one a replacement lid so now open freely. I will paint and put the felt back in at a later date.

Thanks Paul. Yes XMOD fast, efficient and excellent to deal with.

Oh yes, between Xmas and New Year another parcel arrived from the UK. This one had been some time in the planning and has most of the necessary bits to finally get the brakes set up and also the wiring sorted. Very pleased.

The deactivation of the barrel had removed the recess for the breech ring locating plate so yesterday I marked it out and using a dremel and grinding tool on the air gun I managed to machine a recess back into the replacement piece of steel. Locking plate fitted nicely after some minor further work with a dentist type tool on the dremel.

Whilst everyone was enjoying a Boxing Day sleep in I decided to clean up the barrel and breech ring to see if both would match up. Spent a good amount of time cleaning up the interrupted screw threads as these were caked with grease and grit. Surprisingly once I got everything straight and level i simply wheeled the jack forward, twisted the barrel and that was that. Still some cleaning up to do then hopefully will be mounted back into the turret in the next week or so.

Most recently a package arrived from XMOD with exhaust components so i spent last night bolting them on. Unfortunately I ordered the wrong support straps but managed to make up some replacements and everything temporarily fitted which was very pleasing.

I have also spent several hours tracking wiring and have all indicators and warning lights sorted and tested back to the instrument panel. Bulbs and lens will be installed after final painting. Just the convoy lights to get going.

Still, I have found time to puddle on the turret cleaning up threads and going through boxes of brackets to identify and trial fit various parts. Turret latches refitted. After several re adjustments with spaces to get them to work just right. External boxes, and smoke discharger brackets. Anyone have the shapped brackets for the smoke dischargers?? Turret hatch bump stops and clamps. Couldn't resist putting aerials on.