PScott Posted June 19, 2011 Author Share Posted June 19, 2011 Got my mufflers and piping back on Saturday morning........the coating looks fantastic...... I also refurbished the gunners hood......new heating element/motor/wiper/glass and seal...stripped it and re finished...came up like new. A young friend came around early this morning and gave me a hand to install the mufflers........very hard trying to get everything in place without damaging the paintwork.....with the aid of a few old sleeping bags and care we got everything installed with no damage. I had forgotten how quiet the old girl is with the mufflers installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fesm_ndt Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Looking like a new tank all round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Will Tim Vibert be able to retire on what you have bought from him, looks like lots of bright and shiny new bits everywhere. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Hi Paul, Nice job: very nice. Can you contact me off forum please, re your excellent images? mike@krystiimelaine.com Thanks Mike C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PScott Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 The rear infantry phone was missing from 091 when i got it. I got hold of one but it was in very poor condition. Just recently i a acquired a( NOS) Brand new box with the phone still wrapped in wax paper and plastic. I have stripped the new box and internals, i cut the mounting tabs from the old box and fitted then to the new one , then repainted it the Aussie color and re-assembled and fitted it to the 091. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PScott Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Really exemplary job you have done there, you were lucky to find an NOS unit like that. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haybaggerman Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 top job, what a great project, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PScott Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 Just a few more trivial items added. I had a NOS blade sight which was black, this is apparently how they were issued then they were painted to the base color of the tank. I stripped it back to bare and will now re finish it. The thing is actually a work of art....every peice is machined and serial numbered....alot of work for just an auxillary sight. Even though the turret boxes were new , i decided to again strip them back to metal, the paint job looks so much better than just rubbinng them back and spraying over the British Bronze Green. It also allowed me to replace the canvas that covers the lid hinge, as after all these years it was a little perished . I also rteplaced the straps on the lids with NOS items as they to were perished. I got some 1/8 x 7/16 solid rivets from the UK for the hinges, these are becoming very hard to get here in Aus.I also got solid copper rivets to join the straps on the lid The main big bin on the drivers side is finished and installed. I also fitted a NOS cupola seal..I also stripped and refinised the aerial bases....the main rubber section was refinished using a flexable rubber coating. Just slowly adding bit by bit...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PScott Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 :laugh: wow what a fantastic job you are doing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
43rdrecce Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I agree with Niels, fantastic job and great attention to detail. You've set a very high standard. I've really enjoyed watching this restoration. Regards Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fesm_ndt Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 The rear infantry phone was missing from 091 when i got it. I got hold of one but it was in very poor condition. Just recently i a acquired a( NOS) Brand new box with the phone still wrapped in wax paper and plastic.I have stripped the new box and internals, i cut the mounting tabs from the old box and fitted then to the new one , then repainted it the Aussie color and re-assembled and fitted it to the 091. I read a good Vietnam history book many years ago when the Centurians were used on a very successful bunker complex battle. The praise for the vehicles effectiveness in this role was very high as most people thought tanks in Vietnam would be ineffective. Anyway sorry to waffle on. The only complaint in the book was the cable on the infantry phone was too short so to use it you had to expose yourself, so did they ever modify them or what do you think of the cable length? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 That would be Gary McKay's book 'In Good Company': possibly the best Australian veteran narrative of the experiences of an infantryman in South Vietnam. He has gone on to write many more books, but this one is clearly written 'from the heart' and is by far and away his best. The Infantry Tank Telephone cable was 'self retracting', so the length was restricted by the size of the box and cable retractor mechanism. To achieve a longer cable, a complete re-design with a larger 'box' and reel would have been necessary. It didn't happen. In most instances in South Vietnam, the water and moisture had detrimental effects on the connectors, shorting them out and cutting out the tank's I/C. For that reason, most were disconnected, usually where they joined the tank's intercom circuit in the driver's compartment. Note that the Inf Tank Telephone box is mounted sideways: a late variation to reduce the possibility of (1) water/dirt ingress from the tracks (thrown up by: the guards were shortened) and (2) combined with an additional steel screen and re-routing of the cable, to protect the cable between the box and the tank hull, in order to reduce the effects of mines. Paul is doing an outstanding job: I hope to see it in person in late October! Mike C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fesm_ndt Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 That would be Gary McKay's book 'In Good Company': possibly the best Australian veteran narrative of the experiences of an infantryman in South Vietnam. He has gone on to write many more books, but this one is clearly written 'from the heart' and is by far and away his best. The Infantry Tank Telephone cable was 'self retracting', so the length was restricted by the size of the box and cable retractor mechanism. To achieve a longer cable, a complete re-design with a larger 'box' and reel would have been necessary. It didn't happen. In most instances in South Vietnam, the water and moisture had detrimental effects on the connectors, shorting them out and cutting out the tank's I/C. For that reason, most were disconnected, usually where they joined the tank's intercom circuit in the driver's compartment. Note that the Inf Tank Telephone box is mounted sideways: a late variation to reduce the possibility of (1) water/dirt ingress from the tracks (thrown up by: the guards were shortened) and (2) combined with an additional steel screen and re-routing of the cable, to protect the cable between the box and the tank hull, in order to reduce the effects of mines. Paul is doing an outstanding job: I hope to see it in person in late October! Mike C Yep that is the book, was a great read. I think he also had something to do with the Long Tan and messages from Vietnam books. Yes the rebuild is making a new tank that is for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulture Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Amazing looking vehicle, please keep us updated with photos All the best with the restoration. Vulture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scammell4199 Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 I'm liking this thread alot. Out of interest what are you using to clean the metal up before painting, some sort of wire wheel? I'm presuming it wasn't very rusty because you don't appear to be blasting any of it. Good luck with the rest of it, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PScott Posted July 26, 2011 Author Share Posted July 26, 2011 I'm liking this thread alot. Out of interest what are you using to clean the metal up before painting, some sort of wire wheel? I'm presuming it wasn't very rusty because you don't appear to be blasting any of it. Good luck with the rest of it, Richard I am using 2 needle scaler,s ( large and small) for the paint removal, and various rotary wire brush,s for final cleanup. The hull was fairly well protected against rust by the MANY layers of paint, a pain to remove but it did a good job of protecting everything. I am not a fan of media blasting, as unless you can completely strip everything down to individual items the blasting media causes to much damage in places where it shouldnt be. A needle scaler is slow work , but it does a very good job and causes no undue damage to anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PScott Posted July 27, 2011 Author Share Posted July 27, 2011 (edited) I got 3 turret boxes to replace to old ones on 091, 2 were Brand new ( Long bin and short rear bin) and 1 was used ( front medium bin) as there are none available anywhere......even Tim Vibert hasnt any. I started to repair the used box , but i wasnt happy with the idea of this , so i decided to make a new box myself. I plasma cut all the pieces today, folded the rear sections that form the top hinge section and tacked it together. Even though it is only started looks good, so much better than the old unit with the many repairs. I have brand new latches and fittings to put on the sides and lid . I will cut out and fold the lid tomorrow. new straps will go on and new hinge canvas. Once the fv number is stamped into the lid, you wont tell it from an original. Anyway, just a couple of pics of the tacked up box, ready to weld up tomorrow.. Edited July 27, 2011 by PScott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PScott Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share Posted July 30, 2011 Got my turret box well on the way to being finished........ just have to do the canvas on the hinge, then paint and install the new webbing strap.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the16th5thlancer Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 What a lovely toy! I have always admired the lines of the Cent. But have never driven them. I guess they are very thirsty too! Nice vehicle, good luck with your restoration. I assume it's an Ex Tim Vibart specimin? 4 Gallons to the mile cross country. Do you own a refinery?? Loved my days on the Cent. from wirless op/ loader to gunner then driver and later Commander. A fantastic main battle field tank. Do not forget the outstanding (first) job of the wireless op/ loader was to protec the brew pot. Great days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Any updates on this great project ??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PScott Posted September 18, 2011 Author Share Posted September 18, 2011 Any updates on this great project ??????? Yes many, but i cant upload anymore pics. Obviously i have exceeded my limit. So i am not sure what to do as i contacted the site Admin, but no response.. You can view my progress here... http://www.mvca.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=1873&start=165 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. Well done on a brilliant job, love following this thread and as much as I like US stuff it makes a real nice change to see something diffrent being restored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Suslowicz Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 The rear infantry phone was missing from 091 when i got it. I got hold of one but it was in very poor condition. Just recently i a acquired a( NOS) Brand new box with the phone still wrapped in wax paper and plastic.I have stripped the new box and internals, i cut the mounting tabs from the old box and fitted then to the new one , then repainted it the Aussie color and re-assembled and fitted it to the 091. So that's what those handsets are for... I got one at Beltring a couple of years ago thinking it was WS19 or WS62 kit (going by the snatch plug and the use of two microphone inserts for both microphone and earpiece). Another mystery solved. :-D That tank is going to look like it's just rolled off the production line by the time you've finished. Excellent work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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