Highland_laddie Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 57 minutes ago, eddy8men said: i spoke to him last week and he's fine, just got other things to do. i'm sure he'll be back when there's more progress Hi Eddie, thanks for posting this update. That's really good news 👍 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Highland_laddie said: Hi Eddie, thanks for posting this update. That's really good news 👍 I'll second that. Good to hear. Edited January 16, 2022 by Enigma 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Preston Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Excellent news. I'm following this project with great interest, and much respect for the skills displayed by Johann. Cheers, Chris, in Victoria, BC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZM305 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Thanks Eddy, was hoping that's all it was 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 That's great news Eddy, thanks for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brockwood Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 good news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 Evening All, Thanks for the concern, I am ok, just needed a break and life has become so hectic the project had to take a back seat. There's not much progress to report but I am hoping that this year I will have more time. First of all let me wish you all a happy and healthy new year, let's hope that this bloody Covid thing gets under control and we can get back to a normal life. I have had the sprockets cut and they now need to be machined. All the metal for the sprocket mounting hubs has been cut and the centers machined to suit the final drive, I just need to weld it all together, machine the outer diameter and drill the sprocket mounting holes. I have made and fitted drives and radio operators seat cushions. If we go back to my last post I was working on the drives vision optics. I have now made the vision tubes, I don't know what the originals looked like but this is my version. It's a bit hard to get a picture looking through them but they do work. However at normal magnification you can see bugger all, I don't think that the originals 1.25X would make much difference. On the Tubes there is a little boss that locates in to a slot in main optics housing. When the unit is assembled, if you turn the knurled boss, the split pins only there as a temporary measure, the vision tubes move closer together or further apart to suit the driver. As you can see the unit hasn't be set up properly yet. And that's all there is for now. Jon 13 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland_laddie Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 46 minutes ago, johann morris said: Thanks for the concern, I am ok, just needed a break and life has become so hectic the project had to take a back seat. Hi Johan, great to hear from you. Quite understandable it's been a strange time for everyone. Cheers, Julian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Preston Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Hi Jon - Excellent and understood about taking a break. I've been following this project since you started and am amazed at your skills. I'm looking forward to videos of the finished project moving under it's own power. Cheers, Chris, in Victoria, BC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 Welcome back Johann. Good to hear you're ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philliphastings Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 So glad to hear that one of the most outstanding builds and the man behind it are still ongoing ! cheers phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted February 5, 2022 Author Share Posted February 5, 2022 Evening All, Truth to tell, I am glad to be back and making some progress, thanks for the support it is very much appreciated. Onward's then. The next job is to get the sprocket flanges welded together and machined and as I do not have a lathe big enough, the machining will have to be done on a milling machine. I have a rotary table but I don't want to damage it, so I needed a rotary device that wasn't going to cost the earth and as usual my mind started to look at Land Rover components. I decided on a stub axle and hub from a Disc 1, it would need modifying but it would do the job. A few modifications and some adapter plates Rotation will be via my arm and a long 1/2" drive bar, a health and safety nightmare I know but I have used the method before and as long as a lot of caution is used, it works well. Bolt the whole assembly to a nice thick bit of plate, add some bolt down holes and all is ready. It also came in handy when I welded the plates together. I then turned the bottom flange so that it runs true with the top plate just to make positioning it on the main plate easier before welding. It's now all welded together ready for machining in the morning. Jon 9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted February 6, 2022 Author Share Posted February 6, 2022 Evening All, The machining of the sprocket flanges went well but I forgot to take pictures when they were on the machine and by the time I thought about it, I had tack welded the sprockets on. The sprockets should be and will be, bolted on to the flanges but first I have to machine a recess in both sides, so that the sprockets sit over the outside diameter of the flange. My cunning plan, is to drill the 60 lightening holes and 20 retaining holes in each sprocket but rather than drilling the retaining holes as clearance holes drill and tap them. Then by bolting from the rear of the flange I can utilize the retaining holes to hold the sprocket to the flange, then machine the recess in one side of the sprocket flip it over and machine the recess in the opposite side. Well that's the plan. Jon 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland_laddie Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 18 hours ago, johann morris said: Evening All, The machining of the sprocket flanges went well but I forgot to take pictures when they were on the machine and by the time I thought about it, I had tack welded the sprockets on. The sprockets should be and will be, bolted on to the flanges but first I have to machine a recess in both sides, so that the sprockets sit over the outside diameter of the flange. My cunning plan, is to drill the 60 lightening holes and 20 retaining holes in each sprocket but rather than drilling the retaining holes as clearance holes drill and tap them. Then by bolting from the rear of the flange I can utilize the retaining holes to hold the sprocket to the flange, then machine the recess in one side of the sprocket flip it over and machine the recess in the opposite side. Well that's the plan. Jon sounds complicated and you lost me very quickly, but I know the result will be fab 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted February 7, 2022 Author Share Posted February 7, 2022 That's what my wife thought and then she commented that anyone reading it would think that I was a right boring old fart. Of course being a woman how could she be wrong. Jon 2 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 6, 2022 Author Share Posted March 6, 2022 Evening All, I haven't made that much progress over the past weeks as everything else seems to be getting in the way. I have got to make three more sets of the items needed for the remaining observation ports, I wish that I had made all six sets in the beginning but I hadn't intended making a whole tank back then. So far I have made the splatter guards that fix to the inside of the hull. Of course the other thing that I have been doing is drilling flipping holes, I am even dreaming about the things. Next it's the fun job of machining the recesses. That's all for now. Jon 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland_laddie Posted March 6, 2022 Share Posted March 6, 2022 1 hour ago, johann morris said: Of course the other thing that I have been doing is drilling flipping holes Blimey O'riley that a lot of holes...... Other than that don't know what to say except we're looking forward to to seeing it completed, however long that may take, you've already done so much and to such a high quality. Julian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted March 6, 2022 Share Posted March 6, 2022 there will be a day soon when the sun is shining and you're driving the panzer at a show somewhere and it will have been worth all the effort. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Grundy Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 13 hours ago, eddy8men said: there will be a day soon when the sun is shining and you're driving the panzer at a show somewhere and it will have been worth all the effort. Just to jump in on this excellent topic, how is the Covenanter progressing Rick ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 no progress to report bob. i'm still tracking down parts and have no free time to or room to anything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 12, 2022 Author Share Posted March 12, 2022 (edited) On 3/6/2022 at 7:36 PM, eddy8men said: there will be a day soon when the sun is shining and you're driving the panzer at a show somewhere and it will have been worth all the effort. I know Rick and then all the hard work will be forgotten and another project will be the center of my attention. By the way, thanks again for the phone call, it dragged me out of a hole and was very much appreciated. Evening All, All the holes have now been drilled so it was on to the machining of the recess in either side of the sprockets. To start with I counter bored the flange and then tapped a number of the holes so that I could bolt the sprocket in place rather than just relying on my tack welds. Again I used the modified Land Rover hub but by using a spring loaded stop I turned the whole assembly into a sort of ratchet. If you remember I am rotating the assembly by hand using a long bar, so if the cutter were to snatch, especially at the start of each cut, it would try to rotate the sprocket at the speed of the cutter (500 rpm) in the opposite direction to the one that I am trying to turn it, taking my arm with it and ending in a big bang. As you can see from the pictures, the stop rests against each tooth of the sprocket in turn, stopping it rotating in the wrong direction and as the sprocket is rotated the stop moves accordingly. First side finished. The tack welds now had to be ground out and the sprocket flipped over so that the recess now locates over the outside diameter of the flange and it is then bolted in place ready for the recess to be cut in the opposite side of the sprocket. And that's tomorrows job. Jon Edited March 12, 2022 by johann morris adding text 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Preston Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 WOW! Just "WOW!" Don't know what else to say. Your workmanship is simply stunning Jon. I can't wait to see this project finished...........and running! Cheers, Chris, in Victoria, BC, Canada 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 no worries mate. we all enjoy watching your progress and look forward to seeing it in paint+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 Evening All, I managed to complete one sprocket and then, two cuts from finishing the second one, the cutter inserts gave up the ghost. I thought that i had plenty of spares but sods law said that I had plenty of every other type but not the ones that I was using, so now I will have to wait for replacements to arrive in the post....bugger. jon 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted April 6, 2022 Author Share Posted April 6, 2022 Evening all, Progress is a bit slow but it is progress. I now have two completed sprockets so my next task was to make the sprocket flange look something like the real thing. The original has a nice curve on it where as mine is, well, rustic. I was going to make a sort of hub cap that bolted on but in the end I decided to roll a cone and weld it on to the flange. And after a bit of welding Then of course there was quite a bit of grinding but I am quite happy with the end result. The next job is to make the cover to go over the hole in the middle. That' all for now. Jon 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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