BC312 Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Been doing a bit of research work on the A13 cruiser Mk 3 a future 1:1 scale project i would like to build just like others who have made rare replicas in the past. I noticed that the running gear between the three tanks the A13 Cruiser, Covenanter and Crusader all have virtually the same Christie suspension system and are exactly the same. I noticed that the earlier models had a wheel cover that made the road wheels look flat rather than a pressed dish shape when remove. The A13 had cast alloy road wheels as opposed to the Covenanter and Crusader ones which were pressed steel. What and how were these flat wheel covers constructed and fitted to both road wheel types, push fit/screwed on ?, were they pressed alloy or steel. The A13 road wheels underneath the covers were made of alloy, were they the same profile and shape as the later pressed steel Covenanter and Crusader road wheels. Never seen a photo with the covers removed to see what was underneath and how it was constucted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 (edited) They are not flat wheel covers, those are the cast aluminium wheels. Unlike the later steel wheels, which are two piece and bolt onto the hub, the alloy wheels are one piece and the hub is an integral part of the whole wheel. It is just a production change, the early Covenanter and Crusader could also be seen with the alloy wheels. Edited December 14, 2019 by Adrian Barrell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 Interesting, been trying to find wheel drawings and examples on the web but no luck. So the early flat wheel is solid cast alloy not hollow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 (edited) Correct. I have the remains of one. It's mainly the centre but shows the construction OK. I'll try to get it out of the stillage and take some pics. It's not solid per se, as it is webbed and relatively thin which made them vulnerable to damage. Edited December 14, 2019 by Adrian Barrell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 Thanks Adrian, it will be interesting to see how they were made and why the pressed steel option was most probably better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 I'm guessing that a pressed steel version, would be cheaper & also not requiring the use of a "Strategic" material? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Have you seen the Black prince series of books, if you like technical details I would recommend them. https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=p+m+knight&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Jon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 I believe the practice of using alloy was stopped as it was needed to make aircraft parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 The technical history series of these books looks very good, what are they like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann morris Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Technical Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 Sorry i am thinking of other things when i wrote the last post. Just read the reviews on these books, looks like i am going to be spending some money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 They are very good books but a little dry at times. That said, they are a technical history of each tank and anecdotal humour has no place in such a book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Grundy Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 So going back to your first post on this topic. You will or are attempting to build a full scale replica of a A13 Cruiser Tank.? This is likely to be a somewhat extensive undertaking. Are you young enough for this as it will take years. What part of the country are you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 (edited) don't build a replica a13, if you want to get stuck into something early then how about an a9. i know of a wreck that is recoverable. much better to do a resto than a replica Edited December 29, 2019 by eddy8men Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 With a replica, it depends what type of replica you want to do, there are many option bearing in mind that you are not going to war with it or you are going to run the guts out of it once its built. So you don't have to use thick armour plate just mild steel plate and not as thick as long as the original construction is strong enough ie the hull and wheel stations are to a standard as not to fall to bits. As for the interior detail you don't have to do too much detail as long as the outside is spot on but that depends what you want out of it. Or you can do a faithful original. The hull turret and fabrication work needs to be put on CAD so the parts can be cut out with a water jet cutter, laser or plasma thus saving time than doing it by hand and a pile of cutting discs years later. All the cut parts will be like a airfix kit that needs assembling. You can rivet as per original, the holes pre cut in the CAD process or you can weld in place and use cosmetic rivets as with Guy Martins WW1 replica. With the wheel station it means replicating the amount of wheels you need and suspension bits shocks you need which can be used from modern day vehicles which will be hidden from view and perform better than original plus the weight of the total build will be less as you don't need thick armour plate which is kinder to the wheel stations and track. The road wheels can be cast aluminium or you can fabricate from steel a much stronger replica wheel. The tracks would be on the tricky side but not the end of the world, there are many options for that. Power and transmission is endless, find a reliable easy to maintain engine and box or you can hunt for an original Liberty and go down that route, you have quite a lot of options for the power section. The original spec replica will take time over a replica that plays the part but on spot on on cosmetically that is a shortcut in construction time plus with both options, modern technology cuts build time by huge amounts. The biggest problem is finding the original drawings or you can spend time taking measurements from the original, back and forth to Bovington, that if they allow you near with a tape measure and they now charge £1 per minute to look inside when i last asked a few weeks ago. I would love to have a go at a A9 but would need heavy lifting gear during its rebuild and build a shed as everything weighs a bloody ton, even that small bit of plate we saw the other day, that was a beast. Did you find what you was looking for the other day after you left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 yes mate it was a successful day all round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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