Landships II

MK1 Nut · Hero

MK1 Tailwheel help needed

TinCanTadpole · Legend

If you mean how do they attach to the tail, then it is by a series of plate-steel lugs along the forward edge of the tail - they stick out lengthwise from the front box-section beam of the tail unit.

The plates/lugs for the jack stick up in a roughly-triangular shape from the beam, with a bolt running through the plates and through the end of the jack, which is sandwiched between the plates. This bolt is the hinge of the joint.

I suspect there is something similar for the springs where they meet the tail unit, but I can't see.

I presume you know already how the top end of the springs attaches to the hull, but in case not, the cross-bar across the top of the springs has a lug at either end, each of which is double-kinked to neck it in between the track horns. These lugs are bolted to the track horns just above the bearing caps for the chain-driven cage gears that mesh with the sprockets. The bolts for the left lug can be seen in your second photo, just above the bearing cap and the dummy's helmet.

The triangular-ish plates to which the jack attaches can also be seen in that photo, just below the cylinder of the jack - which is obscuring the bolt running through at the top of the plates.

There may be some rounded triangular blocks at the bottom end of the springs, just like the ones at the top; there seems to be a bolt running sideways through each block and the pair of springs (pair in the sense of side-by-side, not in-front-and-behind) joined to it. I surmise that each triangular block would have a bolt running through it, connecting it to a pair of steel plates/lugs (on the front of the first beam of the tail unit) like the filling in a sandwich - the steel plates being the bread.

If you look again at that second photo, you'll see a pair of metal plates, end-on, below each pair of springs, with a gap between each pair just big enough for a triangular block to fit between.

Hopefully this is a clear enough description, Helen, but if not, and if no-one else has a photo, I can do a sketch to make things clearer.

MK1 Nut · Hero

Thanks for the input. Had a look at the photos I had... enlarged... enhanced and generally did a lot of staring at the screen, decided for now to go with something along these lines...

Some when soon I will have to get back in touch with Bovi and purchase a few more photos, and see if they have any measurements they can let me have. I will let you know how I get on.

H x

TinCanTadpole · Legend

That looks great; if it's not right already, then it can't be far off.

China · Corporal

Hi Helen.

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I was at Bovi last week on a mission to get photos of the Mk1 tail to make improvements to a model I bought recently. For some strange reason Bovi have put possibly the most important tank in a diarama that no one can get too and with very little light! Very frustrating.

However I managed to get some photos� .... not very clear I'm afraid (Poor light, flash glare, etc.) but please find attached. I do plan to visit again hopefully some time this year so may be able to get more. Using a mono pole and and the timer setting works wonders on getting close to out of reach details!

Love the plans by the way ....... I had noticed you hadn't done the tail ..... glad you're having a go�now though.

All the best

Phil

China · Corporal

Hi

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Another couple of photos this time from the Mk2 showing what I believe to be the pivot arms brackets / points�for the attachment of the tail.

I know the�Mk 2 didn't have a tail but maybe work was started and then discontinued?

BR

Phil�

MK1 Nut · Hero

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the photos, already noticed a few new things.�

The mk1 is simply hair pullingly hard to photograph. I can't make my mind up if the lighting is designed for effect, or just to hide the fact the dipsay need a good overhaul. Lets hope hope she gets a fresh display before 2016.

Glad you like the plans. I am still learning and updating them all these years after I first started.�

The MK2 is basically the same tank as the MK1. OK the cab is narrower and there are a few other tweaks... but it wasn't until the MK4s that new templates were made. Bovington's MK2 once had the tailwheel that is now on the rear of the MK1. It is probably the reason for the Airfix MK1 that isn't.

I have recently written to Bovington for some photos of the tailwheel 'without' a tank around it. Also asked if they had any measurments. This means purchasing a few more photos, but it will give me the answers I am looking for and the money goes to Bovi.

Helen x

MK1 Nut · Hero

One thing you have reminded me about is the louvers on Bovi's MK1... the frames are upside down. The cut out should be at the top, like on the MK2. I get the feeling the MK1 was made up of parts in a hurry before being present to Hatfield Park. Possibly they were keen to save her, having seen what had happened to Mother.

H x

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