Richie's Little Tank

[Richie]

Yeah however when I got my original cast box back I rebuilt the thing myself, it's a pretty straight forward four speed straight cut dog box

[Andrew453]

Slightly off topic, but couple of pages back Bill mentioned his Uncle Phil and his experiences on the Arctic convoys, in particular the sinking of the RFA fleet oiler Gray Ranger. Here are a couple of pics of the the ship taken by a Dundee photographer at her 1941 launch at the Caledon Shipyard and steaming down the Tay on her builder's trials.
The curious box-like structure forward and canvas screens along the well deck were camouflage. Hard to tell what the intention was - perhaps they wanted to make her appear like an old American Laker.

[sbt]

The curious box-like structure forward and canvas screens along the well deck were camouflage. Hard to tell what the intention was - perhaps they wanted to make her appear like an old American Laker.

It may simply have been to make her look less like what she was, a Fleet Oiler. Tankers were priority targets anyway but a Fleet Oiler tells the enemy that there are warships in the area and makes her even more of a priority as sinking her would make keeping the escort around more difficult.

[Richie]

Well I thought I best get my backside into the garage today as the countdown clock for W&P is always ticking !!! I wanted to mok up the engine deck to make sure everything lines up as it should.... For the better part it does, but there are areas which will need a tweak or two, which is understandable given the length of time it has been hanging inside the carrier, or lying in the cold Canadian snow !


The front part seems ok, and I had not realised I had some of the curved air deflector left so it was a nice suprise to fin I only need to graft two short sections onto each end !

Inside the engine bay was another matter

For starters the deck has been snapped at some point and shoddily welded back together, this is not really an issue as I can sharp weld it back again. The lower rail for this side I only have a third of it left so will need to make the rest to graft onto it.



The other rail is complete and bolted in spot on ! Just need to tweak the posts from the top deck, as you can see they have both sprung.

I sat and tried to remember what goes where on the top cover..... Any ideas ?

[Renegadenemo]

The little tank is looking well, Rich... I reckon we should shove that boat into the yard for a few weeks, chuck a tarp over it and knock the tank together for a change of scenery. A few weeks on steel will cause us to appreciate aluminium.

Andrew453 wrote:
The curious box-like structure forward and canvas screens along the well deck were camouflage. Hard to tell what the intention was - perhaps they wanted to make her appear like an old American Laker.


It may simply have been to make her look less like what she was, a Fleet Oiler. Tankers were priority targets anyway but a Fleet Oiler tells the enemy that there are warships in the area and makes her even more of a priority as sinking her would make keeping the escort around more difficult.

That's what they used to do - they'd rig a canvas deck-house to change the profile. Another trick with tankers and oilers was to build a dummy funnel with a smoke pot in the bottom burning tar and such to make plenty of smoke then exhaust the engines through the aft mast at the right height so it was lost.
Sometimes they'd take an old, knackered ship along stuffed with oil drums and pit props so it wouldn't sink no matter how many torpedoes the enemy wasted on it. They were endlessly ingenious when it came to doing battle with the U-boats.

[Richie]

The little tank is looking well, Rich... I reckon we should shove that boat into the yard for a few weeks, chuck a tarp over it and knock the tank together for a change of scenery. A few weeks on steel will cause us to appreciate aluminium.

That's easy... It's dull, dirty, dusty,

I am sure bluebird would be safe as houses sat out there

If the team want a crack at "scary riveting" I can bring a few odds and ends down for break time shenanigans notice I said scary rather than big boys or mans riveting........ On account that about 90% of these things were buttoned together by women ! Different gravy altogether 1940's women !

[Renegadenemo]

Different gravy altogether 1940's women !

D'you think so? Would you like to pick a fight with any of the BBP girls? I wouldn't!

[Richie]

Yes but take a look at the female spawn of today.... By that I am referring to the 18 - 30's bunch, most have their dodgy tights on cut jeans, nasty looking shoes from the 80's, or the usual suede boots that cost a bomb and are badly made...... Massive hair, makeup smashed into their faces...... Most have nowt about them, given a tough situation they will crumple to the floor all the while looking into their phone for the answer to the problem that they face.


Now then 1940's woman of same age group took everything in their stride, could no doubt make a canny meal, and always looked their best whilst in the most wretched of situations.


Bluebird women are not the usual fair...... And they are not in the 18 - 30 bracket either.

1940's


2013's


The latter has but one use

[Renegadenemo]

The latter has but one use

You'll get into trouble, you will. I'm supposed to be the controversial one around here...

I'm not actually sure of her age, but maybe our Louise still fits into that age bracket?

And that's you in trouble too.

[Richie]

Well I thought I might have a look at the engine today... I have had a good solid day in the garage... I dragged the thing out of its corner and mounted it onto the engine stand. After a thirty minute stare in dispair, I boiled the kettle made a brew, the. Set about the damned thing !

I had one final snapped head stud to extract which was made more difficult by having a snapped easy out in it.... It took some time but I got there in the end, so now all studs have been removed and the holes that were shot have been helicoiled ready for some nice ARP studs (if budget allows)

Once that was done I scrubbed the thing down with hot soapy water, and surprisingly the block cleaned up real nice !


Once that was done I began to take stock of what I had been left with, I found a basket of valves which had the guides zip locked together, they were in a sad state. So I thought I might as well start to clean them. I pulled each one down and cleaned the individual components the valve stem was given some light cleaning, and the valve face was cleaned in my lathe with some fine wet and dry. I then oiled them up and built them back into the springs......I am undecided if I am going to replace the guides (as they appear ok )


Three down !

I have also been digging through the bucket o grime to see what bolts I have left.... As I found them I put them back into the block clagging bits back on (these will all come off again for the build)


I have ordered some big end bearings and scored for a full set for 35 quid ! 15 thou undersize.

I still need some main bearings though. I have noticed that my cam is utterly shot as the hard nitride coating has worn off some of the lobes.....hate to think what a new cam is going to cost me !

But on a high note Bill checked my water pumps and both are fine so no need to strip and rebuild them, so the is a few quid saved !

But of a mixed bag, it's going to be costly but I will get there somehow.