Rarden Cannon Installed (Main Gun)

The Dummy gun was fitted this evening. 

The main components were manufactured entirely by Andrew Jeffery (He has a Saracen, Saladin & CVRT Samson) ...  incredible skills !!

None of the original gun was available and indeed there is nothing currently inside the turret.  Externally the barrel is a piece of steel water pipe.

I just have to make a dummy "flash hider" for the end of the barrel.

The name, RARDEN,  is a contraction of the Royal Armament, Research and Development Establishment and Enfield.

The Barrel Trough had to be made by Andrew... he cast this one using an original one as a pattern.... brilliant !!

This is a large steel Bung, which slides into the mantlet, with a barrel clamp in the centre... again made by Andrew Jeffery !

Ditto

The Barrel clamped in position

Another important step completed !

Brake Calipers & Exhaust System Installed

Over the last week or so I have fitted the brake calipers / Handbrake bands and replaced all of the steel brake pipe.

The complete exhaust system had been fitted.... inc... New Manifold flexi pipes and inserts, new exhaust cast "Y" piece , new exhaust Box and mesh cover.  A heat resistant cloth was glued to the hull along the full length of the exhaust... see photos.

Note:  I placed the large (new) air filter box in position today and it does not line up with the Carburetor intake pipe... looks as if there are two different types.. probably the none turreted CVRTs differ slightly from the other types... Spartan, Striker etc.

Its all coming together !

Brakes all sorted

Heat Shield Cloth 

Flexi exhaust pipes and "Y" piece

Mesh Cover etc Fitted