Tankframework on the move

Recently, we experienced a problem in the left hydraulic motor. Seems the internal brake was blocked. JCB-dealer Vandaele Machinery came to pick up the tank and took it to their workshops.
I took advantage of the occasion to try to picture the framework at the side of the Guynemermonument, almost exactly on the place the original Damon II got ditched.
Working further on the project behind the screens. To be continued.

A phenomenal donation by JCB due to the RTR

It seems there is some confusion as if our tankproject is finished now with the yellow/brown tankdummy being placed at the outskirts of Poelkapelle. Nothing is farther from true and this message will show it. At the beginning of our project, already in 2004, we set our minds on a static light tankreplica and built a yellow light framework that was subsequently abondoned later when we headed for a moving tankreplica. Last summer we did make a new much stronger framework and the older one was getting dust at Georges workshop. It's this framework we got out of the dust and plated it to put it outside waiting for the real one to come in the next years.
Well, imagine a lorry stopping at your house in the morning asking where to put for free this motor below. Very warm contacts with the Royal Tank Regiment, and especially Stephen May and Gareth Davies lead to them asking around for a better, more reliable motor we already were using in the stronger framework of last summer. As most of the rolling material did come form an old JCB-excavator they managed to have JCB donate the motor shown on the picture already in Poelkapelle by now. I can only thank all involved and honour their help and generosity by trying to finish in time our "bus" with that new motor. Besides building in that motor the heavy plating and the trackplates are still on my to-do list and off course all the outer detailling including about 350kg rivets and their holes ...
But first I have to settle a bit my mind due to the amazement it went through last week by seeing this motor being donated.

A brand new JCB 6 cylinder gasoil motor, of 165kw (221hp) at 2000rpm and producing 1000Nm of torque at 1500rpm. With this motor we will be able to show what a MarkIV was capable of doing and this is from now on also our aim.
Once more a big Thank You to all who made this possible. Our tank will now effectively wear the slogan : powered by JCB  !

A dummy made of the first light framework

After last year we made a stronger framework for the exactorparts and the powerpack the yellow first light framework was a bit forgotten, but still around, waiting for a destination. A proposal of Olivier Pettillion to place it at the outskirts of Poelkapelle coming of Ypres however did emerge an old idea about a dummy.
Subsequently we were able to find someone who could provide lasercut painted plates to cover it.
The first idea was in december, the plates arrived at the beginning of july. Because the "Tour de France" was passing by in Poelkapelle I could convince some people to help plating the framework in time to have it outside just in time for the Tour. And there it is and will stay as dummy tank on a pile of debris, stuck and immobilised like a tankrelict after the war as there were numerous, waiting for the real riding tank to appear, in honour of all those tanks and  crews who so bravely tried to conquer Flanders fields full of mud, but had to wait for Cambrai to be show what they were able of and later on were so instrumental in turning the wave.

I want to express my sincere thanks to the volunteers who made this possible in one or another way and especially the newly involved people :  Olivier Petillion for the hospitality, Peter Seys for advice, immense help and his tools, Chris Courtens for the plates and the help, Jozef Courtens for the help and the moving with his oldtimertractor,  Stijn Butaye for the help and of course Dirk, supervising the works as he made the plans also. In the photo's you will see I did for once also use my hands ;-)
I may not forget the firma Parrein for lifting the tank on the debris, just at the opposite side of the road !

After the small tank on the roundabout made bij Stijn P. and installed in 2012, we now have a second full-size dummy at the outskirts in a beautifull environment not so far away from the road the real tanks passed trying to pass the Lekkerboterbeek, the small stream nearby. We are  now waiting for the riding beast to be finished and indeed, several projects are in their planning phase to finish it. More news on it later.

a first trial plate, work of Chris and Peter

arrival of the beautifull lasercut and painted plates

Peter busy sorting them

positioning the plates

Johan, Peter and  Chris fastening the plates, if you don't see Stijn B. working it's because he took the photographs, but was working as much as us, believe me !

Jozef and Chris fastening

the most difficult positions, I tried to do a lot of them myself, did not feel my arms anymore afterwards, I know not used to physical labor ;-)

Dirk and Peter taking measurements for the sponsons

discussing intermediate results

finished in time in the workshop

Jozef moved it with his oldtimertractor

like a real landship, Chris taking the steerwheel

delivered, but not yet at it's place

firma Parrein from the opposite side of the road in action

and there it is in it's right position

what a beautifull environment at Oliviers

a dummy stuck on a pile of debris, waiting  for the real tank to come

A moving tankframe at last

Last 5 october 2013 saw the the first coming out of the moving tankframe on our 4th tankday in Poelkapelle.
As images  say more than words I'll let you enjoy them and thanks to Kurt and Rob for the material :

Move once again, with the new frame now.

Last wednesday, 21 august 2013, was again a major event for our tankproject.
While I was away abroad, in fact on a tankvisit in UK, Robert Vandaeles his son firm, collected the new framework to take it to their workshops in Oostrozebeke to mount all the excavatorparts to get this frame riding on the tracks driven by hydraulics. Really looking out to the result of this next phase : a riding "tank".

In a bit an awkward position, diving in a trench with it's nose.

Due to the roller under it, to  be able to roll it.

Getting it out, a slow monster like the real tank.

A small "trench" is still a problem with one roller. 

The family of Herman, three generations, daughter, wife and mother are fearing the pad might be damaged.

Turned out to be difficult to manipulate our Damon II.

It was moved down the street, just in front of the home of my parents.

Herman, the welder, is explaining to the the family and neighbours.

My mother, father and Hermans wife, still amazed what just came out the doorway.

On the crossings next to my parents there was more room to get the job done.

Sorry to the cardriver waiting in the back.

Typically Herman, always around and caring. Thanks !

There it is, in the right position, still lacking it's roller gear and

plating, but already giving an idea. 

The driver is used to some strange stuff, but this was his first tank. But he already knows coming to Poelkapelle is special.

Vandaele Machinery one more on the yellow move, now with "a wanna be a tank". 

Can hardly imagine the faces of other drivers on the highway seeing this passing. The form being so typically, everyone immediately seeing : look a tank.

The older generations for once getting out in the sun to see

what was going on in their neighbourhood.

Herman took us in speed

When I arrived today Monday, not having been able to come over Sunday, familyday and watched television for the coronation of our new king Filip and our national day, I could not suspect Herman had been working further. He told me he ended like the tour de France and like a runner or a horse smelling the target.
But as soon as I arrived, I did not notice anymore the upper arcs laying outside and I quickly realised it would be the complet stuff I would  finally be able to view and so it was ! Congratulations to Herman and my hat of for working the whole weekend in such temperatures to whom we are not used to. He enjoyed it he told me.