Winter 23-24. And the wall came down

[Meter rat]

Your "incompetency" inspires me. You do fantastic work, keep it up and keep contributing to the group build (an education to us all).

Thank you, I’ll take any praise coming from one of the most skilled builders on the site. I’m not running around the room cheering, honestly.
I do, however imagine you sitting with you head in your hands, thinking to yourself what’s the fool broken/cocked up now.

Mr Chef. Thank you.

[Meter rat]

My best beloved, has informed me that some parts have arrived for this build. However I’m not allowed them until Christmas. I did try the ruse, that I needed to confirm that the parts are the correct ones. It didn’t work. She did however buy me a new bottle of Tamnavulin Sherry Cask Malt Whisky. I think 33 years she is a keeper.

[HERMAN BIX]

Id be wanting the parts
Men have needs, and men with Tanks need parts
After 33 years ya think she woulda got that by now !

[Meter rat]

Started to strip down the T72 today.

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Tracks and wheels were taken off. Gearboxes out. Right hand box just required two screws removing, and the new motor went in.

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Left gearbox has a neat little plate which is removed, and the motor comes off. Remove the plate from the motor and fit the new motor to the plate, and refit the plate. This felt tight so the screws were loosened and the motor turned by hand to settle it in place.

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Finally, the turret was taken apart, so I could investigate fitting the gun with a recoil, and an increased elevation travel.

I need to order some more wheel bearing and retrieve my pillar drill.

[Meter rat]

Id be wanting the parts
Men have needs, and men with Tanks need parts
After 33 years ya think she woulda got that by now !

Oh she is very good. She is just not confident that she is buying the correctly.. She just has to remember there are no bad whiskies. It’s just that some are better than others. She also thinks I have enough with something like 30 bottles and a 220ltr barrel, in a Derbyshire distillery. But that has another eight years before it is bottled.

[tankme]

Wow, there was a lot of oil all over that hull. For being such a large tank, the T72 has very little interior space because it's such a low profile tank.

[HERMAN BIX]

Yep they are very cramped. Plus the upper front plate meets the front lower plate and robs more space.

[Meter rat]

Wow, there was a lot of oil all over that hull. For being such a large tank, the T72 has very little interior space because it's such a low profile tank.

I think there is going to be a plastic card cover made to fit over the gearboxes. They do run very quiet though.

[Meter rat]

And a nice clean lower hull to work off.

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Put on an intensive cycle in the dishwasher.

[MrChef]

And a nice clean lower hull to work off.

Isn't that the best feeling. A nice clean canvas.

Put on an intensive cycle in the dishwasher.

My wife pretty much supports my tank "habit" but I just showed her your pic and quote and she said ahhhh NO to that