There are a number of questions in those photos...
There is no hydraulic system on the back of the vehicle, which means it is manually cable operated? Can you imagine difficult that would be to operate?...! lol
The wheels look correct however there are a number of differences in the frame structure of the carriage including the lack of the wooden framework elements.
The lower "spring" mechanism looks a little different and is in a different position than in other photos. It is more underneath the Hull.
You can also see the side of the hull and you can see the second to last upright row of rivets on the hull. This is not possible once Willie is fitted with her final Track system. The Track sponson extends almost to the rear of the Hull. Obviously this is an early point in Willie's testing, before the larger Track sponsons are fitted. I'd say, its exactly the same timeframe as the third photo below.
and as Charlie says, it probably went through more than one configuration.
What we need now are some actual plans, tucked away in an office drawer for 100 years, newly discovered!
I'm wondering how similar Little Willie's steering Carriage assembly
is to the Mk.1 assembly.
Obviously there is a difference in the mounting, and the extended framework at the rear of the Tank
but the rest of the construction looks very similar.
I ask this because I am attempting to create a (paper) model version to add to my Lincoln machine model.
I have collected a number of vintage photos (including the ones mentioned in this thread), but things are not clear.
Are there any blueprints or clear diagrams of the steering carriages on the Mk.1?
actually, I have most of the steering carriage framework sorted out... just a lot of angle iron (that I can see)
My biggest problem is the steering cable attachments and whatever is on top and near the center of the carriage..
Obviously the cables come down to a point within the steering linkages but its hard to figure out the bracketry, and mounting. Do the cables connect directly to something? I would assume they make 90 degree turns and connect to the outboard linkages?
So, is there guide wheels? or are the cables just run around a corner?
There seems to be a plate...a mounting surface for whatever connects the cables?
The hydraulic system is slightly off center, to the right side, which means the cables don't come down into the carriage centered. This isn't a problem for steering operation (one cable will be slightly longer), but the central hardware must be off center in the carriage too.
I think this is the clearest photo out there...its all I've got that shows this area. Anyone got any ideas?
-- Edited by airdave on Saturday 4th of October 2014 05:55:18 PM
