Thanks for the memories.
A California dad became the envy of engineering buffs everywhere after he built an over 100-year-old reservoir from scratch — a project that cost him $50,000 and a year of his time.
About the size of a sedan, this special artillery model boasts working tractor steps, an engine and a 360-degree rotating turret, which are for show only, according to California state law.
“People have been saying it’s a cool little tank,” Kameron Swinney, 34, told Jam Press as he described the adorable armored vehicle that sits on his front lawn.
The father-of-one frequently uploads videos of himself driving the 12,000-pound miniature Killdozer around his yard as it rattles and shakes like something out of the Mad Max movies.
For as long as he can remember, Swinney has been fascinated by history and welding, a passion he cultivated working on classic cars since the age of 15.
He never went to college, so the bathroom remodeler had to teach himself how to MacGyver his car creations from scratch.
He managed to combine his two interests recently by engineering an FT-17, a World War I-era combat vehicle widely considered the world’s first modern tank.
According to Swinney, the battleship bruiser, which is still in use today, is also the first American-made tank “licensed to be built” by the French firm Renault.
To revive this drill from the past, the amateur gunsmith bought some plywood sheets, a half-inch steel plate, a CNC plasma table, bolts, steel plates and nails.
After building the frame, Swinney fitted the tank with a “Jeep F134 engine that turns a hydraulic pump with flow controlled by spool valves going to the hydraulic motors.”
“Each hydraulic motorcycle has 16 gallons per minute of hydraulic oil at 3,600 psi,” he said.
Meanwhile, the steps were covered by two tractors from the 1930s.
Although it’s already taken a long time, the aspiring Tony Stark says he’s still “working on it and perfecting it.”
Of course, he can’t go total balls to the wall. Under state law, the tank can only be driven on private property as its steel steps prevent it from being street legal.
“It’s basically a tractor,” admitted Swinney, whose unusual pet project has become beloved in the community.
“Everyone who’s seen it loves it,” he said. “The neighbors have been nice and they also love it, they also love the history and know it’s a replica of a tank that’s over 100 years old.
Swinney even took his creation to a car show, where it won best in show.
The freelance engineer also has plenty left in the tank, as he plans to roll out more of these automated cavalry units.
“I can make another FT17 tank,” Swinney said. “If not, I’ll move on to something maybe bigger.”
#spent #year #50k #building #WW1 #tank #works
Image Source : nypost.com