Workshop Patreon Apprentice - an update from Aaron (Patreon)

Hello Patrons! 

I hope you have all been well and safe over the lockdown period, and you’re slowly getting back to a more normal life. 

As most of you probably know, like most places, the Museum was closed until July, along with the Workshop. Consequently, not much has changed.

During lockdown I continued to try and keep busy with my college work from Bicester Heritage Skills Academy, including several weeks of zoom calls: so I have no excuses to get behind with my college work! I will be back on site for the second time since lockdown this month.

Also, I have passed my Tracked Vehicle H licence (Aaron, bottom right). As a result I can now help take part in live events such as Tiger Day and TANKFEST, learning more about the vehicles we are running – for example, how they operate. Additionally being able to drive the vehicle can help me to diagnose faults should it occur whilst in operation.

Since the Museum has now reopened, I along with most of the Workshop staff, have been helping out in the Museum as guides, assisting where and when needed talking to visitors and helping them navigate their way around the new COVID one way systems in the Museum.

Also we are now prepping for Tiger Day 14 - so I am very happy to be back in the Workshop for a couple of days checking the vehicles that we plan to run, such as the star of the show: Tiger 131. This work is vital since most of the vehicles haven’t moved in close to six months. As a result, a full ‘first parade’ check will be carried out before any vehicle is moved. This includes checking all oil levels, such as engine oil, gearbox oil, steering box oil, transfer box oil, coolant etc. and also checking track tension, road wheels, finals drives and sprockets for any damage, and to make sure they are correctly secure.

Along with static checks we have also given all of our running vehicles some running time in the arena to get them up to temperature and to stretch their legs. This also gives us the perfect opportunity to find any faults in the vehicle before Tiger Day. This is a great time to get a bit of driver training in, which I was luckily involved with. So now along with the FV323, I am also trained on the Lynx Reconnaissance Vehicle (whoop whoop!).

Slowly I am getting back to some sort of normal working life. Oh and a quick update on my Land Rover! It’s now completely stripped down and unfortunately will be needing a new chassis which is now on order. Whilst waiting I have stripped the engine, which is so far so good. Hopefully she will be running one day very soon! 

Many thanks for all your continued support and making my Apprenticeship possible!

Aaron