Look! I can now thumbnail pictures to enhance your blog-reading experience, or something . . .
So, what has been going on. Well I have bought some cheap RC truck shocks - four quid each, which is very reasonable considering that they come ready built and oil filled. However the less aid about the colour of the springs the better. . . luckily they'll be hidden away on the finished tank!

shock

And I've gone back to my own design of return roller but I have used the bearings from H's old skates.

skates

On a hand related thought, may I suggest that if you want to know if an air vent is blocked, it may not be a good idea to put you hand on it . . .

vent