A subject was touched on here that though being off topic deserves a little more recognition. During WW2 by dint of incredible effort a vehicular track was carved through the Owen Stanley Range to Wau on the northern slopes. It was known as the Bulldog Road.The story of its construction over an 8 month period is little known as it took place in what soon became a backwater as the war moved on.
Hats off to the unsung Diggers and Natives involved.
Beautiful job on the truck Wayne!

David

Bulldog Road
 

Funny you should mention that, Dave: I've just finished an article on jeep trailers for the next issue of the MJCQ journal 'Command Reconnaissance' and that road gets a mention due to the extreme repair & maintenance required on Aust No.2 jeep trailers being towed back and forth along it.

Mike

List
 

Hi Mike, I have the 1944 Field Specs No. 1023 for the 6 Seater which I kindly got from Keith, as well as most of the photos I use as reference in the rebuild, cheers Keith. :cheers:

The specs lists the usual spares that go in most vehicles, accessories,tools, ropes etc. I have a lot of the required parts plus a few map cases and DD luggage and other officer garnish. Still looking for a folding table, a single scotch and bits I didn't know I needed til I see them.

There are clues to be found like lights, dome (2),blinds, poles extension and others that had me head scratching until it dawned on me what went where.

The gun mounting pictured is listed as "Mountings Bren Gun Roof (4)"

My Uncle by Marriage was a Sapper on the Bulldog road and there is a chapter on the hardships of building it in a book called Maker and Breaker by John Grover.

Yes, it was the VOL list in the MVFS I was referring to. :thup:

You'll have noted that it lists a 'Cover, Windscreen, Anti-Glare' (or similar name) but instead of two, it shows only one. Which suggests it must have been a full-width, two windscreen cover, rather than two individual single windscreen covers.

Mike

Doors
 

The original doors on this truck were mounted as "suicide" but some time during service were changed around to the standard opening style.
I wanted the doors as they originally were fitted.

The original doors are wood framed with a steel sheet cover, like the rest of the rear section. I copied the originals and made them out of Tasmanian Oak and the weight difference is about half. The lock holding block was a test in woodwork skill.

The original hinges needed a bit of work but turned out well.
Running real low on brass wood screws now :bang:

Wayne

more doors
 

The door window follows the same lines as the rear windows, or does now.
The door handle was broken on the inside but a trip to the local vintage club parts shed supplied several replacements. I think these are a standard Chev car door handle, no key lock on the outside.
There in a leather check strap to be fitted to the doors but that will come later when all the leather work gets done in one hit.

Wayne

Hinges
 

Nice work there Wayne... are you going to hang them the way they were originally mounted as suicide opening?

Hi Wayne,

Was it real leather or leatherette that was used, please?

Nice job with the doors!

Mike

update
 

Hi Keith, yes, back on as they were originally.

Mike, the seats are covered in leatherette as are the covers over the hand holds mounted on the floor. The corner of the original back section is pictured.

The Chev seats are sections sewn together and brass eyelets in the base to let the air in and out. The photos of the Ford interior show the seats as one full section of leather or leatherette.

The door check straps were leather as are the straps that hold the seats upright. The originals survived but I will get a local saddle maker to do these.

Have heard stories about comfy leather seats being in these vehicles, maybe that's the Ford.

David, I think you will find that Kanga Force was involved on building that road. My father was part of Kanga Force, his mob, the 2/7th Independent Commando Co. and others were involved in building the road to make the Japs think that there was more happening than what was actually going on. This caused the Japs to put more troops into an area where we were better prepared for them. Dads mob only had 2 Jeeps at that stage and Dad was responsible for both of them as well as his ongoing commando responsibilities.

Regards Rick.

BTW. Wayne, I am also really enjoying your restoration of such a rare vehicle.

It's going to look very POSH when it's finished, Wayne.

You may have to make it available for future Royal Visits! :thup2:


David

Hello Wayne,

How is the progress on the Chevrolet six seater going?

I see you might be distracted by something with a little more solid metal on it in another thread :)

Kind Regards
Lionel

non update
 

Hi Lionel,
All quiet on the Wooden Front.
Advancing with armour at present. :salute:
Wayne.

Arn 61445
 

Attachment 82340

This is the remains of my C15 6 seater utility as it was when I acquired it about 1998. Wayne Henderson and I later visited the farm again and found lots of bits and pieces on the rubbish tip which Wayne salvaged for use in his restoraion.

Hello Rod,

Are you restoring the C15 6 seater that you wrote about ? Or did the baton get past over to Wayne?

Kind Regards
Lionel

Lionel, two different vehicles, as mentioned in post #6 on P1.

6 Seater
 

I am restoring it Lionel but only as a GS vehicle.

Cheers
Rod

fitting the radio
 

Starting to make the frame for the radio in the rear section.
I have a 19 set and parts and are working from photos.
Radios are not my area and I need help to id this base.
It looks a bit modern to me but the 19 set fits in it, the rubber mounts are all
cracked and need replacing/rebuilding.
How do the arm parts on the end work, something missing?

I use to have a manual for fitting C42 sets to AFV's but is there one available for fitting 19 sets?

frame
 

The mount looks original to me . They normally have a wide strap going around the top of the set and the Power supply box and a peculiar bracket is fitted on each end of the strap , the bracket slips into the holes in your pic , each end of the set / PS units . There are only 4 feet on most of them, not 6 .

Wayne.

If someone can track down that ZA 49938 number on the carrier for you, it will likely shed a lot of light on how this wireless part worked. I am curious if it was possibly of Australian design.

David

Was No 19/WS No 31 AFV mount
 

It looks like you may have the bottom half of the Wireless Set No 19 Mk 111 / Wireless set No 31 AFV combination mount.

That would be post war, remembering that A Squadron 10th Light Horse Regiment's Ferret Scout Cars were withdrawn from service around 1970 and were still using this obsolete fitout at the time.

John Martin has/had the metal frames for the WS No 31 AFV and I have a pair of the sets but they are very rare in Australia.

The arms could also be part of a WS No 19 / B47 Larkspur combination mount but I'm not too familiar with that and technical information is hard to dig up.

Apart from the Arms on the sides of your mounting tray, the rest could be fitted straight Into your WW2 vehicle and look authentic as long as you added the wide strap Mike refers to.

Regards

Phill

Hi Phil,

Interesting comments about XALH and the wireless fit in their Ferrets - were they 31AFV or possibly 88AFV sets coupled with the No.19 Mk.3?

As far as I can tell, the only No.19 Mk3 imports were in the early 1950s, and they were paired with 88AFV sets, hence my query. So if you can confirm the use with 31AFV sets, it will mean I'll have to go 'ferretting' (no pun intended!) for some additional info!

Be interested in your comments on this.

Thanks

Mike

I have a British parts list for Carriers, Sets, dated 1957 and ZA49938 is listed as Carriers, Set No.84. Sorry I cannot elaborate on this, but it might be a lead in your search.

regards, Richard

Pam sent Mike !

19 set
 

Thanks for the information people, post war and 19 set.
I did a test fit and I don't like it at all, looks wrong.
The unit is too wide, back to front and if I used the 19 set base the frame would cover the front of the 19 set pull handle on one side and the PSU on the other.
I have no visual proof these vehicles were ever fitted with a 19 set and what the fud is that bracket thingy hanging off the back suppose to do?
The vehicle did have a radio fitted but 11 set or something else perhaps.

I can adapt a wood shelf then a base and move the whole unit up and closer to the wall and the fit would be ok but nothing like the original photos.

I'm going to pay a visit to some radio people and have a look at other sets of that period. Better get my comb-over happening...

photo
 

The 19 set test fit and the bracket mounting on the rear.

Comb over
 

Love that comment! You'll also need the tweed jacket with leather elbow patches.

11 set
 

Hi Wayne

The 11 set is more or less the same as the 19 set ...heavy and bulky . You might consider one of the amenities receivers ... these

http://vk2bv.org/archive/museum/c17020.htm

Wayne.

In your recent post you say the fit of this 19 Set and carrier arrangement looks nothing like the original photos. Can you post those photos for us with any relevant observations you have made, for the group to review?

One of the big challenges with restoration of wartime vehicles that were wireless equipped, is the fact the vehicle life span all too often outlasts more than one variation of wireless equipment. Each set can leave its own trace and after 40 or more years of accumulation you have quite a puzzle sitting in front of you. It can get even more challenging when you talk to Vets who worked with the vehicles if they are from different time frames. Always a good idea to establish time of service when interviewing Vets as it can help clarify the chronology of the equipment used in the vehicle.

Would any Australian Army Signals Museums have documents on file for how this particular model vehicle was knitted out?

David