M3 Medium Lee/Grant rear fenders
 

Hi,

Does anyone know what the rear fenders were made of and does anyone have a decent or modern photo of same they could share?

Thanks

Alex
--
M3 Grant, Val, Ferrets, WM20, CMP's

here are 3 photos from the AWM. Most photos of the M3 Grant show no rear guards at all and these one's are the only one's I have showing the rear guards fitted.

Grant Tank
 

Just for interest, here's a photo of a miniature Grant Tank i made for my daughter Sharni. It is made from 12mm ply and is powered by 24volt Electric Wheelchair motors. Tracks are hand made from conveyor belt. Its 6' long 3' high and 3' wide, about 1/3 scale. About 3-4 months of work....

Attachment 27684

I hope the handicapped people did'nt mind you cutting up their wheel chairs :yappy:. Look great.
Colin.

Colin the correct term is 'Disabled' and not handicapped! :teach:

Two types
 

Alex,

So far I have come across two distinct types which seem to have been used here in WA, both of heavy steel - much heavier than they appear in photos

The first type is all welded with a steel tube reinforcement welded into the side.

The second type is of heavy pressed steel and seems to be spot welded along the seams.

I have a couple of old rusted and busted ones in storage and know where a couple more have been dumped.

First option goes to Bill at the museum (as with all Tank parts I recover these days) but you are welcome to anything he hasn't got a use for.

I am also on to several side track guards in 'as found' condition so if you are patient I can pass them on to you as well.

All the above would be excellent for patterns or possibly re-used if you are a sheetmetal magician.

Cheers

Phill

Two Types
 

Hi Phill,

I've read that it'll be awhile before you can post pics but when you can a couple of pics here would be great.

OK and Thanks Phill.

I've got a bit of time up my sleeve Phill! ;) :thup2: !
Do you mean sand skirt sides, or front original mud guards?

I love sheetmetal! :cool:

Regards

Alex
--
M3 Grant, Val, Ferrets, WM20, CMP's

Sand skirts
 

Hi Cliff,

Thanks for putting up the pics. I believe they are pics of all, or portions of, the sand skirts. I've not tried to check whether sandskirts came from the US on the tanks to Australia, or whether they were a local addition after they landed. I've not found any remnants of sandskirts in Aust myself, but sounds like Phill who also posted above may have.
I have a pair of rough original front guards for my project, and since I've never sighted the small rear fenders except for some hand sketches and poor photos I wondered what others knew of them. My guess now is that they only arrived on Lee's and I've never seen any physical or photographic evidence yet of Lees being over here in WA.

Regards

Alex
--
M3 Grant, Val, Ferrets, WM20, CMP's

1/3 scale Grant
 

Hi Darren,

Looks terrific - Great Work!!!

Regards

Alex

Will pick them all up
 

Hello Alex,

I was referring to the side sandskirts as well as the rear guards. I have found about three sets of sandskirts which I am pretty sure are from General Grants.

I have some bits in storage and will have to go out and collect the rest. I was out in the field yesterday and had another look at one of the rear fenders (yet to be picked up) it is bolted together along the seams with sheet metal screws !

Some of the parts are accessible only by 4WD and my 101 Forward Control is too big to get in close.

Will let you know when I have recovered all of the debris.

If you Pm your mobile number I can send pics from my phone until I get properly online.

Cheers

Phill

Mission accomplished
 

Good news Alex,

I went bush yesterday and recovered one full set of front and rear Grant sand guards as well as three full sets of side sandshields all rusted and abused but the real thing.

Combined with the bits I have in storage they will be at the museum next time you come through for inspection, or I will try to get some pics to you in the meantime. We won't be needing all of them.

I do know of the location of some other grant bits but I don't yet have approval to recover them.

Cheers

Phill

tanks
 

Talking of tanks . Just after WW2 , three local chaps here , formed a consortium and they purchased many tanks . Story goes that they employed drivers and they drove them from Puckapunyal to West Gippsland ( try doing that today ). Included were Stuarts , Matildas and Grants . In order to save fuel, usually two were hitched together and one towed the other. A Grant lived within a stones throw of me here , just down the road , it went to the Narre Warren collection. They also purchased many tons of NOS spares ,new motors and such. Some were converted to dozers and are still hiding away in the hills of Gippsland ..you just have to know where to look.

hiding tanks
 

You really know how to turn a man on Mike. :D

Still more
 

Alex,

I picked up yet another side sand shield and another rear fender, good for patterns and now also at the museum.

There are some more on another scrap pile which I will ''bring in from the cold' next time I'm out that way.

Cheers

Phill