Scout T5329
 

Hi

A couple of days ago my new project arrived, Scout carrier T5329 (Phillip Hastings old project)

I'm looking forward to cracking on with it and finding out all the differences between these early carriers and the later universals.

It's very complete and is a fantastic project but there are a few missing bits and bobs so i'm going to do a list in the hope that some of you may have any of the parts i'm looking for. I plan on recording the progress here, carrying on where Phillip left off.

If there is anyone who's after LP spares i may be able to help as some arrived with the scout, let me know.

Ben

that's a great project mate, i look forward to following the resto.

all the best

rick

project
 

Hi Ben, Looking forward to seeing the project progress, now I have an excuse to come over to yours, I have a Scout Carrier service instruction book, will bring it with me when I come over.

kevin.

T5329
 

Congradulations on your purchase!
Probably the most complete Scout left in existence, and also possibly the only one to be on, or arrive back on british soil in the last 70 odd years.
I look forward to following your posts, and helping where I can.
It was a bit disapointing to miss the Scout by a day, but having seen her at Phillips made it easier.
British WWII military vehicle enthusiasts should be very pleased with what you've done. You have a unique vehicle, and given time, you will uncover her rich history. Not so many of us have a WWII active service vehicle in our shed. I look forward to seeing her in her full glory.
I'm guessing you will have a steady stream of tourists through for a while. While I'm thinking of a them, Hi to Nigel and George!

Once again, Thank you for your hospitality. We really enjoyed our stay at your lovely peaceful home.

Very very very green with envy.... I love the scout, sad that Phil let it go, but glad it came home and to a person who will do the job right..... Ben I guess you are in the habit of buying the rarer ones, what with the sentinel Bren and now this.... What's next ? Vickers light tank ?

Thanks for the comments, You're more than welcome to pop round and have a nose whenever you like. Lynn It was a shame it was a day late but Thursday was a very long day at the docks and we got soaked!

I've spent the last couple of days going over the Scout and taking all the loose bits out. There is almost no corrosion at all to the hull and apart from replacing the missing upper armour it's good to sand blast and paint. There are some fittings that need to come off first but I'm not stripping anything off for the time being.

It looks like it was painted khaki green no3 first then a sand colour with what I assume to be the darker colour of the desert scheme on top of that. None of the unit markings from the period Australian photos have survived.

A couple of the bigger bits that are missing are....

Steering box
Steering column
Handbrake assembly
Spare barrel box (same as mk1)
Aerial hook for the division plate
Small top idlers for main suspension unit
One of the lower oil cooler mounts

If any of you can help with these bits I'd be glad to hear from you. I can buy or swap for carrier parts if you like. I'm sure I'll add to the list at some stage.

I've taken some pictures to show the differences between some of the parts but I'm away for a few days so I'll have to post them when I'm back.

Ben

Ben i can oblige a Mk1 park brake assembly all be it repro ? i have an original one now. Failing that lend you one to copy

Thank you all for the offers here and via email. I'll be in touch. Just got back from a few days away so I'll post some pictures a little later.

Ben

Identity discovery
 

Hi

I thought I'd share a discovery I made this weekend. I thought I could make out something under the paint left on the lower front armour so I rubbed off the top layers one at a time. Pretty pleased with the results, I think they speak for themselves.

Interestingly it means that the "T" numbers and registration numbers don't match sequentially as they might suggest. 683 is one higher than i would have expected.

I think it's amazing that details like this survive.

Ben

RMY 683...better get your nose into Vol.1 of the carrier books I think its in there...good news is also when it comes to register the carrier on the road you have proof of a previous VRM which means unless it has since been taken by another vehicle, you can use it....which means a carrier with its original regstration $$$$$$$ ! lucky git !


spotted RMY 681 on page 58 fort Capuzzo on a scout... am still looking !

close but no cigar :)

the rear carrier has the reg RMY 651 and the caption on the photo says "universal carriers from 1KRRC at fort capuzzo 1941"

Rick
 

Try this one. Along with another history snippet.

Don't They?
 

Hi Ben

RMY683 is 74th carrier from the start of the contract, RMY609. 74 onto T5255 (start of contract T number) gives you T5329. Or is it too late for me?
Great project, many congrats.

Nigel, by my reckoning, it is the 75th Carrier, you forgot to add the first number. ........ or is it me? :confused

Let me write it all out!!!
 

Need to write it all out unless some of the young scientists come up with the answer!!! But I think the 74th includes the first one :wacko:

Nigel

Nigel and Richard
 

TL 5255 is the first of the contract. ADDING 74 to that, takes you to TL 5329, which is the 75th one produced, of that contract. Is it late over there?
:note: to both of you.

OK,

I had never checked myself, I just relied on what had been posted in Phillips original thread!

T5329 is the 75th built so the registration does match up RMY 683, glad that works! teach me not to do my own homework......

Started to find some of the early part number/date stamps, they're a little bigger and detailed than the later plain types. I assume each manufacturer would just use the tools they had to hand before they started military work.

Ben

Maybe a spanner in the works!
 

Lynn we are always very late in Scotland!! But just wait until you read this next bit and you may think how much later can we get!! lol

Scout T5329 minus starting Contract No. T5255 = 74. Add this to starting Reg.No. RMY609 you get RMY 683.

Armoured Machine Gun T1830 minus starting Contract No. T1828 = 2. Add this to starting Reg.No. CMM984 and you get CMM986. T1830 with reg.no.CMM986 was converted to Cavalry Carrier.

Armoured Maxchine Gun T1833 minus starting Contract No. T1828 = 5. Add this to starting Reg.No. CMM984 and you get CMM989. T1833 with reg.no.CMM989 was a pilot model used with machine gun shield.

There are several more like this which is why I "suggested" about the Scout. Presumably in the example of the Scout, it is the 75th vehicle but in relating it to the registration number you use 74 because the reg.no. also includes an "extra" vehicle!!

My head is hurting already! Now you know why I stay clear of quoting exact numbers etc.!

All's well that ends well!! We got there in the end.

Nigel, the Scout picture in vol 1 showing RMY 681 at Capuzzo, Can you remember where it's from? IWM, Bovington..... It has some stencilling on the kit locker (spotted by Lynn) and a higher res image might give some clues to what it says?

Thanks

Ben

Photo
 

Hi Ben

I'll need to look it up Ben, could have been an official photograph but will let you know when I look back Vol1 files.

Todays work
 

Hello

I've not really done any work on the Scout since it's arrival other than bits and bobs. While I wait for some parts to arrive for the Bren I thought i'd start stripping the Scout hull ready to repair the cut armour plus all the parts i take off will need to be overhauled anyway.

First photos show some of the differences between the early British pre universal carriers and the later UC MK 1. The air boxes are curved rather than angled (shown next to UC one). The pedal arrangement doesn't have plates on the brake and clutch just the levers and the throttle doesn't have a pedal like the UC just a simple lever on the bar. The gear lever is much shorter, has different side plates but the main change is that there is no selector gate on the early carriers.

Ben

More differences
 

More differences from the universal carriers, some may have seen these before, I'd be very interested to hear from those who have them on their carriers.

The UC clutch foot rest compared to the early British one. The Arens control for switching between left and right fuel tanks, this is fitted in the front compartment between the two seats. Gear selector joint with the square section collar. The obvious differences in the early and late style gearsticks.

I hope this is of some interest to some of you.

I've also noticed that all the fittings were applied after the hull had its first coat of paint. There is Khaki green no 3 under all the brackets etc from the vision shutters to the brake controls at the back.

Ben

very interesting ben i hadn't realised they had changed things from the scout as they went on but i suppose it is inevitable that things will be tweeked. i particulary like the curved air box.

rick

The curved one looks a little prettier than the later type but it uses lots more parts and was more complicated to make. No wonder they changed it and other things. There's lots more to Brens and Scouts than some missing upper armour.

Ben

Ben, Knowing you are associated with the Renault Racing Team, Have you gone for a Scout Bren Carrier because it has a cut down gearstick for faster changing and lightened floor pedals, not to pention the 'go faster' sloped armour.

Will you be running lower profile 19" tyre all round?.

kev :)

I'm only stripping the old stuff out so I can squeeze in a newer V8, limited to 19,000 rpm with a 7 speed sequential gearbox. I'm not putting a gear stick back in just thought I'd have paddles on the steering wheel for the gears!!! As for paint.....we all know red ones go faster. :devil:

Ben

Ben, That just silly! keep the original factory sports mods, you will be wanting to invert the radiator air scope next so you can call it a spoiler............shame on you :nono:. :nono:

Quick update
 

Just a little progress.

Removed most of the smaller fittings in the hull plus the rear axle and main suspension units last week. Most bolts still turn and there has been very little cutting or nut splitting.

The steel for the upper armour repairs has arrived and I hope to crack on with that in the next few weeks using Shaun's patented method of rivet removal, and Shaun!

The two photos show the hull sat up on large wooden blocks which allows for some stability whilst the bits are taken off and the rear plate after the axle and fittings are off. The ring is some sort of sealant or primer and is bright orange, it must have been applied at the factory as it's very fresh now exposed. I've found it on a few components where bare steel parts have been bolted on to the hull. You can still make out some of the KG3 paint under where the heat shields were and the steering fittings in the bottom corners.

Ben

Looking great Ben, I have a spare nos parking brake lever and can lend you the associated parts to reproduce the rest of the assembly if you still require it ?

Ben, That Orange coating you mentioned is lead paint, dont injest it.

kev.