Anyone making up the long tool box?
 

In the UK or here in North America...
ANyonw making up the long tool box that goes on the gunners side, rear, over the tracks?

Not on Bizal's site, and haven't caught up with him yet to ask if he makes them.

Anyone else??

Cheers,
Jim

Hi Jim,

I am having 3 made as we speak, infact I have to go look at the first one this morning the guy has started to make. He is making the basic box with lid, I will drill all the holes and mount the catches and fabricate the inner corner part myself. The basic box is £300 without catches, holes and inner corner piece.

A note on the original he has to copy, it's a British made one and has a hinge stiffning plate on the inside, not seen this before on the Canadian ones.

I also believe the mounting holes on the lid may be different between this one and the Canadian ones, this original is off a true early sloped back Bren Carrier Ben has.

Ben can you highlight the differences?.

I will post some pics later today.

kevin.

The only difference is the hole pattern on the lid top I'd leave in un drilled if I were you (some early British carriers had the shepards crook mounted on there)

I have heard of some Canadian ones with a light in the corner fitting.

I've only seen that British one in the flesh so can't comment on the stiffener differences. The central locking latch and outboard latches should be the same on all. I can get the latches cast.

I've seen a few types of hinges but I suspect that's due to the manufacturer as its basically the same but with a variety to the number of teeth in the hinge barrel.

A basic un drilled box will suit 99% of carrier owners I should think. If they want to add any details seen in period photos then that's up to them!

Hope that helps

Ben

Was that 30 or 300 !? A miss type ?

Am I thinking of the right box ? Sits inside the armour on the gunners side in the rear compartment, many crews moved it to the glacis plate ? Chieftain latches are very very close to carrier ones.

Hi Jim
Is this the box?
Barry

Richard, No miss type, £300, Give S&G Fabricators in Lowestoft, Suffolk a ring on 01502 566734. £30 would not even buy you the metal, no guys going to spend a day replicating rolled hinges exact to your pattern piece for the fun of it, :).

Does anyone know what is stored on top of the box?, If its not the track adjuster?. I have attached a couple of Jordan Bakers pictures of his carrier, note this has pre-fabricated hinges as seen on other Canadian examples, the one we are doing has integeral rolled hinges, hence the price.

Kevin.

The fittings on the lid allowed for a combination of shepards crook and or the jack handles. I suspect as its on a scout stowage diagram it may be common on early MK1's too but phased out at some stage quite early on.

Ben

Box Pictures.
 

Some pictures of work in progress, note the stiffening plate on the rolled hinge type box.

kevin.

very nice. just goes to show you get what you pay for.
the bloke that said he'd do my ration box for £30 still hasn't made a start on any of the stuff i've given him and he's had it for a month. bit pissed off with him but it's understandable when you realise the more profitable jobs have to take priority, after all the guys got to make a living !

rick

box completed.
 

Hi, Got round to fitting out and completing a British kit locker box yesterday. If anyone needs dimensions let me know. Note the rubber insert in the jack handle retaining box, a Mk3 Bren oil can fits nice in the canvas pocket, I am pretty sure the canvas snap flap holds bren cleaning mops. The the odd looking bracket in the corner must be for a 'lint free' oil rag??. Still not sure what the hole is for in the jack handle end retainer, locking pin?.

kev.

pics
 

more pics attached.