Western Australian treasures
 

Hi everyone,
Over the last couple of weeks I have travelled around a fair bit of the Wheatbelt of Western Australia and have got to photograph a few different armoured vehicles.

Enjoy
Rod

Valentine with GM 6/71 engine, Mark V I think

Centurion
 

Broken down at the moment, note the tow rope!

Another Centurion
 

Same place as the other, engine currently removed. This tank is unusual in that it is still a mid bronze green colour scheme.

The offending engine
 

partially stripped down Rover Meteor

2 pounder attack carrier
 

Wouldn't you like to find this under the Christmas tree?

Rover Light Armoured Car hull
 

:bang: Sob!!!!! Sadly it's not mine.

Grant tank remains
 

These are fairly well known and are just outside Nungarin, WA

Elsewhere
 

a much more complete Grant. Apologies for the photo quality.
Note the Stuart behind the Grant and that's a Valentine lurking behind the fuel tanks. The sun set before I got pics of them.

Grant drivers position
 

in very good condition I must say!

Re: 2 pounder attack carrier
 

Hi Rod , Is that 2Pdr owned by someone planning on restoring or scrapping it ? I'm still looking for a seat and a few other parts for my 2Pdr ..that's why I'm asking
I hope they are not going to throw these out ..Collectors must have approached them trying to buy them ?

Pics
 

Thanks for sharing these pics, Rod. Always fascinating to see what's around. That 2-pdr carrier is a gem! Did you get the hull number? Any other pics of it?

Re: The offending engine
 

Rover?!? Your mind must be occupied with other things, Rod :D

Thanks for the pics, I am amazed by what can still be found in Australia.

Hanno

Re: Re: The offending engine
 

Hanno,

Rover car company built the Meteor Mk4B from 1950 to 1964.

Richard

Rover
 

This time I'm talking about the interesting Rover, the Aussie armoured car. Any more pics of that one, Rod?

Re: Re: Re: The offending engine
 

Thanks Richard, I didn't know that.

But wouldn't a component built under license still be known under the designing company's name? In this case a "Rover-built Rolls-Royce Meteor"?

H.

P.S.: I would not mind seeing more pics of that Rover armoured car, too.

Re: Re: Re: Re: The offending engine
 

Well, some of them are Merlins. . . . .

Al Tooes worked at Hants & Sussex Aviation (IIRC) here for some time in the 60's I think (I'll have to ask) converting real Merlins to Meteor spec units for Centurions, such was the stock of spare Merlins.

Quite a lot of tasty aero stuff went straight into the skip; like the blower, carbs and inlet manifold for a start.

R.

Re: Rover
 

I do have some more Keith. I'll post them as soon as I get a chance to re-size them. In fact there were two almost complete hulls there but no ARN on either.

I didn't get time to check the 2 pdr carrier for numbers. it was late in the day and so much to see....................... :rolleyes

Cheers
Rod

Re: Re: Re: Re: The offending engine
 

Hanno,

That is quite true, but the Packard built Merlins in the N.A. Mustang are more often than not, refered to as Packards and not R.R.

Richard

Re: Re: 2 pounder attack carrier
 

Hi Rod ...It seems like we all use the same techniques in this hobby . Over the years I've traveled many back roads searching for MV's besides following up "tips" about Junk Yards and abandoned Jeeps found deep in the Woods ...and it's paid off. I bought 3 WW2 Jeeps (still have 2 of them) and one 1953 M38A1 an M880 and a M886 ..all from following up tips ,searching and knocking on doors .
For several years I was living in California and 3 or 4 times a year I'd drive cross country ( to NY) and even then I was "searching " the fields. Once I found a Stuart in Arizona parked on what turned out to be Gov owned land ..nobody could tell me who owned it but they said it had been there for years (looked like someone had painted it up as a Billboard)...that's why I asked you about that 2 Pdr and if you knew whether the owner was planning on restoring/selling or scrapping it ..I don't know how the Australian Laws are regarding abandoned MV's ..then again , maybe the ones you pictured are owned by a Collector ?
I've posted re my 2Pdr and ..have not had any luck finding the parts I need to restore it. If you know of a Scrap Yard in Australia or , maybe a Rancher that might have the parts I need , please keep me in mind.
Here are my MV's ..I'm lucky my neighbors don't mind my "hobby"
Thanks --Mike :rolleyes

Here's the Post with my 2Pdr
http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...2946#post52946

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The offending engine
 

True. When we restored a Comet for the Museum at Munster in 1992, we fitted an overhauled Meteor IVB, Centurion engine. This was overhauled in the late 1980s or early 1990s and had one cylinder block made by Buick. Presumably originally from a Packard built Merlin.

Re: Re: 2 pounder attack carrier
 

Hi Mike, Fear not! The 2 pdr carrier is much loved and will be restored soon I hope.

Good luck in your search for your missing parts
Cheers
Rod

The correct titles are RR Merlin, or Packard Merlin.

The RR Merlin was never meant to be a large quanity production run, but the Packard Merlin was.

The Packard Merlin was considered in the field to be much stronger engine, particularl;y in the bottom end.

Both sound great do they not

Regards

Col

2 Pdr
 

Rod, I am interested in some information reference the pics of the 2 Pd AT Carrier. Have you access to the serial number?? I ask as I have restored one for the Army Museum Bandiana and am now compiling a register of known carriers in Aust. This register includes all variants (LP1,2,2A, AT and others). I would appreciate any information or additional pictures to check and update the register if required.
I have to admit, I have notseen a more complete 2Pdr ready for resto........

Re: Re: Re: 2 pounder attack carrier
 

Thanks Rod ..If you visit it again, please post a few more shots of it .
As far as my finding a seat and Ammo & Tool box ..I don't know what my chances are at this point. I might have to have the seat made at a welding shop ..I'll keep looking though. :)
Thanks again --Mike

Re: 2 Pdr
 

Hi Ian, I will be trying to go back for another look in a month or so. I wil make sure that i will have plenty of time to take more photos this time and will get the numbers.
By the way, a friend of mine here in Kulin has just acquired a carrier which was hiding in a bit of bush not 10 km from my home and I never knew about it. Amazing what is still out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers
Rod

Fuel tanks
 

Can any one identify the fuel tanks sitting on the front of the carrier?

2dr
 

Rod,
greatly appreciated if you could get the number from both of the carriers when you return.

Ewen,
as for the tins in front of the carrier, I do not believe they are fuel tanks. If you look they have handles on either side, looks like about 3/8 inch round, hinged. I think you will find they are ammo tins.

2pdr Hull Number
 

Rod - did you receive my PM on the possible Hull Number?
Bob

Euan, they are 6 Pounder ammo tins.

Ian, we had a look at some surviving 2pdr carrier numbers in this thread. I don't see any WA addresses there, so this could be a new one?