[Philliphastings]

Hi Lynn,

Thanks for posting up those pics. I got a bee in my bonnet on saturday and manufactured both Battery box replacement side armour plates as well as the rear folding armour plate. They need only be drilled and sand blasted and ready to go !

I had no luck sourcing a local steel fabricator/supplier to manufacture the replacement side plates so I will gather quotes in Perth and have them done professionally. Even adding the cost of freight it is cheaper than trying to get work done local.

The unusual mounting box you have posted up images of is, I believe, the stowage for the Wireless set remote control unit and spare valves box. At least that's my best guess and as both units fit perfectly, and the box mounts perfectly in the right place in the Scout, then that's where I intend to put it.

On the subject of engines, the one you saw is out of a 1937 Ford Coupe Utility and is in fact the engine which was replaced by the original Scout engine. It need a replacement piston fitten and it will need to be carefully drilled for the carrier oil cooler outlet but seems to be ideal to fit to the machine.

It is amazing how small parts keep turning up and yesterday I found one of the pivots with grease fitting for the antenna mounting. Sand blasting the stripped down hull will be a major landmark in the rebuild and will have to be done in Perth as well. From that moment on the rebuild will begin in earnest.

I have satisfied myself that olive drab lustreless paint was applied at the factory and have ordered a batch in the exact same colour tone and it turned out to be surprisingly affordable. I have found evidence of the dreaded re-lead primer in a few spots low in the hull and wonder what was likely to have been used at the factory. I have opted for red oxide zinc primer at this early stage.

Cheers

Phill