Windsor Carrier restoration Overloon

[Alex van de Wetering]

Recently Liberty Park, the former War and Resistance museum in Overloon the Netherlands, decided to give their group of volunteers permission to restore the Windsor Carrier, which has been on outside display for ages.

Somewhere in the 70’s the open top of the Windsor had been welded shut to avoid further deterioration of the interior. Some weeks ago this temporarily roof has been removed and fortunately the interior condition was pretty good. When finished the Windsor will get a new place indoors and in the near future it will feature in a “liberation-diorama” along with a 6pdr. Due to costs the Windsor will be restored as a static display and not to running condition; the engine seems to have been disappeared a long time ago and the tracks have also suffered from the outside display.

This first picture shows the Windsor earlier this year, still on outside display with its roof on. The other pictures have been taken recently during the restoration process.

Next project will be the restoration of the “Conger carrier”, for which I will join the team of volunteers.

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

Front

[Alex van de Wetering]

Rear

[Alex van de Wetering]

Interior1

[Alex van de Wetering]

Engine-compartment

[Alex van de Wetering]

Tracks

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Alex van de Wetering
This first picture shows the Windsor earlier this year, still on outside display with its roof on. The other pictures have been taken recently during the restoration process.

Wow! That is quick! I was at the museum last July, and the Windsor was still outside. I thought it was a shame it was one of the last vehicles on display outside. Good to hear the interior has survived!

H.

[Marco C.]

Wow thats very nice he has stand to log in the Weather

Alex are you a mechanic from the Museum ???

[Alex van de Wetering]

Hanno,

Yes, I was also surprised about their speed. The Windsor will soon get a new spot indoors along with a 6pdr.

Marco,

No, I am not a mechanic at the museum nor am I a member of their normal group of volunteer-restorers. But, recently I was asked to join them for the Conger restoration, mainly for gathering information and advice.


With this posting you will find a new set of pictures, which were taken last weekend. In the meantime work has started on the steering column and steering wheel.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Top

[Alex van de Wetering]

On the right hand side of a Windsor there are two brackets/clamps. Has anyone got any idea what they are for? Storage of the bows? Storage of the 6pdr "range-poles" (no idea what the proper word is...)

Judging from the scarce "period" pictures of Windsors, it looks like the Overloon Windsor seems to be missing it's rounded "clamps" which ran from the brackets pictured in this posting to about the top of the side armor. Sadly I haven't been able to find any Windsor pictures which show the use of the right hand side brackets.

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Alex van de Wetering
On the right hand side of a Windsor there are two brackets/clamps. Has anyone got any idea what they are for?

Have read about these - will look it up - stay tuned.

H.

[G166UC]

Alex,
I just returned to the States after doing Beltring and then going over to Belgium and Holland for 4 days. On the way to the Ferry, we stopped at a collectors shop to look at some vehicles, and lo and behold he had piles of Windsor carrier track and road wheels. His name is Ian, but will have to look up his e-mail address if you want it You are doing a great job. I will be displaying my T-16 in an all Ford show in a couple weeks. Something a little different for a change! Rod

[mudeng]

These appear to be part of the hinged brackets for attaching the extended gun shields fitted to the 6 pounder.
Although not always used, they appear to be a standard fitting, as the mortar carriers were also fitted with the brackets.

The ones on this example appear to be incomplete, as there should be an extension hanging down.

I hjave a photo of one from the restored Windsor at the Cobbaton Museum. Unfortunately I am not in the UK at the moment. You can Email me and I can send a scan, but I will not be back in the UK for another two weeks.

George

[Alex van de Wetering]

Hanno and George,

I have looked through some Windsor period pictures over the last few days and all of them show the brackets un-used hanging from the side. So I guess it is save for the museum to reproduce the missing parts and just display them without use.
George, your explanation sounds plausible and I would be really interested in the picture.

Rod,

Yes please. I would be very interested in the contact information for "Ian", although it might allready be too late for the Windsor restoration. I understand the museum crew wants to finish the Windsor in the next few weeks, but I still want to trigger them to keep the possibility open to restore the Windsor to running condition, one day........This would require a Ford V8, steering assy and some track links, at the least...

Thanks for the compliments, Rod. But, I have to say that I am only helping the museum with information and advice; the restoration work is done by their volunteers. I do want to give them a hand with the restoration of the Conger carrier, which is their/our next project.
A pity that you allready left Holland; the Arnhem remembrance is next week!

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

The Windsor now has to share it's space with a 6 pounder gun, which is in good shape as you can see.

Last night I picked up the 6 pounder wheel, which Dirk Leegwater had for sale. This wheel will soon find a place somewhere in or on the Windsor carrier. Thanks for the tour and chat, Dirk!

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

The 6 pounder only needed some dusting to make it ready for display.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Last weekend the Windsor carrier was moved to it's new indoor-display.

Sadly it had to be lifted in, because one of the tracks broke during attempt to tow it. The track has since been repaired.

Some small jobs remain for the next few weeks.

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

On Display

[Alex van de Wetering]

On Display2

[Alex van de Wetering]

On Display3

[Marco C.]

Alex this is a great restauration

[mudeng]

Alex, I apologise for the shakey photo, but as you see, I was holding up the canvass cover with my other hand.

hope this helps.

George

[Alex van de Wetering]

Marco,

Thanks, I'll pass on the compliments to the ones responsible for the restoration. You can have a close look when you're in Overloon, tomorrow.


George,

Thanks for the picture! I will forward the picture to the museum. I hope they will still consider reproducing the clamps.

Alex

[Marco C.]

Alex thats gerat i will done this

im so at 10.30Uhr at the Museum with my 3 litle Childrens

[Marco C.]

So i was there

the Museum is very nice i go to it everyone Year

[alleramilitaria]

hey alex i need some help
im building a windser and need some mesurements. could you give me the leingth from the center of the rear drive sprocket to the center of the nut holding on the front wheel? also i need the mesurements between the center bogie wheels useing the center tube as the 2 mesureing points. could you help me out ?
thanks
dave in texas

[Alex van de Wetering]

@ Marco

I hope you have had a great time in Overloon.

@ Dave

I'll try to take the measurements this saterday, no problem. Are you building a replica, or do you happen to have a spare Windsor hull laying around.

Alex

[Marco C.]

@ Alex Yes i Have

When you go this Saturday to the Museum can you give P.P my E.Mail Adress so he can wright to me .
it goes for Spare Parts for the Carrier.

Paratrooper@online.de

[alleramilitaria]

i have 2 badly cut up hulls that i am going to put together and then cut new armor. i have a MKI, and a MKII this way i will get closser to having a entire set