Carrier Steering Wheels

Lynn Eades · #1 18-08-10, 07:23

To Show the differences;
first two pics. Canadian MkI and MkII.(Both the same) Thanks Brad for the use of your pic.
Nos.3 and 4 are British Carrier wheels. (they appear to be made differently)
No.5 is an Australian LP2/2a Wheel. It is similar to the Brit. wheel, but has heavier spokes, and boss.
Incidentally here is a little more: All three types of wheels, will fit any box .The british box internals are inter changeable with Australian boxes. ( there was a mod to the Aust boxes during production) Canadian boxes are entirely different (Ross is the maker, as was the wartime Jeep steering box)
The British housing does not interchange with the Australian one because the mounting holes are spaced differently.

RichardT10829 · #2 18-08-10, 10:07

The second pic Lynn.... is that a Mk1 dash pannel in a Mk2 hull ? the gunners seat is throwing me off a bit

Lynn Eades · #3 18-08-10, 10:35

I dont know Why?
Thats the one that you tried to buy the parts from, through the forum.

matilda IIA · #4 18-08-10, 13:23

Thanks Lynn

I always thought the english wheels had half the number of nipples around the inside ? Thankyou for clearing that up for me.

Kind Regards
Matt

RichardT10829 · #5 19-08-10, 09:27

the one which I was trying to get the bits from owned by the syndicate ? if so that did not have a dash pannel or seats (they were on my shopping list) i cant remember i have tried to get parts on so many occasions now buddy.

It does look like a Mk1 pannel and the seat does look Mk2....... just an observation as we know, with these things almost nothing is concrete to a specific Mk

Lynn Eades · #6 19-08-10, 11:12

Please explain the difference in the seats, between a MkI and a MkII, because I dont know. (photos please)

RichardT10829 · #7 19-08-10, 17:17

right look at image 2 canadian carrier that has the front armour cut out, on canadian mk1 carriers both the gunners seat and the drivers seat are the same type ie fold up and down, the mechanisms are the same...... on a Mk2 unit the gunners seat was locked up in situ as pictured, it sits much higher than the Mk1 types making it easier for the gunner to use the bren...... just what i have observed, i have no doubt i am totally wrong as usual though

drivers seat.....on mine the passenger seat is the exact same mechanism.....on mk2's i have noticed that the gunners seat is fixed with two long bars which run to the center divider plate......now when they upgraded the Mk1's i dont know if they changed the seating for the gunner..... you will know more than me on this

if you look how the seat mounts you can see where the passenger seat mounts the same way...wish i had some pics of another mk1 canadian front compartment

Lynn Eades · #8 19-08-10, 21:51

I cant think why they locked the seat up. How does the guy get out of the line of fire? Is it a civvy mod?
I did notice the support for the gun in the front slot . Is that a MkII ?
I've never seen a MkII here in N.Z. I only learn about them from Nigel Watson, this forum etc etc.

RichardT10829 · #9 20-08-10, 09:18

i dont know buddy, i fully agree with the issues with cover i presume that during an assault the gunner would be lunged down onto the rilfe or bren, i know later Mk2's had the left gunners plate made one peice ie no fold down triangle, this would give a smidge more cover.

I looked at images of Martyns British Mk2 and it has the same seat, his is an original feature rather than a civvie mod.

as for the rolled steel for the gun, this i dont have any clue on....

as i say The carrier may still be a Mk1, it has had the face lift done thats for sure, with the spare road wheel on the glacis plate.

Richie