Exciting developments...

Philliphastings · #1 08-06-10, 07:48

I received today some images via email of Scout Carriers from a fellow MLUer (Thanks George) and among them is a single image which has made my year.

It is an Australian War Memorial image of a british Mk1 Universal (marked 'C7') and my Scout Carrier dressed in olive drab and light stone camouflage,engaged in a public demonstration on the streets of Melbourne during the war.

The most interesting aspect is that the photo clearly shows the mofified Australian Pattern roadwheels fitted to the scout ! so no need to try to import british pattern wheels afterall. The Scout is carrying an 'X' identification in white on the side which would indicate an experimental vehicle on strength with DAVP Melbourne. This photo has answered all my questions at once, - very exciting stuff.

In the fullness of time I will try to obtain permission to publish this photo onto the MLU site. It is almost without a doubt of my actual vehicle.

In another odd twist of fate the Scout is being stored and restored in my shed 300m from the original 5 Base Ordnance Depot (Nungarin) Armoured Vehicle Park where the carrier was stored during ww2 and disposed of at auction in 1947. Driven by the previous owner 100km to his farm where it was driven around once then stripped of it's engine, gearbox and radiator to put into a farm truck. Now in 2010 all the main parts are back in Nungarin and being restored - so the story comes full circle.

While working on the carrier I can look out over the vehicle park itself !

Cheers

Phill

Philliphastings · #2 08-06-10, 08:32

Australian War Memorial image number 029888 is the one in question and state that the photo was taken in PERTH on 27 March 1943 during Army week, the two carriers were part of a demonstration in the streets of Perth in support of the third liberty loan...

This image is marked as in the public domain and can be posted up. If anyone has the means of posting it up on MLU please feel free to do so.

I now have NO doubt at all that it is the same vehicle.

Cheers

Phill

Lynn Eades · #3 08-06-10, 09:41

I assume this means the original tyres were worn out by the army, and they fitted her up with the modified local pattern wheels. I would just put standard aussie wheels and track on her. She will keep her tracks on better. and spares will continue to be easier to get.

Keith Webb · #4 08-06-10, 11:32

Here you go Phill
I can imagine how exciting it must be to actually find a pic of your very vehicle from all those years ago. Hope you've ordered a large print from the AWM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philliphastings

Australian War Memorial image number 029888 is the one in question and state that the photo was taken in PERTH on 27 March 1943 during Army week, the two carriers were part of a demonstration in the streets of Perth in support of the third liberty loan...

This image is marked as in the public domain and can be posted up. If anyone has the means of posting it up on MLU please feel free to do so.

I now have NO doubt at all that it is the same vehicle.

Cheers

Phill

Snowy · #5 08-06-10, 12:48

G'day Phil,
Congratulations! It's a great feeling, having an actual wartime photo of your very own vehicle isn't it? Dare I say it, it's almost like being part of a small but exclusive club of historic MV restorers

. I have two of my Australian army Weasel, one of which is on the AWM photo database as well.
By the way - from time to time I still use parts of that jeep chassis you gave me, oh, fifteen years back

Steve.

RichardT10829 · #6 08-06-10, 18:12

awesome, just pure awesome ! so chuffed for you mate

ron · #7 09-06-10, 11:46

Hi Phil. Well done mate. great pics you are one very lucky man,I have a full set of those wheels,that i took off that Marmon Herrington tank carrier conversion, and there must be others out there, once again well done Regards Ron

Lynn Eades · #8 09-06-10, 13:14

When you order your large print, from the IWM, Can you get me one too?

Philliphastings · #9 10-06-10, 06:36

My thanks to all and especially George for putting me onto the pic in the first place !

Yes very exciting indeed. This is the third vehicle I have owned and had an 'in-service' photo of - 2 Pounder Carrier 6146, My Mk2 Ferret 115300 and now the Scout.

By comparing the photo with my carrier in the shed last night I lost all doubt as the damaged left front fender, torn off mudshield, missing rear shovel bracket, damaged rear left mudguard and dented rear number plate bracket are all identical to my vehicle, as is the camouflage pattern that can still be made out.

While stripping off the right air scoop yesterday I found the first trace of deep bronze green so far. I guess the right thing to do is restore it in DBG then add the two tone camouflage later.

Many years ago I used to drool over the article in Wheels and Tracks 'A tale of two carriers' found in New Zealand. I never dreamed it could still happen like that.

I only wish I was able to post up images as the restoration begins in earnest.

The magic continues as I went for a walk at sunset and picked up a good Bren Gun pintol mounting under a tree. Now I wonder if it came off...

Cheers

Phill

Mike K · #10 10-06-10, 06:47

Phil has a habit of this sort of thing.

He at one time , owned the 2 pounder carrier as pictured in the official manual .

Philliphastings · #11 10-06-10, 06:51

Yes - and I still have the official manual!

I also located and helped preserve the only Matilda Tank my former Regiment used in action in the pacific and brought home to Australia (the rest were sunk off barges)

1/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum is now slowly and patiently rebuilding Matilda tank 'Ace' for posterity.

Cheers

Phill

Philliphastings · #12 11-06-10, 07:49

While scanning the Australian War Memorial database I found another pic of the Scout carrier, in the same sequence of shots but this time front on. The remaining camoflage pattern on the front lower armour is once again an exact match.

AWM image 02988 refers.

It also clearly shows the registration number AIF 5325. I have always dreamed of finding the original Australian number. as a museum associate just said "now I can die happy"

I have a few C plates in the shed, I don't suppose one could be 5325 could it...?

Apparently the machine was very good at turning around in little circles for the crowd. Perhaps it was also a tactic developed to confuse the enemy...

Cheers

Phill

Philliphastings · #13 15-06-10, 06:45

- Make that 5329, just like the brass data plate on the front guard says.

Also in the second pic you can see a large bullet hole just at the bottom of the '4' in the bridge class sign. That hole, and another like it on the inside of the guard is still there. looks big enough to have been around a .50 Cal

Cheers

Phill

Philliphastings · #14 03-07-10, 13:03

Another milestone passed today with the pick up of a full set of British carrier track in exchange for a set of very good Australian Pattern track.

After a 700km+ round trip the Scout Carrier is now a lot closer to being complete.

Obtaining this track has solved the dilemna of whether to import newly made british pattern track or to convert to Australian Pattern track. It would be fair to say that I'm a bit chuffed right now

Cheers

Phill

RichardT10829 · #15 03-07-10, 15:56

Phill i can give you a couple of wheels the cast is good but will need a re rubber, free to you if you ship them back mate...... just an option see how you get on tracing wheels buddy.

Philliphastings · #16 06-07-10, 08:00

Hi Richard and thankyou very much for the offer of the carrier wheels. The reason I am now more than ever excited about my Scout Carrier project is that I finally have a full set of correct British pattern track, sprockets and idler wheels, as well as enough Army modified Australian pattern roadwheels to get the machine back onto it's tracks and potentially driven around on special occasions in the future.

The main thing was the discovery of the photo's of my machine with this configuration in service. There is nothing like actual photographic evidence to silence the doubting element.

Now I just need to source an armful of track pins and a set of bearings and seals for the roadwheels and we are in business!

Oh yeah and I haven't forgotten about finding a workable system for posting up images on MLU of the project as I go...

Cheers

Phill

RichardT10829 · #17 06-07-10, 14:12

I used the 50 x 27 x 110mm bearings as the 40mm ID bearings were so expensive, i have machined spacers to go onto the axles so will post up on my thread in due course, if the bearings are the same as on yours (as mine) i can provide you with the dimensions if required.

Cheers

Richie

Philliphastings · #18 08-07-10, 05:00

Hello again. Yes the parts books describe the Scout as having the early pattern wheel bearing and seals, but of course (apart from the british idlers) the rest of thge roadwheels are Australian pattern, as are the bearings and seals.

I will liaise with some of the local carrier restorers to see what they did with their roadwheels.

Cheers

Phill