Ammunition cover for the 3" mortar

[Darrin Wright]

Well in the last 12 months I have worked & played with the BGC, now with 2017 Year of the Bren Gun Carrier (and International) I thought it time to commit to those little jobs that get left to last, or never done at all.

One thing I wanted to do was get my right ammunition cover replicated so I had a cover for the left side ammunition stowage area.

So a little story with pics of what I did, just for general interest...

I hade the cover drawn into AutoCAD and laser cut out, had 3 copies made to bring the individual cost down and to assist a mate with a 3" Mortar Carrying BGC.

So with the jig saw puzzle I picked out the hinge bits and utilising a 7/16 bolt, placed a tack weld and then heated it with the oxy to bend and form the rolled hinge part.
When finished, quench it to cool and make the weld brittle, place in the vice and belt out the bolt. Tidy up with the flapper disc and angle grinder. Later insert the 7/16 rod/hinge pin. Formed the two parts of the hinge in the same fashion.

[Darrin Wright]

With the hinged formed, placed the cover into position on the hull and made sure the hinges and cover sat in the right place and worked. Internally, the cover had to provide access to the two small boxes near the air scoop and also had to allow crew access at the rear.
When open had to catch nd be safe, also had to fab footman loops for the straps to hold and position the aiming posts.
reading the mortar booklet/pam, the left crewman had to run out and place the aiming post in position, while the right crewman covered him with the .303 rifle. They then got back in the vehicle and set up the mortar on the engine deck and dropped rounds down range.

I have also shaped the rifle holder into the wooden blocks on the engine cover, with a strap to hold the rifle in place, it all looks neat & tidy and looks the part.

The cover now sits out in the weather to rust until summer when I can get it blasted and then painted into the two tone camo of KG3 and Light Stone.

[Wayne Hingley]

Very nice work Darrin. It looks great, and will be even better when you get the fresh paint applied!