Carrier tail light

[Tom Millward]

Can anyone tell me the correct style of rubber tail light for the early Mk1 Carrier. I bought a Rubbolite no5a, but now I have my number plate I can see that it doesn't fit. Dirk Leedwater has what looks like a Canadian rubber tail light that would fit, but it has no number plate cut out. Should there be a number plate cut out?

I have considered modifying my No5a to fit, but don't want to cut about a rare tail light if I don't have to.

Thanks

[Michael R.]

Are you mounting the taillight on the top centre of the number plate attached to the POL container as mounted on the armoured battery box?

Depending on the production month/year, your taillight could be the rubber housing holding the pinhole lens, or the later all metal housing holding the coloured lens. If you have rubber firing rests, I am of the thought the rubber housing may suit your needs. Plenty of them around as they are quite similar to those found on CAB 11/12 CMP’s.

[Lynn Eades]

Tom, your number plate board should have a single hole at the top for a light. It will either be the "early" rubber light or the "later" small metal type.
There should be a change over switch, to switch between the black out light (facing the diff) and the tail light.
If you wade through Jordan Baker's very good, and comprehensive thread on his carrier rebuild, you will learn some stuff (lots of stuff!) about your carrier.
Then all you will need is for someone like Michael R. to chime in with the change over date of the lights, and you will have what you need.

As always, pictures would help us to understand what issues you might have.
Or to quote Tony, "this thread is useless without pictures".

[Tom Millward]

Hello gents, thanks for the swift reply. I normally struggle to upload pictures as they’re normally too large to upload. Here is the no5a rubbolite lamp which I now understand is the wrong type, and also a style of rubber light which LWD parts currently have in stock for CMPs.Attachment 108831Attachment 108832

My serial no is 5868, March 42, and it has the rubber rifle rests and rest in the gunners aperture. I also prefer the look of the rubber light, so will look for one of those. If the rear light is rubber, what material would the blackout lamp be?

I didn’t know that the light went anywhere other than the rear number plate, so that was interesting information. I have a new number plate from John Bizall, so will fit the light onto that, on the back of the battery box.

[Tom Millward]

For some reason, all my pictures have now uploaded, so I might as well ask my next question; my engine cover seems to be missing the second set of holes for the rifle rest. Is there a reason for this does anyone know?

[BCA]

Hi Tom, I can help you out. Will check in with you tomorrow. Brian

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Tom Millward

... I might as well ask my next question; my engine cover seems to be missing the second set of holes for the rifle rest. Is there a reason for this does anyone know?

A factory modified engine cover top armour plate for a mortar carrier . . . ?
Canadian factory mortar carriers did not have firing rests, pogo stick bases or spring clips. No antenna brackets on the rear passenger vertical engine cover protection plate either.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Michael R.

A factory modified engine cover top armour plate for a mortar carrier . . . ?
Canadian factory mortar carriers did not have firing rests, pogo stick bases or spring clips. No antenna brackets on the rear passenger vertical engine cover protection plate either.

But.... Canadian mortar carriers (Mk.II) were based on Mk.I* hulls and had all the non essential holes riveted shut. Why there aren't holes for the firing rest rear may have to do with this being a mortar or something else rear deck of a British carrier. Those pairs of rivets in the pics are not Canadian Mk.I.