MET Gas

[ron]

Sorry maybe this time we will see them

[Darren Witty]

Ron,

I was wondering what your hull number is? For your interest I have a MET GAS carrier with hull number 1105. I have been told it is a LP2 but no one is really able to tell me the differences. I see in a previous post on this thread there a copy of a rear axle modification explanation with numbers listed but my hull number doesn't fit into any of the lists. What does this all mean?? In your last photo I see that you have the same set up of of boxes and the lewis gun magazine box holder. Does this early set up make it a LP2? I do have an ID plate but it is not the correct plate. It is 982 and it is originally cast LP2 but after cleaning it I found a small A stamped beside the LP2.

Thanks
Darren

[ron]

Hi Darrin,
There seems to be thought that the type of spline on the diff denotes the type of carrier where its either an L P 2, or an LP2a,it seems that the early ones had the splined diff and the later L P 2 A had the tapered diff, but as in all things nothing is cast in stone, over many years , (over thirty years,} I have seen many changes done to carriers by the army I guess it was all done just to keep them going if all they had was a certain type of diff in the field it was fitted, some people might not agree with this but its what I have seen,you just have to draw your own conclusions, the early LP2 had its tool rack on the side as well as the rear one,whearas the LP2A had a pioneer rack fitted to the rear of the carrier to hold all of the tools
On the later carriers the bins and lewis box were moved so that a radio could be fitted on that side under an armoured cover, I think its possable that the I D plate that you have with the stamped small A, denotes that it was intended to be used on a 2 A carrier and they were just using up surplus cast plates in stead of re casting others, my carrier is 434,
Regards, Ron

[Keith Webb]

Ron, your statement agrees with an interview I did recently with Mike Cecil on the subject. As you possibly know Mike wrote a book about Australian carriers, and according to him the keyed vs splined pinion was the key difference between the two types. That also explains why numbers don't necessarily tally as in a cut off between the two types as stock was used up.

[ron]

Hello Keith,
And thanks for your answer regarding the differance in our carriers in Aust,
As a matter of interest I was in the army,in Sigs from 1956 until the early
1960s carriers were still being used until this date and so were a lot of the other goodies that we are now chasing, if only we had a crystal ball in those days,
Regards, Ron

[ron]

Just a few pics showing progress on Met Gas hull number 434.

[colin jones]

That looks great ron, how about giving me a hand to finish my mortar and I'll send my wife to finish off yours for you
Colin.

[Justin Pollard]

Looking good Ron,Question do you heat the armour plate up before welding brackets to it?.

[ron]

Hi Justin,
Yes I pre heat the area before I weld anything to the armour plate,
Regards, Ron