Another two carriers roll off the production line

[Philliphastings]

Thanks to all for the information being posted.

I had it in the back of my mind to 'cheat' so to speak and use Ht coach bolts to replace the two side panels on the scout carrier (farmer brown had literally cut plough blades out of both armour plates.

My question is -

Has anyone else taken the short cut with coach bolts and
once fitted up and painted, is it obvious that the heads don't match ?

I can rivet if it's absolutely necessary but it's not something I have the skills or equipment to do myself and I hate having to outsource anything.

Cheers

Phill

[Ron Pier]

Part of the front armour on my carrier had been replaced with round head bolts before it came to me. I might have done it differently had I been involved, but it doesn't notice enough for me to worry about. One observation though, I've noticed modern coach bolts have a flatter dome than the older type. I'd be more inclined to get my local engineer to make me some with the correct head shape.

[Philliphastings]

Hello Ron, thanks for the reply

I have looked at a lot of different sources for coack bots and as you say the dome is quite flat. One thought I had in mind was to machine the heads of all the bolts to replicate the rivet dome. A long and very tedious exercise but thats still a long way down the track.

Cheers

Phill

[Philliphastings]

sorry to hijack the thread and of course I meant to type 'Coach Bolts but i amd slightly dyslexic

Cheers

Phill

[kevin powles]

Hi, Get a 3/8" shank snap head (round head rivet) 1/2" long, drill it out to take a 5/16" BSF thread, tap it.

Take a 5/16" shank mushroom head rivet 1 1/2" long, and cut a 5/16" BSF thread.

Cut the mushroom head rivet length down to suit the thickness of plates you are joining together.Thread the two together, if you wind the snap head in with mole grips the mushroom head will bind as you turn.

This gives an exact apperance of the correct rivet, mushroom head to the outside of the carrier.

If you want to go a stage further, heat up each side of the rivet until cherry red and then hit it with a the correct rivet snap to give it the apperance of an applied rivet, i have found this is only really necessary for the snap head type rivet on the inside, just to give it that used look.

The outcome gives an exact replication of the carrier rivets on the front armour, every rivet will look spot on.

I have done all my front armour rivets like this.

Only draw back is it a bit time consuming preparing the rivets. I have a technique for holding the rivets for drilling and threading if any ones interested i will expand further. done 40 yesterday.

thank kevin.

[RichardT10829]

kevin i had a simlar idea about that, can you email me some pics of yours, i maight as well start prepping up rivets now


Rich

[martyn]

Hi i have just spent the last four days riveting one and a half of my carriers, i had thort about the bolts idea but i think that for the extra time and effort needed you might as well do it with rivets.
this is what we did first make a forge the trick is to keep the rivets cherry red 2nd get some old chisle for the hammers and shape the ends to fit your rivets 3rd hire 2 kango hammers and just try a few its not that hard and i feel well happy knowing my carriers are rivetted and that ive done them. some rivets might not look that nice but so what nothing that a grinder and a coat of paint wont cure ive put up some photos will take some close ones and put them up later

thanks martyn