Penguin Mkll

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

That is a Penguin Mk I.

I thought that might be the case. There are photos of them and they do look like a more expediant version.

Re the mk3 version, I was talking to Brian Asbury and he mentioned that his Mk3 manual shows pretty much the same bodywork as the mk2. I will discuss with Brian tomorrow about possibly getting a copy of his mk3 manual.

Some questions I have to wonder about are:
Were the mark ones produced from scratch or from armoured snowmobiles.
What quantity of mk1, 2 and 3?
What quantity of the armoured snowmobile were consumed making penguins? All of them?
Were the mk3 penguins made from snowmobiles or made from scratch?

I almost picked up a beautiful no19 set today for my penguin, but I let another fellow at the show buy it for his mk2 carrier.

[Ed Storey]

I was under the impression that Canadian Armoured Snowmobile Mk Is were converted into Penguin Mk Is. If this was the case, not all of the Armoured Snowmobiles were converted at the same time as here is an image from Exercise Musk Ox showing both vehicles in use.



I have both the Penguin Mk II and Mk III recorded as having been manufactured by Canadian Arsenals Limited. I do not have production figures but again my records indicate that both vehicles had an ambulance version.

Here is an image of a Penguin Mk II.

[David Herbert]

Nice picture of a Penguin Mk II.

Interesting that the tires are treaded - I thought that they were smooth and were made specially for this application. but it would seem that 4.50 x 16 was a size used on ordinary vehicles so might still be available if you are not too fussy about the tread. Was this size not used on the front of small 1950s farm tractors? Ply rating might be an issue but there are a lot of wheels holding up a not very heavy vehicle and if they were foam filled I can't see a problem.

It really is worth reading through Hanno's link to the debate about these machines that happened twelve years ago. I am getting into these Penguins now: more impressive, rare and robust than a Weasel, no real weaknesses, big enough to take your friends for a ride, fun to drive, transportable to shows, could even be handy if it snows. There must be more hidden away.

David

[David Herbert]

Looking more closely at the photos it seems that the ambulance Penguin II had its outer front windows hinged so that they open sideways toward the centre of the vehicle but on the non ambulance version all three front windows just open upwards. A handy recognition point. I wonder why they didn't put stretcher hatches in the back, either side of the radiator grille, it looks like there was enough room but maybe the fuel tanks are in the rear corners or something like that.

David

[Robin Craig]

I hate racoons, in one spring we had one excavator two Land Rovers and a pontoon boat nailed. About $7,000 worth of damage in all. I hate them.

As Chris pointed out we at work often have sea cans coming, next is due to arrive 8th August.

I know of another one coming this year, that is the last that I know about currently.

I love the history Rob, love the fact that people like Ed have all the photos to tie it all together.

Was track tension soley based on air pressure over all the tyres?

R

[David Dunlop]

Does anyone know the actual production numbers for the original armoured snowmobile, how many stayed in Canada, how many went elsewhere and was the Penguin solely a Canadian idea/conversion?

It would be interesting to see an armoured snowmobile sitting next to a Weasel. The one in Ed's photo looks rather low, lean and mean!

David

[David Dunlop]

Was down at the local dog park this morning so the little guy could have a squirt and spotted a pair of racoons heading across the river. Made me think of your Penguin Project, Rob, and I got curious about any new developments.


David