Canadair CL70 CFR 58-91588

[David Dunlop]

Probably fairly capable out in the tundra and muskeg, but strictly fair weather open water otherwise.

Is that a Chevy Nomad in the background, and what crest is on the sides of the Rat?

David

[rob love]

On the sides of the rat are the tops of Canadian Maple Leafs (not that 60s Liberal stylized thing we use now).

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by rob love

(not that 60s Liberal stylized thing we use now).

Rob...are you expressing an opinion on that leaf? Can I deduce what that opinion might be?

[David Herbert]

Actually it is not a particularly big Maple Leaf. It is a very small vehicle !

David

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Probably fairly capable out in the tundra and muskeg, but strictly fair weather open water otherwise.

Is that a Chevy Nomad in the background, and what crest is on the sides of the Rat?

David

The lines don't match the Nomad. But they are no earlier than the Tri-Five Chevs (55, 56, 57). I think that vehicle is a 57 Chev Townsman 4-dr station wagon. The Nomad has always been an attractive model, but was only sold as a 2-dr. The 58 had a more pronounced "eye brow" on the edge of the hood, and a break in the flat line under the side windows.

So after that little detour into car styles, I suggest the photo is no earlier than 1955 and probably early 1960s because they don't make them like they used to, and cars mercifully don't rust out like they used to. A ten-yr old car wouldn't look as presentable as what I can see in the photo.

[Robin Craig]

Well,

it has been a while hasn't it?

As I work on a farm once spring arrives we go into a mad frenzy getting farm equipment field ready and the flagellate the land and stuff seed into the ground in the vain hope of getting a crop and in the even more vain hope of making a profit for another year, oh what an enterprise this all is.

Anyway, during that period my life is not my own, I work long hours and my own projects get shelved, literally.

During the winter I am able to work in the shop at work as a privilege, use of shop / farm equipment is also a privilege. I am appreciative of both.

I am now on a week of holiday, two days of which have been burned up my recovering from heat stroke, not fun.

Anyway, it was time to mobile the CL70 project and bring it all home as it gets cluttered at work and it looks unsightly during managment visits and causes awkward questions.

Thank goodness for palletised loading and the kit to deal with it. I loaded up a farm wagon and dragged the whole lot home.

You might notice two new cubes, these ones are steel and are ex CF parts bins for an MRT or field usage according to sources. I snagged them on kijiji in Edmonton and had them trucked back home last week and ran down to Bolton to collect them and made a side trip up to CFB Borden. They have roller drawer slides. I am chuffed to have them as they will store my tools in my basement work area and provide a base for a work surface over the top. I am trying to make use of all that evening time and the space I have at home to chip away at this project. Getting set up at home simply while waiting for my alter ego to finish the outdoor garage is difficult and I am trying not to rob too much time from one for the other. So these cubes will tidy up the disaster area as SWMBO calls it.

I am really thankful for the fact we made the decision to build into a bank and put in a set of doors that open and allow me to fork large lumpy objects right into the house in one shot.

I am now looking for some leads on various bits to get going again.

[Robin Craig]

The side trip up to CFB Borden was to connect with Colin Alford.

I had a conversation with Colin at the Acton during the OMVA show.He dropped the bombshell that he had a windshield and a rudder and that both were in fair shape. My windshield frame is broken along the top and missing some of the fastenings. Unfortunately we didn't connect at Aquino but this trip made so much sense to go get it.

I am very much in debt to Colin for this act of preservation and recognising that this manufactured item has value to someone in the future, a true member of the MV hobby. Thank you Colin.

The plexi is broken but it is easy to have it remade now I have the complete frame.

I think that an Ottawa company may make the replacement unless I can find one locally in Kingston.

Before I forget it if anyone is able to let me know a parts supplier for the drawer catches on the steel cubes I would appreciate that, Rob Love thinks they were made for the CF by Stanley. One never knows who is watching . . .

[maple_leaf_eh]

Is there an NSN on them?

[Ed Storey]

Here is another CL-70 Rat photograph - this one has the windscreen attached.

Canadair RAT.jpg

[Robin Craig]

Ed that is an early prototype as the frame rises alongside the body tub and lacks any lifting or tie down points in the corners.

Terry, I am for my sins a member of the FB RCEME group and reached out there and got a stellar set of replies and have spoke to the manufacturer Stanley Vidmar / Tresk and am awaiting an email on price and availability.