LRDG Chevrolet 1533X2 Aero-screens

[Mike K]

My old drawing .. have to check the dimensions for accuracy. This drawing is provisional only ... needs to be verified

http://www.oocities.org/vk3cz/CS8page.html

The best method is to buy 3/4 tube and solder the lower channel section onto the tube , brass would be a good material , easy to solder . Looking at the original pics, the lower section, it appears to be a one piece steel shape , which is nigh on impossible to replicate unless you have a big press.

[Charlie Down]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the drawing, I should be able to scale the length of the brackets now I know they were 1" wide. The same with the glass height. I presume the glass channel is about 3/8", 9.5mm wide.
My drawing was 2", 50mm out on the width and 1/4", 6.5mm out in height for the frame, I thought it was a bit small.
I'll redo my drawing later and post here with bracket details.
Nice to find out the origins and details of the aero-screen for the 1533X2. I believe they were originally fitted (nicked) to the Chevrolet WA trucks, and re-used for the Chevrolet 1533X2 which would explain why the canvas covers often look really ragged. That would also explain why only about a third of the 1533X2's had aero-screens, sometimes only for the driver. Also in your article you posted a link to it says that in late 1940 Morris CS4 production stopped fitting aero-screens and instead fitted a full windscreen and side doors. Could this also be another factor in fitting them to the Chevrolet WA's and later the 1533X2's? It was a bit later than the first operational use of the WA's though, but could mean spares were readily available maybe....

Next is the original windscreen!

[Andrew H.]

I am interested in the tightening/locking mechanism. Do you have drawings for that?

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

I am interested in the tightening/locking mechanism. Do you have drawings for that?

I have one of the locking brackets , I will sketch it for you.

Charlie, the CS8 cab change seems to be something of a mystery , as far as I know the only examples of these later full cab CS8 trucks are to be found surviving in Australia . A cast brass tag ON THE CAB states : contract nr. V4154 1941. I cannot see how the Morris cab change is related to Chevy LRDG trucks as we are discussing a totally different scenario. I believe those Chevy setups were ad hoc in nature but we can't be certain of anything .The people involved have all passed on.

[Charlie Down]

Hi Mike,
Sorry, I wasn't very clear. The change on the Morris production line from aero-screens to full windscreens in late 1940, could have resulted in existing vehicles being upgraded (unlikely to be honest), but also that spare aero-screens kept in theatre could have become a bit surplus and available to retro fit to LRDG trucks. Its a bit of a reach I know.

That's the problem with thinking out aloud, let alone writing it down and posting it!

We've still got a couple of veterans here in the UK, including I believe and hope, Mike Sadler.

Andrew, I'm working on a new set of drawings with the help of info from Mike. I'll post them when done.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

These aeroscreens must have come not from converted, but from salvaged vehicles, most likely a variety of British ones as pointed out already. So the aeroscreens on the LRDG Chevs likely differed in detail as the British manufacturers all made their own variations.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

These aeroscreens must have come not from converted, but from salvaged vehicles, most likely a variety of British ones as pointed out already. So the aeroscreens on the LRDG Chevs likely differed in detail as the British manufacturers all made their own variations.

Yes I agree !