LRDG Chevrolet 1533X2 Aero-screens

[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 !

[Charlie Down]

The majority, that are clear enough to identify, are very similar, if not identical to the Morris CS4 aero-screens. I wouldn't be surprised if there were other makes, but in most photo's the quality is too poor to get a positive ID on the origins of the aero-screens. The Bedford Aero-screens look like they could also be an alternative with possible examples attached. Looking at the details they would be easy to fix to the wooden dash surround.
Photo credit to Jack Neville - http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...-screen&page=2