LRDG Chevrolet 1533X2 Aero-screens

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Rather than being special part unique to a particular Morris military vehicle, is there a possibility that the screens are off-the-shelf item from a aeroscreen manufacturer?

There are any number of pre-war British touring cars that used aeroscreens for their vehicles (Alvis, MG, Riley, Triumph, Austin-Healey, Bentley, just to name a few). Did each marque design their own unique screen, or was there a specialist supplier who offered these items to the various makers as Original Equipment?

Found this https://www.s-v-c.co.uk/category/aeroscreens/

https://www.completeautomobilist.com...wind-deflector

The generic MG style screens look to be smaller than what we are discussing.

[Charlie Down]

Interesting idea.
The original Chevrolet WA trucks were sourced from the GM dealership in Alexandria and the Egyptian Army, and the first patrol was sent out just 6 weeks after its approval for formation. So it seems unlikely that they could source aeroscreens from the UK in that time frame. They were very probably sourced in Egypt from British stock, or possibly Egyptian Army, from derelict/redundant trucks or spares in my opinion. Possibly from Egyptian civilian car dealerships, but I think that is unlikely bearing in mind how much most of them resemble the aeroscreens fitted to British Army Morris, and possibly, Bedford trucks. Aeroscreens from other trucks are a possibility, and most likely, but I haven't seen clear enough photos, or frankly, have the knowledge to identify other makes of aeroscreens.

At this point I would summarise the discussion so far, and say that a significant number, if not the majority, of aeroscreens seen on all LRDG trucks were of the same type used on Morris CS4 trucks, and that other designs and styles of aeroscreens from different trucks were most likely used, but have yet to be positively identified.

[Charlie Down]

Here are my interpretations of the dimensions of the aeroscreens and brackets. I'm hoping that Grant and/or Mike can confirm the dimensions, especially of the brackets, which are 'scaled' and 'guesstimated'.
The wing nuts looks too big in the drawing and would foul the sides of the aeroscreen, but that is how they are shown in the photos.
The brackets are screwed to the vertical wooden dashboard surround on the 1533X2 trucks with both flat face and curved face seen against the wood surface. Most photos show the curved face against the wood.

[Mike K]

The hinge dimensions on your drawing look to be pretty darn close to the correct dimensions. I will try to measure the original hinge soon, using my chinesium digital calipers

[Charlie Down]

Thanks Mike
That will be really useful.

[Mike K]

Try this a sample ..more coming

[Mike K]

18 and 1/8" edge to edge.........................if you want some of these hinges contact Rory Ballard in Hampshire he had some cast in brass.

[Grant Bowker]

I've just put up a thread on the support arms mentioned in posts #4 to 6.
"CMP windshield throwout arm assemblies" at http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...884#post280884

I made it a separate thread as people may want to add content related to CMP as well the 1533x2

[Charlie Down]

Grant, I've duplicated this piece on your post as it's relevant to both. Hope that's ok.
Looking at the reference photos most of the arm components of the 1533X2 are at least similar, if not identical to the CMP versions. The arm itself looks like the short arm, with the upper bracket and the hand wheel clamps looking the same as the CMP equivalents.
The arm length scales out at roughly 192mm/7-1/2" which corresponds closely with your measurements above.
The bottom main hinge looks like a piano hinge.
I am mid way through drawing the windscreen, but could do with some help with the following:

Wiper arms
Dimensions of the hand wheel clamps, and photos of both sides.
Photos of the hand wheel bracket on the side of the windscreen, plus dimensions.
Wiper motor photos and dimensions.

In the last photo of an operational truck you can see the motor has been removed, leaving a spaced mounting bracket. Does anyone have any information about this bracket? In post 3 there's a similar bracket visible on a photo, but the 1533X2 bracket looks like it has a lip on the lower edge.
Also of interest is the factory photo of the truck which has a different lower windscreen bracket compared to the much more robust looking brackets of 'later' operational truck. This is the only photo I have seen of this 'early' bracket. This may just be photo distortion, but it does look narrower than the other bracket.