Bofors SP project

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #1 28-06-12, 09:27

Hi all - it is not that I need another project, but when something unusual comes along I am tempted. I took on and built the Chevrolet Blitz half-track and now an F60B comes along. Before I can look at this project I need to know what truck/wheelbase was this truck based on. I am hoping an F15A as I have a complete one as a spare. If I have the right truck then I will need to determine whether to build the Canadian or Oz version.

BTW I will also need a 40mm canon. Any spares out there?

Bob

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #2 01-07-12, 12:45

Hi all - is anyone going to give me some advice or is this another Bob go alone project?

Bob

Keith Webb · #3 01-07-12, 12:58

Give us more info please Bob.

We did not have the F60B model here, although we did convert some Ford and Chev vehicles to mount the Bofors gun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi all - is anyone going to give me some advice or is this another Bob go alone project?

Bob

Luke R · #4 01-07-12, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi all - is anyone going to give me some advice or is this another Bob go alone project?

Bob

Bob,
I think this would be a fantastic project and you should go for it!
The only thing ive got for a BOFOR is a deact AN 40mm Round with the wrong date so not really right for it.

Go for it

Luke

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #5 01-07-12, 13:14

As I said in my earlier post, what truck and wheelbase is the Canadian F60B based on. I have a spare F15A but this could possibly be too small.

Bob

Hanno Spoelstra · #6 01-07-12, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi all - is anyone going to give me some advice or is this another Bob go alone project?

Hi Bob, are you in a hurry to meet the next Corowa deadline or similar?!?

Here are some measurements for the "Ford F60B Bofors SP, lorry, 3 ton, 4x4, 40 mm, self propelled":
weight 6078 kg
length 6198 mm
width 2388 mm
height 2591 mm
wheelbase 134" (3034 mm)

Please bear in mind the Canadian F60B was a heavily reengineered vehicle with modified chassis, cab and many special fittings. If you really want to recreate one, maybe one of the Australian SP versions would be a better option.

HTH,
Hanno

Luke R · #7 01-07-12, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

As I said in my earlier post, what truck and wheelbase is the Canadian F60B based on. I have a spare F15A but this could possibly be too small.

Bob

Is there any chance of recovering a original bofors mounted truck and do many of the Australian trucks still exist?

Luke

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #8 01-07-12, 13:51

Hi Hanno - thanks for the information. By the looks of it I need an F60S as a starter truck. I really like the idea of re-creating the Canadian version. I wonder if Ada will notice another truck in the fleet.

Ada

Me

Little Jo · #9 01-07-12, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi Hanno - thanks for the information. By the looks of it I need an F60S as a starter truck. I really like the idea of re-creating the Canadian version. I wonder if Ada will notice another truck in the fleet.

Ada

Me

Hi Bob

I am sure Ada would not notice another truck if you kept moving them around so they don't stay in one place long enough for her to notice and if she did you could always say it was mine and I was storing it at your place because I don't have the room.

Cheers Mate

Tony

Hanno Spoelstra · #10 01-07-12, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi Hanno - thanks for the information. By the looks of it I need an F60S as a starter truck. I really like the idea of re-creating the Canadian version.

Hi Bob,

Indeed you need an F60S with 134-in. wb. Make sure you get one with the heavy axles, steering box etc.. Maybe you could start with an F60L since you need to reengineer the whole truck anyway, so a cut 'n shut of 3-tonner chassis is a possibility?
Also, you need to recreate the No 43S cab, a special cab used only on the Ford F60B. This cab was a widened No 43 which allowed four abreast seating of the vehicles crew, all available space on the rear of the truck being taken up with the bed mounted 40mm Bofors gun, ammunition and gun stores. The four abreast seating was unique in that the driver remained in the conventional position with a passenger outboard of him and another two passengers on the left side of the engine. No roof or doors were fitted to No 43S cabs. This cab also has a conventionally sloped windscreen.
Then there are the four levelling jacks, plus the rear platform to fit the Bofors. And oh, it had transversely mounted fuel tanks behind the cab.

But you being an Australian, I really think you should recreate one of the Australian versions. . . . Look at this one - http://www.oldcmp.net/reff60sbofors.html - isn't it a beauty?!?

H.

Richard Farrant · #11 01-07-12, 22:15

These Ford Bofors (Canadian and Australian) would seem to spring from the Morris Commercial C9/B, which was an initiative by Lord Nuffield, as he could see the need for A/A cover in convoys. The C9/B had a PTO driven generator to run the gun, and there was a specially adapted carburettor which IIRC was to combat flooding when the gun was firing. I wonder if the Fords suffered this problem as well?

colin jones · #12 02-07-12, 07:35

Hmm! just happen to have a few spare Bofors bits and pieces.

colin jones · #13 02-07-12, 07:37

Afew more and A few jacks around as well.

Colin.

Hanno Spoelstra · #14 02-07-12, 09:40

Moved Bob's Bofors SP project from Dirk's thread F60B progress in Holland.

H.

Little Jo · #15 02-07-12, 10:06

Hi Bob

After seeing Colin's bits of Boffers I am having a vision of the start of another project. I agree with Hanno make it an Aussie version. Exciting times ahead.

Cheers

Tony

Mike Cecil · #16 02-07-12, 16:31

OK, I'm a philistine, I know, but Bob .... WHY??? Why do a 're-creation' when you could - especially with your skills - do an authentic 'restoration' of something interesting that will stand the test of the time and effort you put into it? There are plenty of possibilities: C60X No.4 Breakdown, F60L Recuperator, fully fitted out F15A Battery Staff (there are NONE of those around!), an RAAF C60L Gantry, C60S RDF, etc etc.....

But hey, they are your bits and your time, so you do whatever you like with them.

On that note, I'm off over the pond to Beltring .....

Mike C

Richard Farrant · #17 02-07-12, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

On that note, I'm off over the pond to Beltring .....

Hi Mike,

Look forward to catching up with you there.

regards, Richard

Mike Cecil · #18 02-07-12, 19:50

Yes, Richard, that would be good. Where will you be located?

Made a snap decision yesterday to attend, so much to get organised in the interim.

Mike C

Richard Farrant · #19 02-07-12, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Yes, Richard, that would be good. Where will you be located?

Made a snap decision yesterday to attend, so much to get organised in the interim.

Mike C

Hi Mike,
Sending you a PM

Richard

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #20 03-07-12, 08:51

Hi all - thank you for your interest. As with our half-track project, I did not proceed until I obtained all the Carrier running gear. With this project I need to obtain the bofors, even if I just hunker parts together to obtain a shell. I have a lead that I am following up and of course I have Colin as well. As Mike has stated I could have several options of what to build, but I really like the cab configuration of the Canadian truck, it looks so different to any Blitz I have seen. The Oz version just looks too plain.

With that in mind, Hanno, could you copy the Canadian images from Dirk's thread to this one?

I am also open to suggestions for a project name, Project ????????

Tony - I like your devious suggestions about ownership and storage of another truck. At this stage Ada has no idea about this project but eventually I will have to fess up.

Bob

easo · #21 03-07-12, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

:

On that note, I'm off over the pond to Beltring .....

Mike C

Not Fair, I want to go again!!!

Easo

Mike K · #22 03-07-12, 10:28

I go back a long way..

Tim Vibert did one ( bofors on a CMP ) , would have been early 1980's

It could have been the truck Richard C-S at Barnawatha ended up with . At the time, Tim would astound us with a new restoration every few months . God only knows how he did it

Mike

hrpearce · #23 03-07-12, 10:29

You are a brave man Bob, wanting a truck with the Mother in law seat beside the driver

Richard Farrant · #24 03-07-12, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I go back a long way..

Tim Vibert did one ( bofors on a CMP ) , would have been early 1980's

At the time, Tim would astound us with a new restoration every few months . God only knows how he did it

hi Mike,
Hopefully one of the many stories that might come out when we have Tim Vibert as Guest Speaker at Corowa next year

regards, Richard

Keith Webb · #25 03-07-12, 11:48

Quote:

I am also open to suggestions for a project name, Project ????????

Project "POPGUN"?

Has a nice ring to it.

colin jones · #26 03-07-12, 13:39

Project "BOGUN"!

Alex van de Wetering · #27 03-07-12, 14:22

David Hayward's "Pearsons of Liverpool" book has some great shots of the Canadian "wide body" Bofors CMP...some of which were posted on the forum before.

Quote:

I am also open to suggestions for a project name, Project ????????

Given the above, why not make it a tribute to our late forum member and great friend, David? Project "David"

Alex

Mike Cecil · #28 03-07-12, 18:07

I wonder if it will have to go on the new National Firearms Register that you Australian residents will soon have to contend with...??

Good luck, Bob, you have chosen the harder of the options, but I agree it will look pretty swish compared to the Australian version.

Mike C

Richard Coutts-Smith · #29 04-07-12, 01:32

"I go back a long way..

Tim Vibert did one ( bofors on a CMP ) , would have been early 1980's

It could have been the truck Richard C-S at Barnawatha ended up with . At the time, Tim would astound us with a new restoration every few months . God only knows how he did it"

You are right Mike,
One of Keiths photo's of Tims effort. The truck then passed on to Bruce W. as a parts vehicle before I bought what was left.
Rich.

Little Jo · #30 04-07-12, 02:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Tony - I like your devious suggestions about ownership and storage of another truck. At this stage Ada has no idea about this project but eventually I will have to fess up.

Bob

Hi Bob

The only way we will get away with the ownership deception plan is if your wife and mine do not talk about our hobbies. Luckily mine is not that interested in any type of vehicle so we may just get away with it. I note Richard Coutts-Smith ended up with what was left of Tim Vibert 1980's project vehicle, he may have the Boffor. Save us having to do a raid. Ha Ha Ha...

Cheers

Tony