Snowmobiles and Penguins - Page 2

Hanno Spoelstra · #1 22-07-03, 11:48

Quote:

Originally posted by Snowtractor
And there are plenty of muskeg tractors still running about.

On this web page I read "In the Netherlands, however, the snowmobile is sometimes used in the construction of dikes". Yikes! I should keep my eyes open for a surplus Muskeg over here then

Snowtractor · #2 22-07-03, 11:49

Wow, really revamped the site since I was last there. I like the quick time movies they have added of the snomos. Interesting the production of the muskeg tractor come in 49 that would seem about right for developemnt from the snomo with prototypes and retooling.
Sean

Hanno Spoelstra · #3 22-07-03, 13:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Snowtractor
The muskeg tractor came post war but I saw a track layout of them and except for one or two features they are identical.

Basic spec check:

Armoured Snowmobile:
Length: 154"
Width: 101"
Height: 58"
Engine: Cadillac V8-cyl, 125 bhp.
Track width: 35", running on sixteen 4.50-16 Run Flat tyres

Muskeg Tractor - Model H. D. W.:
Length: 183"
Width: 87"
Height: 88"
Engine: Chrysler 6-cyl, 115 bhp. at 3,400 rpm.
Track width: 28"

Hmm, although it looks like Muskeg is indeed based on the Snomo design, it actually differs too much in lenght, width and track width to be the basis for a Snomo replica....or were there variations of the Muskeg, with one having basic dimensions very close to the Snomo?

Hanno Spoelstra · #4 22-09-03, 18:00

One wheel short of making a good basis for a Snowmobile replica, but it shows the stuff is out there, only an eBay-click away

"8x8 ARGO WEASEL AMPHIBIOS ATV GREAT SHAPE!!!"

Jesse Browning · #5 30-01-10, 02:03

One of the pictures above caught my attention. A different angle, but looks similar to this. I took this picture last year in Michigan. Jesse.

Ed Storey · #6 01-02-10, 04:40

Here is an image of one during Exercise Eskimo in 1945.

marco · #7 05-02-10, 18:59

Found this one in a photoalbum currently listed on eBay.

Marco

http://cgi.ebay.com/RCN-WW2-Navy-Alb...item2eaaeb4f56

Bob Carriere · #8 06-02-10, 02:57

.... the seller thinks they are gold plated....

Bob

Patrick LeBrun · #9 12-04-11, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

One wheel short of making a good basis for a Snowmobile replica, but it shows the stuff is out there, only an eBay-click away

"8x8 ARGO WEASEL AMPHIBIOS ATV GREAT SHAPE!!!"

This one is a Bombardier J-5 tractor platform with something else on top...

The armored snows had double wheels and tracks, solid tires and steel sprockets.... plus reinforced crosslinks...

I wouldn't advise trying to make one from a Muskeg or J-5... if accuracy counts.

For those who wondered about the Penguin Mark II "#8", it has been completely destroyed.

Hans Mulder · #10 13-04-11, 20:37

While booting around the back forest in my frankencarrier the other day I spotted some track protruding from the ground. I pulled it out with the carrier and what I have is about 14 feet of double track...most of the cross pieces rusty, some all the way through, but it is friggen heavy for a rubber/metal track. I'll get some pictures this weekend and look around for more parts...

Marc Montgomery · #11 14-04-11, 01:52

sadly, i was talking to a fellow here in Quebec not long ago who said he came across an armoured snomo a few years earlier. The owner had died and his elderly widow would sell but wanted too high a price...It ended up scrapped...

Meanwhile Convoy Mag number 28 has a couple of photos of military snomachines including a Penguin awaiting restoration at Calnan`s
and Convoy 29 has a feature of sorts on Penguins including one found at a farm auction our western Canada...no idea what became of it.

Lynn Eades · #12 05-08-21, 00:06

I have a Bombardier. Anyone else on the forum have one?

maple_leaf_eh · #13 05-08-21, 03:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I have a Bombardier. Anyone else on the forum have one?

You have a Skidoo with an identity crisis.

Lynn Eades · #14 05-08-21, 07:40

Yes Terry. Old mans bike according to my oldest (38) son.

Hanno Spoelstra · #15 12-08-21, 08:01

Muskeg operators and spare parts manual up for grabs:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Mapl...8884405723244/

servicepub (RIP) · #16 23-09-03, 00:03

Anybody game enough to do a "Weapons of War" booklet on these (or on the whole subject of snomobiles in Canadian service)?
I now have three boklets in print with 7 more in the pipeline. I ask for 4500-5000 words. I pay a paltry $250 (Canadian dollars) and provide 10 free coies of the finished product.
Always looking for authors for other MilVeh subjects as well as artillery, etc...
Soon to be published is the story of the Land Service Mattress.
http://www.servicepub.com/weapons.html

Hanno Spoelstra · #17 23-09-03, 02:05

Quote:

Originally posted by servicepub
Anybody game enough to do a "Weapons of War" booklet on these (or on the whole subject of snomobiles in Canadian service)?
I ask for 4500-5000 words. I pay a paltry $250 (Canadian dollars) and provide 10 free coies of the finished product.

I already have some 1,800 words on the Canadian Armoured Snowmobile published here. May be used by any budding author for the measly sum of one copy of the finished booklet

Alex Blair (RIP) · #18 03-12-03, 12:15

I recently recieved mail from Dell Dalgliesh out of Manitoba reporting Penguin #57....
Here is a excerpt from our corespondence..
Can we get some info for Dell and welcome to the MLU Homefires...

Quote:

The only history I know about it is the ski resort at LaRivera Mb bought it from the government to use on the ski slope, they later cut 2/3 of the cab off and mounted a snow making machine on the back and drove it off the Cadillac engine.
The exhaust pipes rusted off and they let water get into the engine and then we got it. We rebuilt the engine and try to take better care of it.
The machine is in Sarles, ND right now.
I guess my biggest question is; how many of the markIII's were built and how do I tell what the chassis serial# is? The serial# on the Canadian Arsenals data plate is 57.
If you stay in touch I will share any info I have.
It would also be good to know where all the parts that Levy Auto Parts had for these machines went to.

Welcome aboard ..

cletrac (RIP) · #19 03-12-03, 14:26

There was a Penguin offered for sale in Saskatoon last winter. The ad was in a heavy equipment Auto Trader. It looked close to oeiginal in the photo.

cletrac (RIP) · #20 08-01-04, 01:29

I came across that Penguin I mentioned and attached these pictures. If anybody's interested it's for sale too. It's situated near Melfort, Sask. The Caddy motor has been replaced with a 318 Chrysler and the machine is in good condition. They used it to go into the bush hunting this fall. Contact Mike at 306-277-2004.

Hanno Spoelstra · #21 17-03-04, 11:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Italian Army museum, outside Rome, Italy

To the best of my knowledge the "Italian military museum outside Rome" was the "Museo della Motorizzazione Militare della Cecchignola". While searching for the address I found this: "Caserma Arpaia, viale dell'Esercito, 170, Cecchignola, tel. 06/5011885". This museum houses some pretty rare vehicles - see CENSIMENTO DEI VEICOLI CORAZZATI STORICI IN ITALIA.

I asked the webmaster of this site for confirmation, and his reply was:

Quote:

Hello Hanno, you are right, the tracked vehicle is preserved in Museo della Motorizzazione Militare in Rome. See the following page in Italian Army website http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/S...Sez_storia.asp The museum is open only on saturday from 9.00 to 12.00 AM. I saw the vehicle 20 years ago and I asked myself what it was. Now I have the answer. Thank you. regards, Pierantonio

This is the direct link to the Museo della Motorizzazione Militare's page: http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/m...rizzazione.asp.
Make sure to reserve some time for a visit to this museum during your next trip to Rome!

Regards,
Hanno

Colin Macgregor Stevens · #22 17-03-04, 16:17

Here is the data plate for the snowmobile for sale in Saskatchewan by "Mikes_Army"

Hanno Spoelstra · #23 17-03-04, 16:46

Quote:

Originally posted by Colin Macgregor Stevens
Here is the data plate for the snowmobile for sale in Saskatchewan by "Mikes_Army"

Also see CMP and Penguin for sale and follow the links for more of Mike Heiberg's pictures.

Hanno Spoelstra · #24 07-04-04, 16:33

Quote:

Originally posted by servicepub
Anybody game enough to do a "Weapons of War" booklet on these (or on the whole subject of snomobiles in Canadian service)

Don, do I understand correctly you have taken up the challenge? When can we expect it to be published?
(Ref. Weapons of War series in preparation: Snowmobiles - Don Dingwall)

Hanno Spoelstra · #25 01-07-04, 12:04

Hmm, seems this once was a Bombardier Muskeg Tractor - or was it an Armoured Snowmobile?!?

Alex Blair (RIP) · #26 01-07-04, 12:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Hmm, seems this once was a Bombardier Muskeg Tractor - or was it an Armoured Snowmobile?!?

Hi Hanno..
What we are looking at is the back end...
Here is the back end of the Armoured sno mobile...
What ever it is ..is based on the ASM chassis and track and could well be an armoured snowmobile...

Hanno Spoelstra · #27 01-07-04, 13:06

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex Blair
What ever it is ..is based on the ASM chassis and track and could well be an armoured snowmobile...

Hi Alex, that's what I was hoping...although the external track braces seem to point towards the Muskeg tractor...

Snowtractor · #28 01-07-04, 13:16

...definitely, though you can see they would make a great repo , size differences aside.
Sean

Alex Blair (RIP) · #29 01-07-04, 15:39

Hi guys..
The little sno thingie had a 6 cyl.chrysler that must hace been mounted in the front under the cab..it appears that a drive shaft extends from that area in the picture shown ,with the bed tilted..
The exhaust in the red vehicle is exiting the machine in the right area for a mid-rear engine mounted armoured snow mobile,the hook is the same and the two inner track protection baffles hanging down are the same as the armoured snow...
Gotta be an armoured snow mobile with the armour cut off and the side rails prefabed from the other design..and new sheet metal side and top plates built to reduce weight using the old armour patterns...
They look the same...just rounded off on the top corners.....

Snowtractor · #30 12-08-04, 05:01

I say no. Look at the front drive sprocket the red one is identical to the Muskeg tractor and different than the armoured snomo. Also the rear tunnel area the steel extends down and on the snomo it is sqare-ish and round ( as in the pic ) on the muskeg. The drive shaft you se may just be a PTO to drive the dump for the rear deck on the muskeg or it could be a hydraulic , though I think PTO. Why send a drive shaft back to drive the front sprocket when you could just reverse the engine and put the tranny in front. All that aside the outside support structure is identical to the muskeg.As for exhaust you can run it anywhere to exit the vehicle. I might add that the muskeg tractor hull was used in a bunch of different configurations both offered and special order. What we need is more pics.
Sean