Lynx II, hull # 4225

[Peter Duggan]

Jason,
Thanks for the information on the CWM Lynx. I hope that their front bin was a faithful reproduction since it will most likely provide all the dimensions for my front bin when I get around to it. The same goes for the bins that are mounted on the rear fenders. Peter

[marco]

Photo from the Lynx at the RCA Museum at Shilo.

[lynx42]

The Lynx on the left in that photo has the original lid slightly open. The lid opens from the vehicle outwards and has a welded lip along the Lynx hull to stop bits falling behind the bin. I do not think that the left Lynx bin is damaged at all, only open at about 30 degrees.

The fitting of an M3A1 White Scout Car steering wheel would make it a mongrel to drive as the Lynx steering wheel is a lot smaller in diameter, you would bark your knuckles on some sharp edges on the inside of the front armour. (I know that because I have both an M3A1 and a Lynx.)

Regards Rick.

Originally Posted by Jason Ginn

I would say that there is a good chance that the Lynx on the left , with the flattend bin, is the one that went to the CWM.

When we updated the restoration work done in the late 80's we had to have a new front bin and rear fender top bins made. The replacement made during the first restoration for the front was a bit inaccurate and made from galvanized ducting. The rears were missing all together.

It's a little interesting that the motor in the CWM Lynx has a Greek rebuild tag on it from the late 60's iirc and it had a steering wheel from an M3 Scout Car with Greek graffiti cut into it. Both are still on it as part of its history.

[Jason Ginn]

Originally Posted by Peter Duggan

Jason,
Thanks for the information on the CWM Lynx. I hope that their front bin was a faithful reproduction since it will most likely provide all the dimensions for my front bin when I get around to it. The same goes for the bins that are mounted on the rear fenders. Peter

PETER I don't say that the parts we built in 2010 are 100% accurate as we had nothing to go by but Don Dingwall and I did the spec for them based on the original mounting points, photos and Drawings. I've always trusted Don as a master model maker with a very sharp eye for proportion and detail.

I hope they can serve as some form of refrence for you but take the info with a grain of salt as they aren't of the period.

RICK- I never found the Lynx "fun" to drive it seemed I was always short on space but the steering wheel wasn't horrible. It did take a considerable Ammount of heaving to turn it when stopped, basically you couldn't, but you didn't rack your knuckles on everything in the compartment. You can really see why the Ferret wheel is on a reverse angle tho!

Here is a pic of the CWM one on a cold wet day in 2010. Don D. Is driving and I'm the very wet commander.

[Peter Duggan]

Jason, Sorry that I didn't make the connection between you and the CWM Lynx earlier. I dug through my CMP magazines and found #56 which has some great pictures of you, Don and the Lynx. It is great that there are people such as yourself and Don that have helped keep our history alive.

Marco and Rick, Thanks again for the Lynx pictures. Every one helps.

Peter

[David Dunlop]

Rick, thanks for your post about the bin lid being stuck partially open on the Lynx. Went back for another look after your comments and it all makes sense now. Just for a giggle, can you recreate that look with your Lynx for us sometime?

David

[rob love]

I have driven the Shilo Lynx numerous times over the past 4 years, and do not feel it is cramped at all. However, having recently driven Shilo's Dingo, I cannot say the same for that vehicle.

Marco: That photo is from last weekend in Brandon...in fact I drove it to and from that spot. Where did you find it at?

[marco]

Rob,

The photo was sent by a friend who also was in Shilo that weekend.

Marco

[Mike Cecil]

Don't know if this image has been put up already, but there is a nice image of a NZ Lynx here:

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/phot...ry-units-italy

Mike

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Don't know if this image has been put up already, but there is a nice image of a NZ Lynx here:

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/phot...ry-units-italy

Mike

Mike, great photo, I have seen it before. That Lynx is an early Mk.1 with the rounded armour over the fuel tanks and hinged covers for the grease points on the front. Interestingly they have modified the sand channel holders and turned the sand channels 90% for more storage and protection. Is that a mounting for a Boyes AT gun attached to the usual bren gun hatch on the front windscreen armour?

Regards Rick.

[Peter Duggan]

Mike, Great find. I've emailed the NZ museum to get their permission to repost it here. As Rick says, there's so much to learn from these historical pictures of how the troops in the field adapted their equipment to suit their needs.
Rick, I'd spotted the rounded armour over the fuel tanks and wasn't sure what that mount was for. I'm assuming that the large ammunition boxes were for extra stowage. The crews must have lived out of these vehicles for days, if not weeks.

Thanks, Peter

[Mike Cecil]

It was a chance find while looking for other things. I like the T17E1 Staghound in the background, too. Altogether a very interesting image.

Mike

[rob love]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Is that a mounting for a Boyes AT gun attached to the usual bren gun hatch on the front windscreen armour?

Regards Rick.

It looks like they have attached a universal carrier AA mount with a short stem inserted to the bracket.

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

Being Canadian, I am accustomed to inefficient government bureaucracies, therefore it was a pleasant surprise to receive a prompt and positive reply from New Zealand regarding my request to put this picture up on my thread.
It is an iconic picture of an early Lynx in service with the New Zealand forces in Italy. Not a posed picture, it reflects the conditions, and the wide range of equipment typical of Commonwealth units.

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

The small stuff is just as satisfying as the bigger stuff. Today was the installation of the new POW holders on the front fenders. It has been quite educational viewing the evolution of the external storage on the various marks of the Lynx. We were fortunate today to have a flight of three replica Neiuport 11s fly into our local airport in Picton. Part of the flight that flew over Vimy ridge as part of the centenary ceremonies,

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

Thanks to Robin Craig we have solved the origins of "Kilroy was here". Today I went to a Hackaberry quarry north of Gananoque to run the Lynx through their commercial scales to get a certified weight for the Lynx. I think that this sequence of pictures best depicts what soldiers felt like surrounded by larger, threatening equipment, frustrated by the waiting times.

Peter

[Michael R.]

Congratulations Peter.
The Lynx looks swell!

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

The trip to Gananoque was very productive. The Lynx now has a good looking and functional exhaust system thanks to Gerry Foster. He also installed a Pertronix ignition kit and 12V coil. Thanks to the suppression boxes around the distributor and coil they can't be detected. Purists may object, but the Lynx certainly doesn't, starts and runs like a dream.

Peter

[Robin Craig]

Peter,

You were like a little kid with the Lynx yesterday, I am glad you are pleased with the work Gerry has done for you, both the exhaust and the electrical work. It is good to be able to make a recommendation to someone like you and have you happy at the end, managing peoples expectations is important.

FYI The weigh scale was G. Tackaberry & Sons.

[lynx42]

Well done, I did not have to get mine weighed for rego, so I do not know what the actual weight is. You will have an incorrect weight reading Peter, as the engine cover weighs a lot. What did she weigh in at?
Regards Rick.

[Peter Duggan]

Rick,

The Lynx weighted in at 3,209 kgs, You are right, when the engine covers, radiator armour and bins are added this will change. I will have her re weighted, and I'll share that with you.

Through some more great MLU networking I was able to find a foundry here in Ontario, that had some of the correct cast handles for the engine cover fasteners. Mine were missing. Great to stroke another item off the list.

Now in the fettling stage. Two steps forward and one back. Have some issues to sort out with my shift lever and linkage. Wonder what the next one will be.

Peter

[lynx42]

Thanks for the weight reading Peter, Be interesting to compare a Lynx 1 and a Lynx 11.

Do the foundry have any more screw down handles as I only have one and need three more.

Thanks Rick.

[Peter Duggan]

Rick,
Judging by the price, I think they flipped them from another foundry. I had to cut the shank to length, drill out the centre to accept the stud and then cut a groove to accept the retaining clip. Still, it was worth it to get the correct handles. PM to follow with the details.

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

Finally got the engine covers/decks sorted out and installed. While the manual refers to them as the "hood", the weight makes this term seem a bit pale.

Doubt if it is waterproof, but certainly adds to her appearance.

Peter

[David Dunlop]

Is she sitting a little lower on the back end now, Peter?

David

[Peter Duggan]

Dave,

Doesn't seem to have altered her stance. Took her for a spin and some pictures, but I can't seem to be able to upload them. Will post them once I figure out whats going on.

Peter

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Peter Duggan

Took her for a spin and some pictures

Sweeter words than those were never spoken...

[Peter Duggan]

David,

Doesn't seem to have impacted her stance. Next trip to a weight scale will be interesting.

Bruce,

You're right, those words do sound sweet, however each jaunt turns up something that needs to be fixed, adjusted, fettled. However it is progress, and rewarding when I look at where I started with. With luck, my next post will have a YouTube link.

Peter

[Robert Bergeron]

Awesome Peter !

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

Here is the link to the latest video, I took my brother in law out for a spin. Not quite up to Phil's standard.

Peter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKSLCaI_Fyc