Ram MkII restoration.

[Tim Isaac]

Dad has wanted one of these as long as I can remember, but never quite managed to get one. So when the opportunity arose we jumped at it. Now we have a few years work, searching and saving for parts. I`ll post photo`s and no doubt a "wants list" as we go along.

[Peter Duggan]

Tim,

What an incredible find ! Can you share what you know of it's history ? I am already looking forward to your updates. The best of luck to you and your father.

Peter

[jdmcm]

Who did the hull restoration? Do I see Adrian's skillful hand in this? Tim I hope you realize once you are done the restoration you have to send that tank back to Canada!

[Tim Isaac]

Originally Posted by Peter Duggan

Tim,

What an incredible find ! Can you share what you know of it's history ? I am already looking forward to your updates. The best of luck to you and your father.

Peter

Peter, the exact identity of the vehicle is unknown, however a previous owner narrowed it down using remains of the hull No with hours and hours of research to within just a few hulls, and gave it the Shop No 1859 and so WD census No CT160103, I have no reason to alter this. We found the 5th Canadian Armoured div sign on the nose.

[Tim Isaac]

Originally Posted by jdmcm

Who did the hull restoration? Do I see Adrian's skillful hand in this? Tim I hope you realize once you are done the restoration you have to send that tank back to Canada!

So far we have hired a local blaster a few times, the project came with a pair of front wings already made (by Adrian I believe) he is also doing a pair of vertical fuel tanks and an oil tank for us. The rest, we`re picking away at slowly.
As to repatriation, hmm, not sure about that.

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Tim Isaac

So far we have hired a local blaster a few times, the project came with a pair of front wings already made (by Adrian I believe) he is also doing a pair of vertical fuel tanks and an oil tank for us. The rest, we`re picking away at slowly.
As to repatriation, hmm, not sure about that.

Repatriation! Hmm...

Canadian Army didn't want to take them home in 1945... so why now ;-)



Tim

[Ed Storey]

Good point! And so true on so many levels.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Not sure how much help they would be, but the Canadian War Museum had at least one Ram in the workshops last summer. They have also got a Kangaroo on some sort of shop dolly to move it around and into the main gallery. There may be opportunities to trade knowledge depending on what is relevant.

[Ed Storey]

Actually I believe there are two Rams floating around in that shop, one a gun tank and the other a Kangaroo. Unfortunately these 'no clear end in sight' projects seem to be a hallmark of that institution. At least we have the Europeans to show us how these types of projects are suppose to be done.

[Tim Isaac]

That`s good to know as information is a bit thin, I hope they get some attention some time. At present I`m doing the major working parts, so fairly familiar M4 territory, though the internal stowage is a mystery. I didn`t mention at the top that the vehicle finished it`s service life as a kangaroo, so that`s how we intend to restore it, the turret will be restored as an OP if we feel the need to fit it.

[Matthew Noonan]

There are internal stowage diagrams for the regular Ram if your interested in those. https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...aspx?B=1664990

towards the end has some nice location drawings and a detailed legend.