Gunners front floor stowage box MK2
 

My Gunners front floor stowage box ( the one with the slanted lid) in my No3 MK2* has no hinge to hold the lid on. there are signs there has ever been a hinge and that the lid just sits on the box. is this correct ?
It has bugged me for years with it bouncing around when off road. so while i have the vehicle appart now is the time to correct it.

Gunner stowage box: hinge and hasp
 

Here is a UC NO-2 MKII* Carrier. In this unit, the gunner side floor mounted stowage box is fitted with a full length hinge on the edge toward the front of the Carrier. The hinge is similar to that found on the rations box fitted beneath the gunner's seat.

This stowage box is also fitted with a hasp at the front. The hasp has been there for some time, the latch is not present.

B. Harris has the same set-up, as shown in his stencil thread images.

Michael,
Thanks for that, i have plenty of hinge so i will fit some. I have the little clasp exactly the same as yours , just no sign of a hinge ever having been fitted, no spot welds or rivet holes. another little question answered.

is that particular box the same on the Mk1's it looks very similar ?

Shaun just to confirm. Here is mine which is an exact copy of the original I borrowed from Les Jackson years ago. Ron

Thats great Ron Thanks.

Toolbin
 

Just a quick question, can anyone confirm or deny that a padded cover was fitted to the lid, on top of or around the sloped end.
It was a sort of kneeling pad I think.

George.

i may be proven wrong but if you put your full weight on that tin it would probably flatten it, i have never seen any pads on that box.. the Mk2 seating height was set so you could lean into the weapon and the Mk1 had the collapsing seat so i would have thought padding the box would be pointless (luss you would be too close to the front armour by this point to fire the weapon correctly)


again i will no doubt be proven incorrect.

Cheers

Richie

Reinforcing strap
 

The lid top has a reinforcing steel strap attached, similar to that which you would find on the rations box.

If you have a look at the Stencil thread by B. Harris you can see the lid hasp exists on his example as well.

George
 

Yes, the MkI box has a padded canvas pad along the front of the lid where it angles up onto the top. It is retained by a brass strip front and back, riveted to the lid.

The version of the box used in the T-16 is similar. No doubt based on what was already in production at the time. And it has the pad on it. I stand on the lid all the time and it holds OK. I wouldn't jump up and down on it but it is fairly strong.

Shots for comparison of the box with the pad installed in my carrier are at this link:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...?t=9136&page=2

Hi, The tool box lid pad cover is the same material as the seat covers, there is a pad underneath with measurements of the pad in the FUC-03 parts manual.

Here is a pic of shuan ronson carrier tool box as found with the remains of the original pad in place, i have replicated the pad based on what i found on shauns ronson, and it works fine when kneeling with a bren gun.

kev.

are you sure its for kneeling on ? i would have thought with the bren mounted in the port you would be far too forward to shoot the gun correctly ? was the pad not there to protect the backs of the gunners legs ? just seems weird to me ?

Pad use.
 

I agree with Richard. The pad would be at the back of the gunners legs. Kneeling on this angle makes no sense to me.

Whilst on this subject. Has anyone in UK got a spare ration box for under the gunners seat for a MK2. Or one to copy or get copy made.

Cheers Ron

Mine is out at the moment Ron, i could knock a copy up for you or send the demenions and a drawing to you .

I think its the same box as on the O/S rear of a MK 1 ?

Thanks a million Shaun. If you have time, it's probably just as easy for you to make one for me. Or just a drawing if you're pushed.

Ron

OK it's over a year later and here is my under gunners seat rations bin.(MK2) Shaun Hindle got the basic box made which I collected at W&P. I had to get the hinges with rivets and clasp sorted out. I just finished spraying it today. I'll fit it in the next few days. Very pleased. Ron

whilst we're on the subject of boxes i'm having a ration box made by a local fabricator so if anyone else needs a box give me a shout and i'll get some more knocked up, he reckoned on £30 per box and if it turns out well i'll get some of the other boxes done as well.

rick

I think Shaun's bloke charged us £40, which I was very happy with. However the riveted hinge and front hasp were much more labour intensive. Ron

that's a good price ron, to be honest i don't mind paying more if the box comes out right but i've not used the guy before so i can't say whether he's any good, i'll let you all know how it goes when i get the box back from him.

rick

Hi Rick,

How are you?

I would like a box too please! Another I'm also missing is the one in front of the gunners seat, with the angled lid. Should you have that one knocked up I would also like one of those. Thank you.

Cheers,

Here are mine installed. I must say that the fitting of four simple 5/16" nuts and bolts on your own, can cause serious cramp. Ron

Ron, If only they used capsulated nuts on carriers, would save alot of swearing, hey that drain plug looks nice!, :)

KEV.

Ha Ha Yes Kevin. After I placed the four bolts through the holes, I put four 1/2" spanners wedged in the correct direction and weighted with metal blocks, thus enabling me to fix the nuts from underneath in one go. No doubt someone will tell me the nuts should be on the inside........But I'm not that clever. :doh: Ron

To hold bolts in from underneath use a magnet.

hi marc
no problem for the box but let me see what his work is like before i commit, the good news is i'm having loads of different boxes made so if he's good then i'll post up a proper list (on a seperate thread, sorry ron) for all those who need a few bits and peices.

rick

No problem for me Rick.

I said I wasn't that clever Robert. Plus the need to own four good magnets and ability to climb in and out more times than I did :thup: Ron

Hi Ron, I use a couple of old Nissan Scissor jacks for holding the bolts/nuts in place under the carrier when working solo, I wonder what the record is for in and out of a carrier over a 12 hour period, i think i might have done 50.

Kev.