New to the MLU community

[Jim Davis]

Hi everyone, I've been looking through the wealth of info in these forums for a little while now and thought it was about time I intorduced myself.
I'm James, I'm 21 and my dad and I are slowly restoring an F60 Blitz. Last year was the first time we went to Corowa to see the vehciles on parade and at the airport (despite the fact we only live 20km away we usally missed the date). Seeing all the great blitzes, carriers, jeeps etc gave Dad inspiration and we obtained the 3 remnants of Blitzs that have been in the front paddock of our neighbours farm (for the last 30 years) by trading a McCormick W-4 tractor for them (as you do).


So, that was in April last, year, and in the time since we've been obtaining documentation and learning all we can about them while slowly restoring one using parts from all three. I don't have the details with me currently but I believe we ended up with two Cab13 F60Ls and possibly a F15 monkey face. All 3 have had the frame cut back to the rear wheels and have had winches fitted very crudely mid frame, we believe they were used in timber country before being bought for the farm. Strangely the newest engine (1945) was in the monkey face while the two others had (from memory) 1941 and 1942 engines going by the "divers helmet" and the stamp at the rear of the engine.

At this point in time we have the best frame and cabin from a F60, diferentials, engine, and most moving parts from the monkey face, gearbox bits from all three, and part of the cabin from the other F60. It's turning into a bit of a hybrid of models , ratios, sizes of parts etc.

Anyway, I've wasted enough space typing, here are some photos of the two F60s, in the background of one you can see the monkey face at the shed. I thought I some more digital photos but I don't, I'll have to scan in some others at some point. The monkey face was the only one that was almost "drivable" but was really more weld than blitz, with pieces of railway steel welded all through the frame and on the front.

As a note, I believe the unit symbol on the F60 may be that of the 1st Armoured Car Squadron, sent to Japan at the end of the war. I'm not sure though.