Lewis machine-gun plans/sketches/technical drawings

Big D · #1 07-09-08, 11:01

Gidday all,

I’m a recent purchaser of a bren gun carrier and I’m wondering if anyone on the forum can help me out with a wee project I have in mind.

I want to get a replica Lewis machine gun made up to add to the carrier in its anti-aircraft mode on the engine cowling.

First, a bit of background to the carrier I have. I’ve been a big carrier fan for a long time but it seems it is only later in life when one can afford one.
I’d also been a watcher on these forums for some time trying to pick up tips and generally just boosting the knowledge. I must say the forums have been an amazing resource.

I’d been looking for a carrier in New Zealand for some time but the best I was offered was a hull and a piece of track. I felt though that I just didn’t have the expertise required to do such a restoration so I decided if I could I would keep an eye out for ‘a runner’.

I found that was easier said than done though and anyone I spoke to in NZ with a carrier didn’t want to part with it. I eventually had to cast the net a bit wider and on a recent trip to Australia I looked at two carriers that were for sale. I ended up returning a couple of months later to buy one of them and ship it back home to NZ.

As you guys say, ‘Border raiding on a major scale’ but rest assured it is going to a good home and hopefully it won’t put you off giving a kiwi some help!

A lot of you guys will probably be familiar with this carrier as it was at Corowa 2005. I've attached some pictures.

This carrier was restored by Trevor Jones who passed away a couple of years ago and thus the carrier was eventually put up for sale. Trevor did a fantastic job on the restoration of the carrier and it was easily the best carrier I had seen on either side of the Tasman.

One of the features he did add was a replica Vickers MG, and being a firearms collector as well I can tell you it looks damn good, and very similar to the real thing. Trevor also did up some rough sketches of a Lewis MG but passed away before he could get the Lewis made. I’d now like to finish the carrier off by getting a replica Lewis built and added to it.

I was wondering if anyone else has done the same thing and built a replica Lewis. If so, would you have any plans or drawings that I could purchase or borrow to get this project going.

I saw on the Corowa 2005 DVD that there was at least one carrier there with a Lewis MG on it. Whether that was a replica, or an actual deactivated unit, I am not sure. Getting my hands on a real Lewis gun over here to use as the baiss of the plans is nigh impossible. I am only aware of three Lewis guns in the country and one sold at an auction recently for just under $20,000.

Any assistance that is offered would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Darryl

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #2 07-09-08, 13:07

Hi Darryl - you didn't keep me appraised of the fact you bought the Swanpool Carrier. Hopefully you also obtained all the research and the story board that Trevor had done. My main query is that on that story board it stated that this Carrier was one out of a batch of 450. Does the research show what the run number started and ended with?

Bob

Tony Smith · #3 07-09-08, 17:54

Hi, Daryl, which part of NZ are you in? There are certainly more than 3 Lewis MGs in NZ. I have physically handled 2 of them and have seen the number of them bought by Peter Jackson in Wellington from the Royal Nepalese Armoury. Think you'd be looking at more than 30 in NZ.

PJ's mates at the Omaka Heritage Centre have done some outstanding work with resin replicas for their static and flying WW1 aircraft. Perhaps drop them a line, or drop in over Easter 2009 for a chat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big D

..and being a firearms collector as well..

Are you in the NZAAHA? The President of the Canterbury Branch does some excellent work producing solid, non-firing MG replicas in Aluminium, and has even done a couple set up for Gas-Firing. At this stage, I think he has done 6 different MGs so far, and one might have been either a Lewis or a Vickers K.

Big D · #4 07-09-08, 23:30

Hi Bob,

I thought I’d sent you a follow up message saying that I’d confirmed buying the Swanpool carrier. Obviously I didn’t so apologies for that.

Your comments about the restoration costs between the two I looked at were spot on. The condition of the Swanpool carrier was that good and there was little that had to be done to it, so I couldn’t resist in the end.

As far as the story board goes – Denise (understandably) wasn’t prepared to let that go at this stage. I only briefly looked at it so am not sure about the run numbers. I will see if she will take some photographs of the relevant parts of the story board. Hopefully that might fill in the gaps so will come back to you on that.

Thanks.

Hi Tony,

I live in Dunedin and am a member of the NZAAA. I have previously spoken to the guy in Christchurch who does the replica firearms. Rod Woods is his name. In fact I have one of his Browning .30 cals on my Willys jeep. I wasn’t aware of him doing the Lewis gun replicas but I did email him and hopefully will hear back.

You could well be right about the number of Lewis guns here in NZ. To be honest, I hadn’t even considered what Peter Jackson has at Omaka. I was discussing it with a few collectors here (some of whom have been collecting for 50 years) and between them they could only think of three in the whole country in private collector’s hands. Again, we didn’t consider what Mr Jackson had though.

Like you say, it is probably worth me writing to Omaka and seeing what they could do.

Thanks.

Lynn Eades · #5 08-09-08, 06:56

Nice carrier. Well done! Welcome to the forum!

Big D · #6 08-09-08, 07:23

Thanks Lynn.

Its good to be here after all this time looking!

Tony Smith · #7 10-04-09, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Peter Jackson's mates at the Omaka Heritage Centre have done some outstanding work with resin replicas for their static and flying WW1 aircraft. Perhaps drop them a line, or drop in over Easter 2009 for a chat.

So Daryl, is a trip to Marlborough on your calendar? I've had a chat to H about these. OHC/Weta have only done Air Service versions of the Lewis, but ought to be able to come up with some Land Service patterns, the stuff that these guys can do with resin is mind blowing. If not H will be happy to assist you convert one to Land Service.

Big D · #8 10-04-09, 14:05

Hi Tony,

It was tempting but we have just moved house and I just didn't have the time to get up to Omaka this year.The last time I was up at Omaka was 2005 so I was overdue for another visit. Hopefully next time.

I haven't spoken to Hamish for some time but I know he was pretty busy organising for the show. I have my fingers crossed that he is still able to do something.

By the way - Taieri went well. A good turnout of vehicles but the weather was against us and it started pouring down after lunch. Murray D. had a few of his toys out and put on a good display.

Cheers

Darryl

sapper740 · #9 28-02-09, 16:56

[QUOTE=Big D;I want to get a replica Lewis machine gun made up to add to the carrier in its anti-aircraft mode on the engine cowling.
Darryl[/QUOTE]

Darryl, I have an Armourer's poster that shows every component of every sub-assembly of the "GUN, MACHINE, LEWIS, .303-IN, MK 1" in great detail along with it's proper nomenclature. I've included a low-res picture of the poster and can email you a 3 meg higher res picture if you wish.
Here's a question for you: have you considered making a replica of that unique Kiwi invention, the Charlton MG for your carrier?

Big D · #10 28-02-09, 22:06

Interesting picture Tony.

Derek - I'd be very interested in that high res picture you have of the Lewis. Would you be able to email me a copy please?

I hadn't considered the Charlton as this is an Australian carrier and I wanted to keep it accurate, which meant going for the Lewis at the back.

I've actually spoken to one of the guys that does all of the armoury work for Peter Jackson. He is pricing up building a replica Lewis for me.

As you said before Tony - he has confirmed he has lots of sample Lewis MG's to work with!

Cheers

Darryl

Tony Smith · #11 01-03-09, 08:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big D

Interesting picture Tony.

I've actually spoken to one of the guys that does all of the armoury work for Peter Jackson. He is pricing up building a replica Lewis for me.

As you said before Tony - he has confirmed he has lots of sample Lewis MG's to work with!

Cheers

Darryl

I'm sure he could even make a Gas-Firing version for you if you like! (When you speak to him next, I have his DVD made up ready).

Are you going to Taieri next week?

Big D · #12 01-03-09, 09:22

Gidday Tony

Yes, he did mention gas firing but I din't want to push my luck too far. I would be happy with just the replica but maybe I should talk to him about the gas firing version again. It is tempting....

Yes - I will be at Taieri next weekend. I will have both the carrier and the jeep there. We are expecting a good turnout of vehicles - 25-30 I'm told, so it should be a good day.

Are you coming over?

Is Hamish going to be there? I haven't heard.

Cheers

Darryl