DeBruyn MK-1 1942 restoration project

[rob love]

The CT number will be stamped on the front plate to the left of the serial number. It is my belief that the CT number was some form of a war department registration number on British commonwealth armour, with the C standing for Canadian.

An example of a mix of serial/hull/body numbers on a carrier similar to Rick's was:

CT number (front armour): CT113354
Front armour serial: 11101
Div Plate number CB10099
Hull number 10094
DND number painted on side armour(domestic, if overseas would have used the CT number): 42-1-8596 later replaced by T56-749


The numbers do not match, possibly because a certain amount of work would be done to the lower hull without the armour, and then the upper armour would be added. As a result, numbers could vary from near matching to being a thousand out.

The above numbers came from one carrier out of 5 that we salvaged parts from quite a number of years back. The carriers were located on the North shore of a lake requiring travel by boat and a short hike to reach them. I have the numbers of the other 4 as well. On all of them, the differences vary from slight to significant.

[Ledsel]

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Thought I would start a thread on the restoration of my Canadian MK-1 1942 Ford UC-2 serial # 11606 hull 10607 3” mortar variant. The preceding serial numbers were taken from the tag behind the drivers head, however this leaves me a little confused as the lower hull number 11606 does not match the number on the angle iron at the back (gunner side) of the carrier 10587, shouldn’t these numbers match? The upper hull and the lower hull no.s are not the same. They are usually out from a few to a few hundred. I'm not sure on the 42 models if the CT no. is on the hull edge. I know it is on the MK.II.

[Rick DeBruyn]

Richard, sorry for the delay in getting these measurements for the front armor … here they are none-the-less. I re-measured with a digital caliper and I found the following, the readings are a little curious as they were not consistent, although the .50 mm difference could be a buildup of paint?

CTL 7461 is 11.00 mm
CTL 12780 is 10.51 mm
CTL 12780D is 10.53 mm
CTL 3888D is 11.00 mm
CTL 12859 is 10.73 mm

I’m close to sending the hull to the sandblaster then off to painting. Anybody able to help on the correct color and finish to use on the WW2 Canadian/Commonwealth carriers? Also, I have damaged my front bogie assembly bushing (CTL 102 - Bushing, front bogie bracket fork) could anyone help me out with a couple?

I’ve downloaded a few more photos to Picasa . http://picasaweb.google.com/rickgdeb...PvEiZGk4uGBPg#

Here are some of our Remembrance Day parade in Edmonton. http://picasaweb.google.com/rickgdeb...at=directlink#

[RichardT10829]

Rick from my research i have found depending on what date and what theater of war they were going too they would be different, for example carriers delivered to Italy after may 1943 were all brown however prior to that they would have come from tunnisian and Sciciliy theater and would be a mix of green, sand and brown etc etc if you are going for an italy or western desert theme i can help as i have two books from mike Starmer on paint schemes for these theaters


cheers for the measurements. i have made front armour patterns out of wood and test fit with excelent results, they are away getting cut and shamphered out of 10mm steel, i will be able to forward measurements and drawings etc very soon.

cheers

ps as for your bushing i would not use second hand ones as each carrier has led a different life, for what it would take to turn one i would perhaps remove a good one from the other side and use it aws a pattern to make a full set of new bushes buddy ? just my humble opinion though.


Rich

[Lynn Eades]

Would you want to pay post from New Zealand? I have those bushes for an Aust carrier (near enough to the same)

[Rick DeBruyn]

Thanks for your reply Lynn, Yes I think I would be ok to pay from N.Z. send me a note with costs to rick@aztecinspection.com I’ll provide address detail. Again, thanks.

[Rick DeBruyn]

Could anyone that owns a Mortar Carrier with the mortar brackets (front & back) help me out with close-up photos? I will need to reproduce them for my project. Many thanks, Rick rick@aztecinspection.com

[Lynn Eades]

does this help