Richie's Mk1 Restoration

[RichardT10829]

[Lynn Eades]

When you are looking for g/box bits, the WWII Dodge (wc) uses the same components, apart from the input and output shafts. Input, and output bearings are the same, pins, cluster, 1st, 2nd,3rd, rev idler,selector forks, and shafts, cluster bearings, and intermediate bearing (hyatt 99000)are all the same.
Are you going to leave your hubs off until you have the axle bolted back in?

[RichardT10829]

yes buddy, the axle is now bolted back onto the hull solid was easier than i expectd to get it back on, did it myself shims and all........ The hubs are still off for now though.... I have a full new set of wheel bearings to go back in, just making the billet shims to take up the difference from 40mm to 50mm ID... I have a spare gunners side armour sheet (repro) in 8mm steel if anyone is interested in it. i have not yet drilled it so its good to go onto any British or Canadian pattern carrier that might need one.

[Philliphastings]

Terrific posts Richard, please keep them coming. On the subject of hull paint colours, I always asumed the Mk1's would have been painted deep bronze green semi-gloss but now that I have started taking bits off I am finding plain old olive drab lustreless with a light stone camo sprayed over the top - a bit of a surprise I must say but definately factory original (the OD that is)

Cheers

Phill

[RichardT10829]

phil. yours is very likely to have been in the desert mate so it is no suprise that there is evidence of light stone beign used on it...... most likey lif you were to go around the carrier you would find traces of slate grey and sky blue too.

[Lynn Eades]

Which Desert? The Great Sandy desert? The Little Sandy Desert?, The Tanami Desert? I reckon theres a chance this carrier came to Australia before 1939. What say the Aussie historians? (The word oxymoron comes to mind, but its only a thought)

[RichardT10829]

Well you know the romantic in me would hope that it had been in the North African Desert.... many did actually go there and then onto Italy (not being a desert of course) not sure that they would have wasted resources bringing it back though (plus if it had been an english carrier with an English Regiment most likely it would have been given to the Russians on the lend Lease programme like many of the carriers we had...)


(Nigel I hope you dont mind me taking a pic from your book please dont prosecute me)

the phrase "Open Mind" comes to mind but its only a thought remember the desert war started off in 1940 when italy made its declaration of war...some time in june that year not sure when mass production of the Brens and later UC's were kicked into gear, but many of the regiments may still have had their scout carriers... who know's