Otter LRC CM4647296 comes home

[Jordan Baker]

Today I picked up the rough castings of the hood latch components. I still need to do the cleanup and machining.

[Jordan Baker]

I finished the cleaning up of the castings this afternoon. I still have to do the final machining on them. I’m quite happy with how they turned up.

[Jordan Baker]

Turret basket removed. This is mostly complete but some of the features on it bring up some questions. The two wood runners on the bottom side and the locking hasp. There also appears to be some strap ends riveted to the front side. The stowage diagram sadly doesn’t offer up any clues.

[Jordan Baker]

Last two pictures. Even the locking hasp seems to have had a strap on it.

[David Dunlop]

Hi Jordan.

Is it possible you are dealing with an Early/Late design change?

If you look at your Magazine Rack, there are slots for three Bren Mags forward of the seat hanger slot and four mags aft.

In the drawing from the manual, there are four mags fore and aft of the two seat hangers.

The drawing suggests an open storage bin under the front of the seat between the mag racks. Your assembly seems to have been modified with two wooden runners or guides to hold or support something. This ‘something’ appears to be more important/valuable than the items stowed in the drawing, thereby requiring a locking cover.

Interesting mystery.

David

[Jordan Baker]

It very well could be an early vs late design change. Unfortunately the period documentation and photos are severely lacking. With only 25ish Otters left and most of them missing the turrets and seats it’s hard to track down originality/purpose.

There is no corresponding part of the hasp on the seat tray. Also this basket was installed reversed in my Otter compared to the drawing and other Otters I’ve looked at. Mine shows no holes or markings on the floor for the Boyes magazine box trays either.

Interestingly the metal basket shows remains of white paint whereas the wood appears to be in khaki green #3.

The Overloon Museum Otter turret basket also has the signal pistol bracket.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Jordan, I'm assuming the hasp swings vertical and down so can't swing up towards the seat? If so it suggests something stowed below the pan obviously. I also think those two rivets may be for a tab spring instead of a web strap. Would the driver's glass insert fit there? The Fox stowage diagram shows greatcoats on top of the battery box (to the right of the driver) in one place, and the visor insert (with wooden blocks, although smaller) in another, so there were two versions.