Derk’s new Universal carrier Mk 1*

[rob love]

Originally Posted by derk derin

Just have to decide to wait until spring and sandblast the crewlocker or take it in now and pay somebody to do it?

You are retired now Derk. Time you have plenty of. Money is now drawn from a fixed income. Take a stop check on your OCD and wait until spring to get it sandblasted. Nobody will see it in the meantime.

[derk derin]

Good advice, I’ll take it! Plenty of other items to focus on making until then. Routering out those wooden inserts for the grenade boxes will take some time to get right. Make a dipstick, “B” set antenna mounting bracket, jacking block etc.
Next thing you know it will be spring outside and I can sandblast the locker for the price of a bag of sand!

Thanks,Derk

[derk derin]

I received my handgrips today from Jeff Hunter. He does a fantastic job and they will look way better in my carriers than the bicycle grips I’ve had in there for over 20 years now. I’ll have to wait until spring to put them on, too cold out there in the shop now!

[derk derin]

My tool box lid needed pads, my original carrier I made from canvas so wanted to replace it with a pad of proper material and my new carrier has it rotted away so completed 2 pads. Need to find a source for proper rivets now.

[derk derin]

My original blanking board was rotten at the bottom 3 inches from sitting on a damp ground and I wanted to save it so I rebuilt the bottom 3 inches with plywood, picked up a roll of laminate to resurface the front and back and glued it down.
Once I trim the sides I’ll have to add a strip of laminate on the side as well as that’s how the original board was finished. Lots of effort for a board but it’s an original so wanted to use it in the carrier.

[derk derin]

The floorboard was rotting away that held the buttstock mount and tripod head bin so had to cut a new piece of plywood and remount the items on it. While I had the tripod bin off I made a duplicate to add to my original carrier which had it missing. I’m having a hard time finding felt thick enough to replace the old felt so for now had to make it out of plywood until I can source thick enough felt.

[derk derin]

What started out with me looking for one set of tripod clamps ended in me completing 2 sets which was a welcome find. Now I can outfit both carriers with tripod clamps. One of the items I was always looking for to add to my original carrier. I also made a dipstick. Dave’s carrier had the dipstick holder but no dipstick. My first attempt I wasn’t pleased with so tried again. The second one will do!