Western Australian treasures

[Rod Diery]

Hi everyone,
Over the last couple of weeks I have travelled around a fair bit of the Wheatbelt of Western Australia and have got to photograph a few different armoured vehicles.

Enjoy
Rod

Valentine with GM 6/71 engine, Mark V I think

[Rod Diery]

Broken down at the moment, note the tow rope!

[Rod Diery]

Same place as the other, engine currently removed. This tank is unusual in that it is still a mid bronze green colour scheme.

[Rod Diery]

partially stripped down Rover Meteor

[Rod Diery]

Wouldn't you like to find this under the Christmas tree?

[Rod Diery]

Sob!!!!! Sadly it's not mine.

[Rod Diery]

These are fairly well known and are just outside Nungarin, WA

[Rod Diery]

a much more complete Grant. Apologies for the photo quality.
Note the Stuart behind the Grant and that's a Valentine lurking behind the fuel tanks. The sun set before I got pics of them.

[Rod Diery]

in very good condition I must say!

[Mike P]

Originally posted by Rod Diery
Wouldn't you like to find this under the Christmas tree?

Hi Rod , Is that 2Pdr owned by someone planning on restoring or scrapping it ? I'm still looking for a seat and a few other parts for my 2Pdr ..that's why I'm asking
I hope they are not going to throw these out ..Collectors must have approached them trying to buy them ?

[Keith Webb]

Thanks for sharing these pics, Rod. Always fascinating to see what's around. That 2-pdr carrier is a gem! Did you get the hull number? Any other pics of it?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Rod Diery
partially stripped down Rover Meteor

Rover?!? Your mind must be occupied with other things, Rod

Thanks for the pics, I am amazed by what can still be found in Australia.

Hanno

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Rover?!? Your mind must be occupied with other things, Rod

Hanno,

Rover car company built the Meteor Mk4B from 1950 to 1964.

Richard

[Keith Webb]

This time I'm talking about the interesting Rover, the Aussie armoured car. Any more pics of that one, Rod?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Richard Farrant
Rover car company built the Meteor Mk4B from 1950 to 1964.

Thanks Richard, I didn't know that.

But wouldn't a component built under license still be known under the designing company's name? In this case a "Rover-built Rolls-Royce Meteor"?

H.

P.S.: I would not mind seeing more pics of that Rover armoured car, too.

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Thanks Richard, I didn't know that.

But wouldn't a component built under license still be known under the designing company's name? In this case a "Rover-built Rolls-Royce Meteor"?

Well, some of them are Merlins. . . . .

Al Tooes worked at Hants & Sussex Aviation (IIRC) here for some time in the 60's I think (I'll have to ask) converting real Merlins to Meteor spec units for Centurions, such was the stock of spare Merlins.

Quite a lot of tasty aero stuff went straight into the skip; like the blower, carbs and inlet manifold for a start.

R.

[Rod Diery]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
This time I'm talking about the interesting Rover, the Aussie armoured car. Any more pics of that one, Rod?

I do have some more Keith. I'll post them as soon as I get a chance to re-size them. In fact there were two almost complete hulls there but no ARN on either.

I didn't get time to check the 2 pdr carrier for numbers. it was late in the day and so much to see.......................

Cheers
Rod

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Thanks Richard, I didn't know that.

But wouldn't a component built under license still be known under the designing company's name? In this case a "Rover-built Rolls-Royce Meteor"?

Hanno,

That is quite true, but the Packard built Merlins in the N.A. Mustang are more often than not, refered to as Packards and not R.R.

Richard

[Mike P]

Originally posted by Mike P
Hi Rod , Is that 2Pdr owned by someone planning on restoring or scrapping it ? I'm still looking for a seat and a few other parts for my 2Pdr ..that's why I'm asking
I hope they are not going to throw these out ..Collectors must have approached them trying to buy them ?

Hi Rod ...It seems like we all use the same techniques in this hobby . Over the years I've traveled many back roads searching for MV's besides following up "tips" about Junk Yards and abandoned Jeeps found deep in the Woods ...and it's paid off. I bought 3 WW2 Jeeps (still have 2 of them) and one 1953 M38A1 an M880 and a M886 ..all from following up tips ,searching and knocking on doors .
For several years I was living in California and 3 or 4 times a year I'd drive cross country ( to NY) and even then I was "searching " the fields. Once I found a Stuart in Arizona parked on what turned out to be Gov owned land ..nobody could tell me who owned it but they said it had been there for years (looked like someone had painted it up as a Billboard)...that's why I asked you about that 2 Pdr and if you knew whether the owner was planning on restoring/selling or scrapping it ..I don't know how the Australian Laws are regarding abandoned MV's ..then again , maybe the ones you pictured are owned by a Collector ?
I've posted re my 2Pdr and ..have not had any luck finding the parts I need to restore it. If you know of a Scrap Yard in Australia or , maybe a Rancher that might have the parts I need , please keep me in mind.
Here are my MV's ..I'm lucky my neighbors don't mind my "hobby"
Thanks --Mike

[Mike P]

Here's the Post with my 2Pdr
http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...2946#post52946

[tankbarrell]

Originally posted by Richard Notton
Well, some of them are Merlins. . . . .
R.

True. When we restored a Comet for the Museum at Munster in 1992, we fitted an overhauled Meteor IVB, Centurion engine. This was overhauled in the late 1980s or early 1990s and had one cylinder block made by Buick. Presumably originally from a Packard built Merlin.

[Rod Diery]

Originally posted by Mike P
Hi Rod , Is that 2Pdr owned by someone planning on restoring or scrapping it ? I'm still looking for a seat and a few other parts for my 2Pdr ..that's why I'm asking
I hope they are not going to throw these out ..Collectors must have approached them trying to buy them ?

Hi Mike, Fear not! The 2 pdr carrier is much loved and will be restored soon I hope.

Good luck in your search for your missing parts
Cheers
Rod

[Col Tigwell]

The correct titles are RR Merlin, or Packard Merlin.

The RR Merlin was never meant to be a large quanity production run, but the Packard Merlin was.

The Packard Merlin was considered in the field to be much stronger engine, particularl;y in the bottom end.

Both sound great do they not

Regards

Col

[Ian Pullen]

Rod, I am interested in some information reference the pics of the 2 Pd AT Carrier. Have you access to the serial number?? I ask as I have restored one for the Army Museum Bandiana and am now compiling a register of known carriers in Aust. This register includes all variants (LP1,2,2A, AT and others). I would appreciate any information or additional pictures to check and update the register if required.
I have to admit, I have notseen a more complete 2Pdr ready for resto........

[Mike P]

Originally posted by Rod Diery
Hi Mike, Fear not! The 2 pdr carrier is much loved and will be restored soon I hope.

Good luck in your search for your missing parts
Cheers
Rod

Thanks Rod ..If you visit it again, please post a few more shots of it .
As far as my finding a seat and Ammo & Tool box ..I don't know what my chances are at this point. I might have to have the seat made at a welding shop ..I'll keep looking though.
Thanks again --Mike

[Rod Diery]

Originally posted by Ian Pullen
Rod, I am interested in some information reference the pics of the 2 Pd AT Carrier. Have you access to the serial number?? I ask as I have restored one for the Army Museum Bandiana and am now compiling a register of known carriers in Aust. This register includes all variants (LP1,2,2A, AT and others). I would appreciate any information or additional pictures to check and update the register if required.
I have to admit, I have notseen a more complete 2Pdr ready for resto........

Hi Ian, I will be trying to go back for another look in a month or so. I wil make sure that i will have plenty of time to take more photos this time and will get the numbers.
By the way, a friend of mine here in Kulin has just acquired a carrier which was hiding in a bit of bush not 10 km from my home and I never knew about it. Amazing what is still out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers
Rod

[Euan McDonald]

Can any one identify the fuel tanks sitting on the front of the carrier?

[Ian Pullen]

Rod,
greatly appreciated if you could get the number from both of the carriers when you return.

Ewen,
as for the tins in front of the carrier, I do not believe they are fuel tanks. If you look they have handles on either side, looks like about 3/8 inch round, hinged. I think you will find they are ammo tins.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Rod - did you receive my PM on the possible Hull Number?
Bob

[Tony Smith]

Euan, they are 6 Pounder ammo tins.

Ian, we had a look at some surviving 2pdr carrier numbers in this thread. I don't see any WA addresses there, so this could be a new one?