One of the two Australian Army Weasels recovered

[Mike K]

Found a book yesterday at the local op shop. ' THE AUSTRALIAN SNOW PICTORIAL' published in 1952 ..... A weasel is pictured with a load of skiers on board, Mt Kosciusko. Another pic of it ..it's towing a skier along . I'll try to get the scanner working again soon.The weasel still has its camo paint job .

op shop = opportunity shop .. usually run by a charity .. second hand goods are donated , then sold ..typically 1970's TV's and such .

Mike

[Snowy]

G'day Mike,
I would like to see that photo very much, and thanks for thinking of this thread when you found the book . Since you mention it's in camo, it may be either the one we've just found, or its sibling perhaps? I haven't seen any pictures of the Thredbo M29Cs in other than standard OD so I'm hoping it is
Here are a few M29C's in Thredbo during the late 50s / early 60s: http://202.63.50.228/gallery2/main.p...g2_itemId=1039

We've decided that this Weasel is of such historical interest (being the only wartime aussie Weasel in existence) that we're starting the long drawn-out process of acquiring a complete set of running gear (windscreen frame, spring packs, bogies, idlers, sprockets, swingarms, return rollers etc.) ex-USA for it. We have located a fabricator who can reproduce the rolled cockpit coaming edging. I already have a second set of 15" tracks ready, so for once in the Weasel world this is not an issue. Which brings me to the question - if anyone can offer advice or a reasonable deal on shipping parts US-Oz (landed Brisbane preferably, or Sydney) then I'd like to hear from you

Steve.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Found a book yesterday at the local op shop. ' THE AUSTRALIAN SNOW PICTORIAL' published in 1952 ..... A weasel is pictured with a load of skiers on board, Mt Kosciusko. Another pic of it ..it's towing a skier along . I'll try to get the scanner working again soon.The weasel still has its camo paint job .

op shop = opportunity shop .. usually run by a charity .. second hand goods are donated , then sold ..typically 1970's TV's and such .

Mike

pic from the book 1952

[Snowy]

Mike, thanks for posting that photo! I'm positive it's got to be the same Weasel as the camouflage on the front of the hull is the same. I wonder if the right side of the hull was painted as there doesn't appear to be any camo pattern on it. The ARN had already been painted out, as we know. The other Weasel had its ARN on the rear hull as well as both sides, so I suspect 139999 was the same. Perhaps close examination of Mike's photo might reveal something more, but I'm not sure the print quality of the book would allow that. I'll ask John to look for any evidence of a right-side spotlight being mounted on the front deck. By the way John has also been putting up photos of the rebuild over on the Weasel Board at http://www.m29cweasel.com

Steve.

[Snowy]

Some photos of where the oz Weasel 'THE BOGONG GRUB' (the name found painted on the front of the hull) is up to. John has joined the two old hull pieces and the repro sponson floors together and is now putting the sides in place. They had been left off until final assembly to make it easier to get into and out of the hull. A standard pintle hook has been put on, hopefully one day we'll find an original swivelling pintle that this Weasel variant had.
Unfortunately the amount of work still to be done (heaps!) means it won't be attending the Bundy Swim-In in a fortnight's time as we had hoped.

Steve.

[Snowy]

More photos

[Jeff Gordon]

Steve don't be too disappointed it is amazing how much you and John have done on it so far. Hopefully we will see it at the swap meet.
'THE BOGONG GRUB' that is not in the photo we have of it, when do you think it was painted on there. Is Bogong a place?
Cheers
Jeff