F60L Recent pics

[Mike Cecil]

Actually, the Unit sign should go in the 'tac sign holder', and they are the same holder for both Aust cab 12 and 13. The plate with the unit sign was reversible: it was supposed to have the word 'PASS' on the back, to be displayed when the vehicle was stopped on the side of the road and was NOT in need of assistance.

Dave placed an artillery Unit sign of his choice on the right guard, which was a common position, but the regs actually say that both signs at the front should be on the left side.

Technically, the bridge sign on B vehs should be in an irregularly shaped yellow area approximating 8 inches in diameter, but there again, were often simply circular.

There are some complexities, but that's basically how it was supposed to work (except for the good ole AIF(ME), who amalgamated the Unit & Formation signs onto a single sign in early 1942).

Regarding overseas vehicle deliveries into an Australian Port, prior to a ship's arrival with a known vehicle cargo, an assembly contract was raised with an appropriate assembler most often in the region of the port of delivery. (ie deliveries into Port of Brisbane went to an assembler in Brisbane, etc)

Mike C

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Actually, the Unit sign should go in the 'tac sign holder', and they are the same holder for both Aust cab 12 and 13.

...but they weren't always fitted so perhaps AWM could simply remove it to depict such a vehicle, in accordance with official instructions (which Tony may find less than amusing!):

"Where vehicles have not been fitted with holders and brackets to carry unit signs the manufacture of these may be dispensed with. Similarly the fitting of special bridge classification discs will not be attempted. Instead, the unit sign and bridge sign will be painted on mudguards....and thus labour and material will be saved."

Of course, now that you HAVE made a plate holder Tony, you're compelled to use it: "Where holders, however, are available they will be fitted."

For general interest, the relevant instruction for bridge signs:

"Vehicles will normally be issued with the bridge sign painted on them. If this has not been done it is the duty of the unit to paint the sign on the guard. As it has been found in practice that the present yellow disc tends to nullify the camouflage effect, the size and shape of the yellow background (upon which the figures are painted in black) will be irregular, in accordance with the example."

As Mike says Tony you have some interesting possibilities with the formation sign, the instructions for which are open to interpretation. I quite like the way AWM have handled it on this truck, and I imagine this rendition would have been more common than the black background, which as Mike suggests would be all but impossible to stencil.

[Mike Cecil]

Just to correct one aspect of the AWM's Cab 12: the formation, unit and bridge signs (and the unit sign holder) were on the truck when purchased. They were painted by the former owner, not the AWM.

With the unit sign plate holder fitted, the unit sign should technically be there, not painted onto the vehicle.

Mike C