Restoration of Hull 731- Carrier, MG (Aust) Mortar Carrying

Darrin Wright · #1 19-02-15, 10:02

and some more

Darrin Wright · #2 19-02-15, 10:04

couple more

Darrin Wright · #3 19-02-15, 10:05

and some more

Darrin Wright · #4 19-02-15, 10:19

That should do it for pics.

All the minor jobs are done, will just continue to run it in and adjust where required.
Next week the BGC and Jeep are getting loaded to go to the Avalon airshow to be displayed with many different organisations at the event.

http://www.airshow.com.au/airshow201...icle-corps.asp

After that it will then go to Corowa for a week of family camping, driving and socialising. There should be several BGC there of interest.

Wayne Henderson · #5 19-02-15, 11:24

Well done Darrin,
I've been watching this thread since the start and have been most impressed with the level of detail. Brilliant!
Please post some photos when you get the carrier to some events.

Darrin Wright · #6 06-03-15, 09:31

Well myself and the BGC & Jeep have been to Avalon and returned.

Pete from Albury Wodonga Car Carriers came around Wednesday night and loaded. Winched the BGC up on to the steel tray. Secured the BGC by using 4 chains through the wheels (4 corners of the vehicle) to each corner of the tray, used rubber tubes to protect the wheels from rubbing. Left the winch cable secured to the front of the vehicle with a slight load, this was to stop any rocking of the hull.
In this fashion, it was very secure and did not move.

Early Thursday morning I left at 0515h and proceeded to Melbourne, arriving at the service centre at Avalon at about 1000h.
When the truck arrive, we then moved to the air show set up area. Unloaded and placed both vehicles into position in the Victorian Military Vehicle Corps display area.
There were approx. 21 vehicles on display. There were 3 x HUMVEE, 2 x Ford CMP, 1 x Dodge WC-57, 1 x Dodge WC-53 Carryall, 2 x BGC, Wiles cooker trailer Jnr, 8 x Jeeps, 1 x Mule, Ford T and other display items.
The Geelong Military Re-enactment Group had a huge turn up of vehicles and display items, every day they had two battle engagements. This was a huge crowd puller, when the explosions happened people just flocked to the area, with 1000s watching on.
There was a WW1 historical group also having a battle engagement with trenches and Turks.

Camping was free and organised by the air show people, this was at Lara show grounds with showers, security and a bistro for meals. Shuttle buses were provided to get people between the two sites. However, I had a exhibitors car park pass, so utilised that as it was more convenient and close to the main gate.
Lunch packs were provided to the exhibitors, it took us until Sunday to figure we could take the Mule for a drive up to the lunch hall and collect all the lunches for people. That was fun moving through the 1000s of people.

Friday was part trade day and opened to the public at 1200h. Reasonable busy with people.
Saturday got busier and Sunday was very packed with people. flying usually commenced around 1200h. There were lots of plane. But I'm not here to discuss them.
Saturday, around 1700h, when the crowds cleared I took the Jeep out onto the tarmac where the aircraft were parked. I parked/posed in front of the Catalina, DC3 and the B-52 for photos. No one seemed to mind...

Sunday when all had finished and the crowds were leaving, Euan ground guided me out in the BGC to the battlefield area and I managed to cut some laps, giving 2 good friends a drive around. Negotiated some obstacles and managed to cruise along in 4th gear for a bit. The BGC got quite dirty.

Monday morning returned for the pack up and loaded the BGC and Jeep back on the truck and headed home. left around 1200h and got home at 1700h.

Monday morning the starter motor failed, it is producing a grinding noise but starts the engine. Cannot here the engine run over the noise, so will have to investigate that before the next outing.

Now for some pics...

Darrin Wright · #7 06-03-15, 09:38

The Pacific belles also sang and entertained from the back of a CMP truck, after a show I asked them to pose with the Jeep for some pics.

Euan had his BGC there looking good in green. Euan invited some friends and there children to climb in his BGC for pics, well once other children saw this, he was inundated with about 20 children climbing/ stumbling over his vehicle until it became unsafe- then he had to clear them out & off.
I sat back and took pics of his predicament.