An Introduction: Chris Collins and Morris Tilly Project

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Chris,

Welcome on MLU and what a great (set of) project(s) you have there.

One thing I would like to ask you is to attach pictures to your posts rather than using links to Photobucket - we have learned the hard way that one day sooner rather than later they will disappear making this thread worthless.

Here is how you learn how to post images - let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks!
Hanno

[maple_leaf_eh]

That is a cute looking little vehicle! And good thing you saved it from becoming razor blades or shopping cart frames.

In a strange way you are getting into the hobby with the best motivation - you have found something(s) that attract your attention, and you want to make things right. This might be why Jeeps, Land Rovers, Universal Carriers and the relatively small CMP trucks get so much work. The uglier one (not saying anything about the owners...) are the big vehicles with funny lines or very heavy parts, seem to get no respect. There is a thread from a fellow in Czech Republic I think whose passion is a great big 10-ton Mack heavy hauler. Only a true devotee has that kind of time, space or money for a project like that.

[Mike K]

Chris

I think I met you on the HMVF

I have a Morris tilly parts book

If you twist my arm I might let you have it

if you catch me on a good day that is

Mike

[Chris Collins]

Hello Hanno,

hope this is better from an archiving point of view!

Maple_Leaf_eh: Thank you very much for your sentiments! Besides the obvious charms of owning a Military vehicle, something a bit different from the usual, i also like the idea of helping to preserve something evocative of a very different time and place. and you're right its amazing how many CMPs floating around in Australia, that just don't get much love.

Mike Kelly: Yes I recall chatting to you on HMVF, that parts manual would be a very nice thing if one day you decide to part with it. There was allegedly one floating around at Corowa this year but it changed hands before i got the chance to get it.

Cheers

Chris Collins

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Chris Collins

Mike Kelly: Yes I recall chatting to you on HMVF, that parts manual would be a very nice thing if one day you decide to part with it. There was allegedly one floating around at Corowa this year but it changed hands before i got the chance to get it.

Cheers

Chris Collins

The book is dated December 1940 , an early date for a tilly publication . I loaned it to a guy in West. Aust. , he also has a Morris tilly and he was planning on restoring, don't know if he ever did .

The book is just sitting here so it may as well go to a good home . It has large fold out drawings in the back . They refer to the mono chassis .

send me a PM Mike

[Chris Collins]

Time for an update! below you can see much of the progress we've made so far, note SCC2 brown made up based on Mike Starmers mixes (from Tilly Colours a great little resource), suprisingly close to the colour of several parts we're finding here and there (not to mention ammo boxes).


A nice original feature we have on the diff housing on the SA tilly is a partially whitened diff, no doubt for the convoy light, kind of suprising it would have such a feature as you could barely see it from another vehicle

Another project we are contemplating is the steering wheels, the originals are badly degraded and we're debating either finding better new old stock examples or homebrew recasting them using High impact resistant resins, A local wheel restorer quoted a scary figure. we're figuring they must be a pretty common wheel used in a variety of Morris/BMC vehicles and we're hoping some might surface (hint hint...)

Cheers

Chris Collins

[Sterling Ball]

looking really good Chris wont be long and she will be done!

Sterling