Carrier found in Norfolk yesterday 21/12/2010

[kevin powles]

Shaun, Thanks for showing us the carrier today, I have already half finished that linkage cover, curious to know if the grenade box wood inserts are the same for both the lid and the base?. you opened that box yet?.

Oh, On the way home through the hedge I spotted these, took a picture thinking they were carriers, turned out to be german junk so get on driving.

kevin

[shaun]

they are not worth doing ! ha ha ha

good to see you today, just waiting for the grenade box to defrost before i try and get into it.

[RichardT10829]

was that through the bush of Narnia that leads straight to poland i would love a panzer or Stug woah yes

[colin jones]

So ! is that it? 1 photo of over the fence then ask us if we want some lollies and then say you aint got any. How about post that german junk to adelaide please.
Colin.

[eddy8men]

the german tanks were burried as a static defence line in southern bulgaria and pretty much forgot about until an enterprising bulgarian major and 2 german civvies dug one up and flogged it, they then went back for another and got caught. the major got 4 years in the klink but the 2 germans did a runner, following this the bulgarians dug up the tanks and sold them at auction in 2007 but i'm sure there's plenty still over in bulgaria, i often wonder what you could find if you went into some of the mountain ravines, the kind of places were it would be uneconomic to recover scrap !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfR-iDufq8Y

eddy

[shaun]

but its only German stuff - we have carriers in our hedge rows

[kevin powles]

Here's a few detailed, i hope shots of shauns carrier, firstly the manual data plate, the nealing cushion on the tool box, the parts manual gives details of the cushion felt pad size, the canvas material is the same as the seat covers, lastly the rear seat back pad.

I borrowed from shaun a grenade box base wood insert which i'm going to replicate, shaun, i will make you three up, the lid has a piece of wood with felt pad, details can be found elseware on this forum.

I will post up some pics of the linkage cover, not easy to make.

Kevin.

[ajmac]

Quick progress! Any more detailed photos of the Loyd parts? Sorry to be Loyd bore

[derk derin]

Shaun,
I noticed on your carrier that the Bren brass mount is bolted on the inside of the rear armour.Was this due to the carrier's designation? Was it a 3'' mortar carrier with the brackets and equipment mounted on the outside of the rear armour or did somebody just bolt it on backwards.Mine is on the outside and I had to look at some factory photo's first to make sure mine was correct before asking about yours!Nice pieces to have.Enjoying watching the progress.
Regards,Derk.

[RichardT10829]

Dirk it was a ronson carrier, it would not have been a mortar carrier as it has the radio battery box in situ and appears to have been since factory built. i would suggest at a guess that it either left the factory as a ronson carrier or was a GP carrier with the flame projector kit retro fitted at a later date.

the pintle mounts may be as per the rails i have seen them mounted on the inside and the outside on various Mk1;s (rails this is)

I am green with envy that Shauns has the pintle mounts, dash pannel with gauges, tool box etc etc these are in my opinion all the expensive and hard bits to get (if you want originals)

[RichardT10829]

Anyways....Shaun is it done yet ?

[kevin powles]

Hi Richard, That pintle mount on the rear has been mounted to the inside of the carrier because if it was on the outside it would of perhaps fouled on the right had ronson flame gas/liquid tank, check out nigels book and all becomes clear.
Oh, richard those sand shield you brought up they appear to be about an inch or so too short?.

kevin.

[RichardT10829]

in length ? they were taken direct from my originals which were uncut, mine seem to fit great and they were all cut together. i had left a bit on over the radius and top edge so should need trimmed back to fit flush with the top edge. of the track guard what about the two pairs of rear fenders i gave you are they ok ? drop me an email matey saves hijacking Shauns thread, but if you are in anyway unhappy with them send em back to me and i will give you your old dash pannel carcase back matey

[shaun]

Richie i am going to have another couple of brass bren scockets cast by a really good local guy , let me know if you need any blanks ( you will need to do the finishing ). I will also be getting a pile of other bits made is there anything you need ?
its not quite finished , still stripping down but the surch for parts is going very well, i have had a great responce from friends on here helping. may be done by the end of the year.
i think as kevin said the rear mtg was put inside as it would foul the ronson tank. it looks like it was made as a ronson from the factory, i have all the ID numbers now and it all ties up.
sorry no more photos of the Loyd bits yet, got to go back and dig the rest out as well as a couple of wheels and tyres for our 6 pdr that just happen to be laying in one of the sheds, thes guys must have cut up a mountain of vehicles. full story when i get 5 mins to write it down. Its a long story for a cold winters night !

[RichardT10829]

well i am deffo after the linkage cover that goes at the base of the steering column and perhaps some pintle mounts too...it all depends on costs really bud.

I could have made you some sand guards but it appears the ones I have made are 1" too short in length, Kevin sent me the pics and they are a wee bit shy in length, so until i can get a new pattern (as my originals are too short) i wont be able to make anymore...... I am doing a number of sets of rear fenders for various folk on here so if you need some let me know and i will add another pair to my pile.

[shaun]

Started to clean the carrier down today, searching for any markings before i strip it for blasting, found some very interesting stuff. There is Pea green paint on all 4 side, on the side it is a strip about a foot long and 3 inches wide just bellow the armour edge near the gunner, on the front just bellow the mirror bracket the is a 4 inch pea green circle and a strip on the rear armour on the drivers side. i think ( and i stand to be corrected) this vehicle had been used for training and it was part of "Green Force" and the aposing guys would have been "blue force" we had the same thing on our exercises and had coloured patches on our vehicles but they were just tied on.

On the gunners side armour bellow the CT112596 are some half inch high numbers stamped into the armour 292 with another 2 stamped directly above the 9 as well.

also on the gunners side armour in the middle of the vehicle is a triangle ( you can still see the pencil line that the guy who painted it drew on first) this would normally be for "A" coy or sqdrn. as well as "sling here" near the front lifting eye that had been painted white.

One more thing to point to it having been a Ronson is that the rear lifting eyes have had the to cut straight to allow room for the rear tanks.

[shaun]

correction ,on the stamped numbers the 292 has the 2 over the top of the firsts 2 and not the 9.

[Lynn Eades]

I believe the carrier would have been built and left the factory as a Universal. Later it would have been converted to a flame thower.
My understanding is that the flame thrower equipment came in transit cases. there were two sizes of CO2 bottles, and an adapter used under thge smaller bottles. The bulk head (division plate) will have been cut as well. I have a book. "
Handbook for the Flamethower Transportable, No2, Mark 2c. The book shows a picture of a MkI* carrier, with headlight brackets, but no headlights.
The general description starts; "The equipment is fitted in the MkI or Mk2 Carrier after certain fitments have been removed and modifications made to the vehicle". The number plate is special, and is mounted to the tank. The drawing in the book has the number "CT114060" on it. Not too different to your number. A tow link like a long "D" shackle is on the two cut lift eyes. In the text it covers installation in MkI, Mk2, or Mk2W (windsor?) carriers. The gunners seat is modified, with legs welded to it. The flame thrower can fire just fuel, without ignition, or both.

[Maurice Donckers]

I have seen several carriers with the brackets on the side and rear mounted on the inside , but these carriers also had the blocks for the deep water fording kit welded on the outside, so maybe had someting to do with that .

[shaun]

The strip down started this week and is nearly finished ready for blasting. All the controls are in lovely condition, the gear leaver was even flopping about. the cam plate and followers are like new even the little screws holding link rods on unscrewed !!! lots of shiny metal came into view as the grease was wiped away. also signs of a cammo patern has emerged on the side armour, there is the standard factory green and the patches of a darker olive green. another hour tomorrow and its off to the blasters, but it is a real shame to remove all the history in the original paint, but hey i have taken loads of photos.

[shaun]

and you should see the size of the mouse that made the holes in the sides !

[Marc van Aalderen]

Originally Posted by shaun

and you should see the size of the mouse that made the holes in the sides !

Must have been this Mouse, or Maus in German.

[RichardT10829]

Nah its the rotissery hole's for spinning her over and undersealing the wheel arches....

[shaun]

All stripped down and ready for sand blasting on monday ! yeahhhhhh. now for a new work coat as the old one has several burn holes as do my hands !

[ajmac]

It took me six months to get that far! Having said that I only do about five to six hours per month, so it isn't surprising. Can I take it that sadly the investigations this weekend didn't turn up the expected Loyd parts?

[RichardT10829]

well done shaun the hull looks to be in good shape she should clean up a treat. get her back....stainless wire in the mig and off you go.

[Marc van Aalderen]

Hi Shaun,
If you can keep up this pace you will have it ready for Arnhem 2011

Cheers,

[RichardT10829]

yes then there may be two sand coloured carriers there

[Marc van Aalderen]

Richie mate,

don't worry I'll bring enough paint for two....

[shaun]

it would be nice to have it done for Arnhem , you never know. the guys on here have turned up with a lot of the missing parts but i think its going to be next year before it rolls out,