Lynx II, hull # 4225

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

Loaded up the Lynx yesterday in preparation to take her to the FMVA Bivouac in Odessa. Of course then some thunder storms rolled in. Measured things up and found that the Lynx while on the trailer will fit nicely through an 8' tall door. Great. While dropping off the Lynx and helping set up the site today the Ontario Tank museum rolled up with "Bart", their Sherman. Quite a different scale and entirely different logistics.

Promises to be a great weekend.

Peter

[Jon Bradshaw]

Not very good first day out for a reconnaissance vehicle. A friend of mine spotted you taking the back way to the show! Sent me a grainy photo to prove it. I knew it had to be you, nobody else in the area has one that I know of. Especially not one still in primer! Hope the show is a huge success.
I should be there next year!

[Peter Duggan]

Jon,

With cameras on cell phones and the internet there is no hiding in this day and age. I think you in Kandahar were aware of what I was doing before I actually reached Odessa.

Had a spectacular time and didn't drop as much money in the militaria mart as I thought I would. Also found out my 70 year old Run Flat tires are no longer round and develop quite the harmonic imbalance above 25 mph.

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

My son, Patrick and his family are here for a visit and we just had to take the Lynx out for a driveway jaunt. Still lots of issues to work out, but it was a great excuse to burn some gas.

Makes you wonder, just how many Van Doos could a Lynx actually carry ?

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

While waiting on sourcing tires, I decided to mock up some of the wireless setup by running the aerial cables. Removed the plugs through the armour and discovered that the aerial bases were bolted on, not welded on as I had assumed...
Here I thought that I would no longer have to deal with rust and broken bolts. Guess again. Onward.

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

Spent some time fitting some of the smaller new pieces that Andy has fabricated for me. New holder for pistol grip on the Bren gun, holder for the 19 set spares box and more. Also tried my hand at dry riveting some of the webbing straps for the 2 gallon POW containers and wireless spares.

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

What is needed is another visit to the CWM Lynx to finalize the dimensions for the armoured cover mounts for the fuel tanks and remaining storage bins.
However that won't happen this month, so I've tackled some of the smaller components. New shields for the escape door latches, new cover for the wireless fuse holder and a new boot for the gearshift lever.

Peter

[James P]

Mr Duggan your project at restoring that Lynx is another of my most favourite threads. Hats off for doing things right and to a high standard, I salute your work sir.

[Peter Duggan]

James,

Thanks for your comments. One doesn't have to look very far on MLU to find some truly inspirational restorations. In comparison I view my work quite paltry.

The Italian army post war must of decided that the small wartime clearance and sole brake lights weren't adequate and not only removed them, but also plug welded all the holes that attached them to the fenders.

Got a nice CARE package from Brian Asbury of replacement parts.

Peter

[David Dunlop]

Peter.

I wonder if the Italians may also have had their supply of original spare parts start to dry up, and that may have contributed to changing over to running lights that were more readily available?

David

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

I'm trying to make my Lynx as original as possible, and I have had some very positive experiences with museums here in Canada.

I made a trip to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa to firm up some details regarding the armoured cover over the fuel tank necks. Michael Miller was very supportive and allowed me to climb aboard their Lynx, take measurements, pictures and make a pattern for the splash shield.

I must note that these covers were cast from an original that came from the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum, in Shilo, Manitoba, and Rob Love was the individual that made this possible.

Without the support from these two individuals I doubt that it would be possible to faithfully replicate this set-up.

Now to challenge my young fabricator.


Peter

[rob love]

Peter

I find in this hobby that what goes around comes around, especially in this day and age of the internet. Happy to have been able to help your project.

[lynx42]

It is about time I resumed my own Lynx restoration story before Peter gets his finished.

Last Friday my Lynx went of for a 3 or 4 month holiday in a museum as I have a broken leg and am still suffering major back problems. I have not been able to work on it for 3 years as I have been unable to get in or out of it.

Here are a few photos of my Lynx as it went off to the museum.

Regards Rick.



Out into the sunshine for the first time in 3 years.



Half way loaded onto the tiltbed.



about to be tied down.

[Peter Duggan]

Rick,

I am very sorry to hear about your health. Thank you for posting the pictures of your Lynx. She looks great and they are quite motivational. You must be proud of her visit to the museum.

I measured up the front storage bin on the Lynx at the CWM since that is next on my list. However their front bin is a reproduction, and I have questions about the lid and the shield that prevents objects being trapped between the hull and the bin.

Unfortunately, the other Canadian Lynx, which in the Shilo museum, is missing it’s front storage bin.

I wish you a speedy recovery, Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

While waiting on some fabrication, I decided to work on some of the smaller bits and pieces. Front and rear clearance lights mounted and wired up. Also decided to tackle the aerial and antennas for the 19 set. Had all the pieces for the B aerial, but quickly found out that the parts that I had for the A aerial were for a different application. Found most of the right parts, looks as if I may have sourced them all, time will tell.

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

This restoration is like taking a journey. I've said it before, but it's the people that you meet along the way that makes it memorable. A fellow MLU member, Patrick Johnson, is the latest person to step forward with advice and parts. I cannot imagine where this project would be without these good folks.

I've now got the correct A aerial base, connector plate and the appropriate control unit for the Lynx.

Still searching for the wooden Aerial Base No. 8 Mtg. No 3, Z.A. 1827 , P.C. No. 76555 and Aerial Feeder Assy. No. 1, Z.A. 2990, P.C. No. 76486.

Great start to the New Year, Peter

[David Dunlop]

Peter. With regards to your front bin. Have you tried contacting Reg Hodgson in Edmonton? He has a restored Lynx and should be able to help with photos and maybe even specs.

David

[Peter Duggan]

Dave,

The front storage bins on the Lynx seem to suffer from a high attrition rate. The CWM Lynx has a reproduction bin which looks quite good, while the RCA Lynx in Shilo is missing it's front bin. I have had the privilege of visiting Reg's motor pool on two occasions and crawled over his Lynx. With luck a new bin for mine will be in the works this year.

Got a great CARE package today of NOS installation hardware for the 19 set on Carriers. Fortunately it seems to have everything I need for the Lynx.

Peter

[Mike Cecil]

Peter,

Unpacked a book that arrived from Spain this morning and their 'unique' cardboard packaging reminded me of your project for some unknown reason....

Need a nice crisp stencil for your Lynx ???

(The book is about rats, not Lynx!)

Mike

[Peter Duggan]

Mike,

Thanks for the offer for the LYNX stencil, but perhaps you can direct me to where I could have the stencils cut for the formation markings and bridge classification.

I would like to have the Lynx represent one serving with D squadron, Royal Canadian Dragoons, in September of 1944, when the unit was with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, in Italy.

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

I've been working on the drawing for the front bin and have an issue that I'm trying to sort out. I was using the CWM Lynx as a template, but their front storage bin is a reproduction and I am uncomfortable with the lid. Their lid is one piece and incorporates the extension that prevents material from being trapped between the bin and the hull. I was gifted a nice collection of pictures of an unrestored/original Lynx 11 in South Africa. The lid for this front bin is fabricated as two pieces.

My normal "turn to" guy is Rob Love, but the Shilo Lynx 11 is missing its front bin. James Gosling has generously provided pictures and dimensions for the front storage bin, on his Lynx 11, which doesn't have the extension. I have a mutual friend who will be looking at Reg's Lynx in St Albert.

I am seeking any information, pictures or suggestions on this set up.

Peter

[David Dunlop]

Peter.

Could this have been a retrofit kit designed after concerns about losing stuff feed back from the field?

If so, perhaps the factory stuck with the original design for the box and just added the retro bit in all subsequent production.

David

[lynx42]

Hi Peter,

As you know, my Lynx is on loan to a museum about an hour away from here, so i went through my photos and dug up this before photo of my Lynx bin. Sorry I do not have any measurements.



You can get a pretty good idea as to how it was made.

My Lynx is Hull No. 1726, so about mid-way through the production run.


Regards Rick.

[Peter Duggan]

Rick,

I am blown away. This has to be a record, even by MLU standards. Same day and from the other side of the world ! Your picture answered every question I had and several more, such as the stiffening on the underside of the lid. I hesitate to ask, but do you recall if the extension was welded to the lid or bolted on.

Thanks once again, this calls for a glass of wine, Peter

[Andrew Rowe]

The Lid dimension is 1845mm overall x 250mm wide. The side extensions on the ends are 2" x 1" with safety edge flattened over. It is welded on by 20mm of weld , about every 6" where the 1" side marries to the main lid on this underside edge, Cheers Andrew.

[Peter Duggan]

Andrew,

Thanks, even more information. I continue to be amazed at the level of support that I have received. I have received information on the front bin from Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand and South Africa. Reflects most Commonwealth countries that used the Lynx in WW 11.

I am coming to the conclusion that an original bin may may no longer exist here in Canada. I am attaching one of my favorite Lynx pictures, it shows that the front bin typically suffered from contact in service.

Should you have easy access to your front bin, I could use some detail on the lid "stiffeners", profile sizes and lengths.

Thanks once again, Peter

[Mike Cecil]

Peter,

The stiffener appears to be the same as that used on the cab rear (lower - not roof) of a Canadian-built Ford CMP - which would make sense. (The Aust cab stiffener was different).

Mike

[Peter Duggan]

Mike,

Thanks. I visited a friend's collection and discovered that both the Ford and Chevrolet CMP trucks use the same stiffeners. Now to find/fabricate some for my storage bin.

Peter

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Peter,

I thought it was probably common to both manufacturers of CDN built CMPs, but was only 100% sure of the Ford, hence my comment (I once owned a CDN built F15 cab 13 and an F60L cab 12). At least you can get the profile details easily now - you just need a local version of Colin Jones to whip a few lengths out for you in no time flat!

Lovely job you are doing on your Lynx.

Mike

[Andrew Rowe]

Just out of interest, the little stiffener dimensions are 1&1/2" wide x 5/8" high and 3/8" dia. internal pressing, Cheers Andrew.