DeBruyn MK-1 1942 restoration project

[Rick DeBruyn]

Thought I would start a thread on the restoration of my Canadian MK-1 1942 Ford UC-2 serial # 11606 hull 10607 3” mortar variant. The preceding serial numbers were taken from the tag behind the drivers head, however this leaves me a little confused as the lower hull number 11606 does not match the number on the angle iron at the back (gunner side) of the carrier 10587, shouldn’t these numbers match?

I have finally started pulling it apart after a few months of gathering needed parts and gleaning information from carrier “experts”. As of now I have the engine out and headed to the rebuilder for a check-up and perhaps a rebuild if needed. The engine came out without any surprises, if I had any frustrations it was the amount of slotted screws & my lack of correctly sized slotted screw-drivers. Some of the armor screws seemed quite large and I haven’t found a supplier of oversized screwdrivers yet.

Perhaps another problem I’m running into, is the rusted bolts, hinges, shutters, cotter-pins, etc. 60+ years of weather has “glued” much of the carrier together. Has anyone come up with a secret formula or method for loosening the stubborn parts? Too often I use brute strength then later regret it after I snap something.

I would like to “gut” the remaining parts attached to the hull ASAP and get it to a sandblaster/painter. I could use a little direction on the correct type/color of paint. One helpful expert provided me with the following explanation;

“The colour question is a difficult one to answer conclusively. I have looked into paint regulations in wartime Routine Orders, and the fact of the matter is that they change fairly often depending upon the availability of various paints. For example, as of 29 May 1940, it was decreed that vehicles in Canada should be painted “Khaki Green, No. 3, matte finish.” However, in September 1942, it was ordered that “basic No. 2 brown paint” would be used. But this does not mean that every vehicle was then repainted in No. 2 brown. The 1942 order stipulates that vehicles would only be repainted brown if they otherwise required repainting. The fact of the matter is that paint was in short supply, and had to be conserved. As such, no one lost much sleep over mismatched colours. (There was even an order issued to SP gun crews not to walk unnecessarily on top of their vehicles because their boots wore off the paint!)

Were vehicles painted in other colours on operations overseas? Certainly, and that would depend upon what paint was available through the British Lines of Communication. So in the end, you need to make your best guess based on the available evidence and the period/location you are trying to represent – don’t forget that there are lots of excellent colour photographs available of this stuff from the period. In this regard, you should contact the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies in Waterloo, Ontario, as they have published lots of the colour photos in their battlefield guide books.

I would go with No. 3 khaki as your base colour, and then if want to overspray with another colour on the exterior, it would still look legit.

You will probably have to add a fair amount of flattener to get the true matte finish.”

I don’t have a period sample to work from, might any of you have the correct “color recipe” for a western Canada supplier? I would say the khaki green #3 is the color to go with but what is it?

Highlight and copy then past the following link in your web browser to view a few more photos.

http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/sredir...5oH&feat=email

Regards, Rick

[Rick DeBruyn]

I found a few items in the dirt at the bottom of my carrier, it was rather fun scooping a bunch of dirt out of the bottom then sifting through it to find a few treasures. Of the few track pins I found I noticed at least one pin appeared stainless steel (very shinny finish), was this manufactured by the military or after market?

I would like to re-pin the tracks however I understand it’s difficult to find NOS pins. Has anyone had success manufacturing your own pins? The operating instructions & workshop manual (UC-F1) describe the pin material as nickel chrome steel with a diameter of .437”.

Does anyone recognize the toothed looking item?

Rick

[Rick DeBruyn]

Is there a way of removing the top paint to see the information hidden under the top paint layer? Would the Regiment/Brigade/Division info be found underneath?

Rick

[RichardT10829]

rick there is a way of removing the paint one layer at a time, but it would be a delicate operation, you have some nice tools there ! i like the jacking stub you have which goes into the front bogey tube and used with the bottle jack. not sure on what the best chemical would be to use, but perhaps a very diluted celulose thinners and i mean "diluted" Iam super jealouse you have a very nice carrier there. my lower hull number is 10131 so not a million miles from yours, mine was manufactured 1942 too at the windsor ontario plant

looking at the plate your CT or T number would have been T11606 unless i am mistaken, which looking at the lists is obviously the case....i thought the serial number was what would be painted on the side of the armour ? if this is the case 11606 is within a batch of carriers 10678-11677 UCmk1 made by wollesley ? ironic if it was correct, your carrier would have been from the same batch as my grandfathers which was T10829

[RichardT10829]

also noticed you have the fuel dipstick which i am told from my pal Don.... are rare as hens teeth (for an original one that is) i beleive it mounts on the engine covers somewhere

[rob love]

The CT number will be stamped on the front plate to the left of the serial number. It is my belief that the CT number was some form of a war department registration number on British commonwealth armour, with the C standing for Canadian.

An example of a mix of serial/hull/body numbers on a carrier similar to Rick's was:

CT number (front armour): CT113354
Front armour serial: 11101
Div Plate number CB10099
Hull number 10094
DND number painted on side armour(domestic, if overseas would have used the CT number): 42-1-8596 later replaced by T56-749


The numbers do not match, possibly because a certain amount of work would be done to the lower hull without the armour, and then the upper armour would be added. As a result, numbers could vary from near matching to being a thousand out.

The above numbers came from one carrier out of 5 that we salvaged parts from quite a number of years back. The carriers were located on the North shore of a lake requiring travel by boat and a short hike to reach them. I have the numbers of the other 4 as well. On all of them, the differences vary from slight to significant.

[Ledsel]

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Thought I would start a thread on the restoration of my Canadian MK-1 1942 Ford UC-2 serial # 11606 hull 10607 3” mortar variant. The preceding serial numbers were taken from the tag behind the drivers head, however this leaves me a little confused as the lower hull number 11606 does not match the number on the angle iron at the back (gunner side) of the carrier 10587, shouldn’t these numbers match? The upper hull and the lower hull no.s are not the same. They are usually out from a few to a few hundred. I'm not sure on the 42 models if the CT no. is on the hull edge. I know it is on the MK.II.

[Rick DeBruyn]

An update of the reproductions I’ve been working on. The foundry finally did some preliminary pours on the reproduction castings that we’ve talked about in the past. Next they will set up the machining CNC process. I will let you know how all proceeds. Rick

I have had patterns made for the following Carrier items they will be available to the group when the foundry finishes cast process. I’m located in Alberta Canada.
1-CTL 168 SA knob assembly
2-CTL 1534 Hinge – female, CTL 1535 Hinge – male, (TL 1537 Pin - 3.4" x .5")
3-TL 8689 Bracket - AA Bren gun mounting
4-CTL 607 SA support assembly - pick head stowage
5-Bren gun mounting stem - AA Bren gun mounting, CTL 12429 (lower), CTL 12431 (upper)
6-TL 7167 Handle protection plate locking
7-TL 12458 Bracket - smoke generator discharge
8-CTL2078 Headlight wire cover.

[super dave]

Hey Rick the parts look great

[horsa]

Hey Rick,

I'd likely be interested in one of the pick head stowage mounts when you start making them. My T-16 was lacking that part and the one I fabricated works but really isn't correct. Sure the Canadian carrier version is virtually identical to the T-16 part since it mounts in the same location and does the same job.

My other parts from Rod that you wanted to copy are still in OZ but I haven't forgotten.

[Doug Lavoie]

Rick,
Right on. The parts look great, can`t wait to see the finished product. This will give some people a chance at obtaining parts other wise not easily found, if at all. My hat is off to you for your efforts.
Doug

[Lynn Eades]

Those castings look to be very well done, with very little finishing work required. Great stuff!
I have an original pick bracket. and the casting appears to be done around the bolt, or maybe the bolt is pushed into a hole, which includes the hex for the head (stops the bolt from turning)