matman41

Hi All,

Has anyone got the lead (or even a picture of one) that plugs into the socket in the picture? The sockets seem to be fitted on most large WW2 trucks etc.

Mel

Did the Dorchester chassis sell?

Regards,

Mel

Very very nice, good to have two as well. You own the artillery as well?

Hi Paul,

Yes the two 5.5's are mine as well.

Regards

Mel

A couple of pic's of my 2 Mat's taken in Holland last year on the XXX Corps run.

Mel

[ATTACH=CONFIG]103787[/ATTACH]Appear these fittings were only on the gun tractors[ATTACH=CONFIG]103788[/ATTACH]The general service, non winch version does not have them.

 

Could they be a way of storing rope or similar?

Hi Trevor,

They would only be on the trucks fitted with a winch, which is why, as you rightly say, the GS didn't have them.

Regards

Mel

The very clear 'Canadian FWD' picture posted by Les Freathy, can anyone shed any light on whether ALL built SuCoe's would have had the two little half moon things on the rear tailgate? What are they for? Thanks

Hi Russ,

They are where the cables (that connect the pan to the hook on the chassis when winching) for the winch scotch pans are located when the pans are secured under the body when not in use. In service the cables were normally left attached to the pans and then looped around the half moons for storage.

Regards

Mel

As far as I know the winch was `boxed` in wood. As the gun crew lived with the vehicle the box no doubt served as seat, bed, workbench, etc. Not able to find a good view of the inside of the body, I know there were a few metal brackets holding down the ammo, shells, etc

Hello Trevor,

I found the picture bellow via a link on the MLU Forum. It show's, all be it not very clearly, the inside of the wooden body, which seems to be identical to the Matador from what I can see. It would be interesting to see the inside of a steel body to try and work out how it was laid out. Presumably the shell runners etc. would have been similar for both body types though the method of fastening them to the floor would have to be different.

Regards

Mel

[ATTACH=CONFIG]103758[/ATTACH]

Hopefully this shows the location of the winch. The floor of the body of the truck is over the winch cable. You can see the roller where the cable exits the rear of the truck. The cable can also exit the front of the truck via rollers[ATTACH=CONFIG]103759[/ATTACH]

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for the pictures. The thing I was wondering about is, as the winch is stuck up quite a way from the chassis, is there a 'hump' in the rear body floor to accommodate this? Or do the bench seats cover it?

Regards

Mel

Possibly not a restoration favourite, but what a beast they are! We went and visited Ray a couple of weeks ago, which is the first time we have seen the FWD he purchased off of us since he collected it. What a transformation - he took us out for a ride in it too, and I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. Re the body type.....I am assuming that the body on ours is original as it was when it served in the forces, but something I just read was saying something along the lines of steel bodies were more Canadian versions, I assume UK motors being wooden based? Or have I got my wires crossed?

Thanks in advance

Hello Russ,

Do you have any pictures of the outside/inside of your rear body? I have always been intrigued by the construction of the steel bodies and also how the winch was catered for in the rear floor as it sticks up higher than a Matador one I believe?

Regards

Mel

72 B vehicle Depot Market HarBorough

Thanks Wally that's very helpful :-)

BRANSTON nr BURTON ON TRENT held four sales a year and had a warehouse that could hold up to seven hundred

vehicles and at on time was used to store Green Goddesses was nr to the Crosse and Blackwell FACTORY [ so was it

in a bit of a pickle]

Hello Wally,

Many thanks for this information. Could you possibly also tell me where MKH/1/20 was??

Regards

Mel

Hi All,

Sorry to hijack this post, but it seemed like a logical place to ask my question about an MOS sale.

On a copy of a Key Card No.2 that I have for vehicle 72ZA38, it says it was sold off at MOS DISPOSAL BRN/1/5/404 which was on the 8/1/59.

Can any one possibly tell me where this disposal sale would have been held??

Thanks in advance,

Mel

Hi Mel,

Do you have Austin lorry? Could you post any pictures? The contract is the same as by my K30/Y.

Regards Radek

Hello Radek,

Yes we have just taken delivery of an Austin K30/YK from contract V3903. It seems to be very original but need full restoration. It was sold from the Army in 1946 and has only had 2 owners since then. I will post some pictures later when I have some.

Regards

Mel

I think that will the case Mel as the contract group are listed as GS trucks there are other contracts that are clearly listed as 'Ambulance' so I think your contract is all for GS K30's.

 

Pete

Thanks Pete, that's of great help.

Regards

Mel

The Chilwell lists record contract 3903 as 'lorry 30cwt 4x2 GS reg numbers run 4474336 to 4475035

 

Pete

Hello Pete,

Thanks for the quick response on this.

So presumably as it say's '30cwt' that would make them K30's??

Regards

Mel

Can anyone help with any information on a WW2 vehicle contract number V3903, Catalogue Ref. 58 which was for either Austin K30's or K2's??

I think it's from around 1940??

Thanks in advance,

Mel

Mel, what sort of resistance should we have through the circuit on the brakes? Not looking too good at the moment :-|

Hi James,

Just sent you an e-mail.

Regards

Mel

...It is obvious from the comments that some forum members can see the photo's that yuou have attached, for some reason I can't . Can someone repost them please?

I am having the same trouble too.

One quick question anyone: What voltage operate the brakes on a 4.5/5.5 gun carriage? Struggling to make ours work and think we might have overlooked something very simple.

Hi James,

They work on 6volts.

Regards

Mel

George,

There were two rows of seats at the front of the body and then also it had two small wooden/steel seats (that were hung over the body sides and then the lower edge pushed against the boards at the bottom for support) for a couple of guys to sit at the back facing the gun, though to fit the second of these you would need to relocate the spare wheel which was often rolled up to behind the second fixed row of seats.

Hi Mel,

nice to hear from you, yes I still have the 5.5.

i have seen some nice photos of your outfit lately. Either a windscreen or the MVT calender so I guess you are still having fun with it.

Hi Mark,

Yes still got the Mat & the 5.5" though I do have a few others now as well which seemed a good idea at the time!! :nut:

Good to see a picture of the R100 & gun again

Regards

Mel

Hello Mark,

Welcome to the forum.

Do you still have the 5.5" also?

Regards

Mel

(from Bradford)

I am trying to find out if there are any restored or even range wreck 6" 26cwt Howitzers still about in the UK or Europe other than the ones at Firepower and Larkhill Camp.

Can any one help me please?

Regards

Mel

Welcome to HMVF from another Bradfordian :cheesy:

Hi Nick,

I guess it would make more sense to make them out of the mesh as it is less likely to reflect the light like the plastic ones do, and also help with more ventilation in the rear body.

Regards

Mel