Thanks, I’ll keep watching
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There is an interesting discussion in the Maple Leaf forums about the odd shape of Morris Field Artillery Tractors.
In my opinion, it is a question worthy of primary research. I suspect the answer will involve many considerations, not just one. In other words, there were a bunch of design problems to solve. At the time, the beetle back with open top was considered the best compromise solution. In my experience as a computer programmer, that sort of thing happens a lot.
About 17 years ago, I bought a pair of Peerless Field Artillery Tractors for cheap at a model show. If I recall correctly, I also purchased at least one rare reference book on these vehicles from a museum in Canada. I wonder where that book wandered off to.
Edit: The book referenced in the previous paragraph is called Blueprint for Victory by William Gregg. It is a general survey of Canadian automobile industry contributions leading up to and during World War II. It does not offer detailed commentary on any design specifications. It does state that the British provided very specific vehicle specifications to Canadian industry. Those specifications must exist in an archive, probably at Bovington. David Fletcher is referenced in the thread above with regards ease of chemical weapon decontamination and he works at Bovington.
Edit: At the end of World War II, Canadian military personnel produced an 8 volume summary of vehicle design and development related to the conflict. All 8 volumes are available at Archive.org. If the link does not work, search Archive.org for “Army Engineering Design Branch Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply”. Volume 4 covers field artillery tractors. As I suspected, the British issued hundreds of requirements to Canadian industry. There is a lot to read.
My initial impression is that the British specification document and papers relevant to the evolution of that document lie elsewhere. The volumes above are a link in the chain. Also, as with all large design projects, the specifications changed over time.
Edit: Volume 5 includes a few paragraphs dedicated to field artillery tractors and some interesting information about general chassis design. This volume also includes detailed information about truck bed design.
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The main reason for this build for me is as I mentioned in the initial post is the family connection to the Quad and gun, My Uncle Bob, my great Uncle I should say, as he was my Grandfathers Brother, drove this type and suffered burns when it was hit and burst into a fireball. I remember he told me he thought he saw the area around the dash glowing red, I think this must have been the reflection of the flames from the fuel tanks, either side, under the doors.
His escape from the vehicle, would I think, have been a matter of seconds, but as he was backing up to the Ammunition Limber, the crew would have been outside ready to connect it all up and Bug out under fire.
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He was a tall lanky bloke, my Uncle,getting out in a hurry like that can’t have been easy. His uniform and his hair were in flames and it’s only the quick reactions of his crew that rolled him in the sand to stop his injuries being worse than they already were. They bundled him into a Katy Ambulance with some other casualties and a DAK officer prisoner and the bumpy ride across the desert to the dressing station began.
Building this detailed kit of his Quad is quite an experience as it’s bringing all that he told me back.
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I’m dead wrong about the fuel tanks being under the doors, they must be storage lockers, The Canadian Ford depicted by the Tamiya kit shows the fuel tanks under the doors either side. But the Morris C8 Quad has them at the rear.
the fuel filler pipes go though the crew compartment into the rear bulkhead and down into the twin tanks at the back. No wonder the Morris C8 interior smelt of petrol.
the fuel filler points were either side at the rear of the door. With the tanks at the back it all makes sense, his vehicle was backing up to the Limber with the rear facing the enemy, just seconds to spare as the fire engulfed the whole vehicle, long enough for him to escape with the narrowest margin for his survival.
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comparison between the Tamiya Ford in Tan, and the Morris Quad in grey.
no fuel point in the side.
and the tanks right below the doors.
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Looking great so far. That is a very detailed chassis and engine.
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As I’m having the Quad in transit I’ll need to populate the interior with at least five figures, the kit provides a drive, so I need to find four Gunners from the spares box. They look a right Motley Crew. I’ll have to paint them as best I can just to make them look unlike Frankenstein’s rejects.
with base colours on, the guy on the far right looks like Sgt Wilson from the TV series Dad’s Army.
So the lid goes down today, and i’ll be wrestling with the fit with lots falling out no doubt, always the way with a large final fit, but there’s no way around it with interior detail and figures. Anyway, the final touches, things I can’t fit once it’s all together. Oddly, the kit supplies four Number 4 Rifles, and four SMLE. As My Uncle had an SMLE, I fitted those. I’m only guessing, but I bet the Infantry were the first to get the new Number fours, with units in the Gunners having to make do with new issue old stock SMLE. I had to move the top rack down to allow the butts to fit in the angle of the roof.
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Just as I feared, it looks like it’s been blown off Hellfire pass, after a fit of the body to chassis, the front wheels, bonnet one figure and some small parts became detached. Still a lot of coaxing to get it to fit right.
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If I were to build this again, starting from scratch, I’d bin the instruction order of assembly and bring the body to floor assembly forward, and build this whole model inverted, chassis last. I will re fit the three figures onto the rear seats from the top opening. When this is all squared away.
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Looking good so far though … I have always liked the chunky quirky look of the Quads.
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In re-attaching the rather weak and vulnerable front wheels, I’ve drilled out both wheel hub and axle and inserted a length of metal wire to add some core strength to the model, in making the kit scale in this area the kit makers has really left it weak and liable to breakage during construction, I was going to get those wheels on if it Hare lips everyone on Bear Creek, their a lot stronger now. a good re-start, next, all the tiny parts that fell off during the big fit, and some gaps to fill.
I will be making a Scammell truck next, it’s a commission build for the granddaughter of a Korean War REME Veteran 96 years old soon, I may well use the wire axle technique on that too. Seems like Max model kits of those Dodge weapons Carriers with the steel rod axles, had a point back in the day, at least they had strong wheel attachment points.
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so far it’s getting back to where I want it, the rear view mirrors are clear parts, they’ll be getting a airbrush coat later.
pe brackets for the rear latches
the spare tire will go up there when it’s painted.
next is this complex little bend for the fuel can racks on the back, but first, I’m going to gather my wits with a cup of Coffee.
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Are these the cans that leaked so much?
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The Tommies in the middle East called them flimsies, fine on the running board of a Bentley Blower on a picnic, winding in and out of the green lanes of Sussex, but in the Harsh Desert environment flimsies bounced about and leaked, it was a serious matter that went up the chain of Command and worried General Richard O’connor a great deal. One of Britain’s ablest Commanders. Then they captured a Jerrycan off the DAK. The rest, as they say, is History.
PE Flimsie petrol can frame.
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Thanks, could this bracket hold a Jerry can as well?
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I doubt it Dan. I recon they all went back to field workshops for an update. After O’connor set the wheels in motion for a general change, he was captured by DAK forces before he ever saw the results of his bringing the problem to the might of the American Manufacturing knowhow.
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I will be back finishing the Quad gun and limber as soon as I’ve finished the Scammell commission build. Back fairly soon.
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