Diana's Perentie FFR 48-852

[Diana Alan]

Lot 15 at the AFM Minto October 2014 Auction.  Was only looking for a parts car to merge with 49-353, however when Lot#35 was bid up to silly money I decided to bid on a complete car.

48-852 has no log books, but looks to have a relaticely recent engine replacement. Body only average with the RHS outer guard needing replacement and a few odds and ends which will donor from 49-353.

Plan is not to register ATM with occasional UVP until it's eligible for NSW HCRS.  (2018)

[Diana Alan]

Not sure of unit history, however in the LHS sign holder was a coloured Artillery tac with unit serial 48 and in the door a coloured 1 Div formation sign.

48 and 1 Div are also the Low Vis painted markings on the sign holders. 

Unuaually there are three sign holders, two in the normal positions below the head lamps and a third on the LHS on the front of the bumper bar.  My first thoughts were RAEME artificers, but the FFR obviously having been fitted with radios I'm wondering about an attached sigs squad.  Any thoughts?

Also, does anyone know the purpose of the row of bracket/clamps near the front of the tub and on the storage bin seat?

[Uncle Ho]

Is that a carrier pidgeon stencil on the lower rear corner of the LHS door.?

[Diana Alan]

Maybe its a sky rat! 

There is an arty coloured tac sign with unit serial 48 and a I Div coloured formation sign, same as the painted low-vis signs on the vehicle.

According to the 1982 VUS unit serial 48 is 8/12 Medium Regiment 1 Division.

Does anyone have later VUS? or more recent identity for serial 48?

Any dropshorts who served with 8/12 MED Regt?

[Mick]

Hi Diana,

According to my info the tac sign is still 48 and the ERN ( no. Above Christmas tree) is 5407.

Mick

[Mick]

Hi Diana,

According to my info the tac sign is still 48 and the ERN ( no. Above Christmas tree) is 5407.

Mick

[Diana Alan]

Thanks Mick

any idea about the bird logo device?

[Mick]

If it wasn't a 8/12 vehicle I'd have said it was a 16 Avn Regt car but being from 8/12 it might have been the Battery supporting 3RAR when it was a Para Bn.

I'll follow it up and get back to you.

Cheers Diana.

Mick

[Diana Alan]

Easo (currently posted up in Darwin) tells me that the bird logo is an old device used by 8/12 Regimental HQ but hasn't any more info.

More information would be great.

[Diana Alan]

Today I pulled the radio 4 batteries out of the boxes and started trying to recover them.

Also threw on a hood I picked up from Scottish John a few years ago.  Makes it look a lit more complete.



Only problem is that the two straps on the windscreen end are missing. 

Also took a closer look at the bird device, it has broad slotted wing shape and feathered legs so reminiscent of a raptor rather than a gull or similar.


 

[Minikeg]

Also took a closer look at the bird device, it has broad slotted wing shape and feathered legs so reminiscent of a raptor rather than a gull or similar.

Pretty sure the feather / wing ends design is more to do with the spray pattern / ease of cutting the stencil negative vs actual bird anatomy?

The feathered feet also look overspray'y

Just my opinion of course :-)

[Diana Alan]

There is overspray no doubt, and having studied zoology in my science degree doing bird population studies I've had a little experience in identification and in spite of the issues of the stencils etc, IMHO the wing shape, particularly with the separated feathers at the tips, is either a passive soaring type (hawke, storks, eagles) or elliptic, (crows and raven) and not either of the active soaring (gulls, albatross) or high speed (terns, ducks, swifts) and IMHO there are greater similarities to raptors than there are to the crows and much less similarity to gulls etc.

The fanning of the tail doesn't look like a wedge tail to me so I'm thinking sea eagle or hawk, or possibly, maybe, crow but crows don't have much feathering on their legs..

[Welby]

...... IMHO the wing shape, particularly with the separated feathers at the tips, is either a passive soaring type (hawke, storks, eagles) or elliptic, (crows and raven) and not either of the active soaring (gulls, albatross) or high speed (terns, ducks, swifts) and IMHO there are greater similarities to raptors than there are to the crows and much less similarity to gulls etc.

The fanning of the tail doesn't look like a wedge tail to me so I'm thinking sea eagle or hawk, or possibly, maybe, crow but crows don't have much feathering on their legs.......

I think you are being far too generous in your evaluation of the average diggers attention to detail.



IMO of course

[Dervish]

That's definitely a raptor, they've put the effort in to make it look like one. Maybe it's a Whistling Kite:



Seems appropriate for a radio vehicle somehow.

[Diana Alan]

Thank Dervish, I know its not that important, but without the log books identifying the logo accurately may go a little way to identifying the squad it belonged to.

Easo suggested it was an old 8/12 HQ symbol.  Having three tac holders on the front would that make it possible for an 8/12 Mdm Regt HQ Sigs squad or even a 8/12 HQ RAEME squad?