AWM Gunbuggy 111-613.

[Diana Alan]

Thanks Tommy

That does look more of the 25/77 size.  The set wouldn't be tall enough to need a bracket on the dash panel.  I also notice the container on the firewall has been removed.

One more question, the LHS mirror.  Is it fitted through the original windscreen hinge bracket?

Most buggied have this removed.

I also notice the door hinge holes are filled.

Diana

[Diana Alan]

Diana,

Does yours have the PRC-10 frame ?  We could test fit one of my PRC-10s some time   

<image removed>

Pete

Hi Pete

Unfortunately no it doesn't, but were a pair of brackets I intended to replicate, but possibly modified to hold my TRS-300 HF set.  Very similar to the Clansman 320 and in the realm of the PRC 10 size to be convincing to the untrained eye.

[Tommy]

Thanks Tommy

That does look more of the 25/77 size.  The set wouldn't be tall enough to need a bracket on the dash panel.  I also notice the container on the firewall has been removed.

One more question, the LHS mirror.  Is it fitted through the original windscreen hinge bracket?

Most buggied have this removed.

I also notice the door hinge holes are filled.

Diana

At some stage in it's past, Bandiana's Buggy had the bulkhead mounted machine gun. This modification involved the drilling of holes to the far left hand top corner of the bulkhead. This same modification can be seen on the Army Museum of WA's Buggy. If the MG was mounted so close to the corner it may have necessitated the re-positioning of any mirror located on the passenger side.

If you look at this 'larger' version of the same photo Diana you will notice that the door hinge holes appear to have been 'bogged up' as you can just make out two indentations where the holes are. Probably done when the Buggy acquired it's new coat of 'museum' paint.

http://www.grubbyfingersshop.com/walkaround_galleries/landrover_swb_recoillessrifle_walkaround/content/landrover_swb_recoillessrifle_bandiana_20_large.html

[Mike C]

The brackets in the AWM's RCL carrier are sufficient to restrain the radio set AN/PRC-10 without an additional strap. I know: I've driven this vehicle some distance around Canberra and environs with the AN/PRC-10 in place. It is very tight to insert into the clips, which hold the radio quite steady.

Pr**k of a vehicle to operate in traffic with the weapons mounted - no/restricted view of the left side and left side mirror. We always moved the vehicle with a jockey in the CC's seat for safety - so there was someone to check the left side was clear before moving lanes.

I have to admire the original crews: those rear seats are just simply unsafe by modern standards: no wonder there are stories of crewman falling asleep and out of the vehicle during night moves, and no weather protection either.

The vehicle is in original condition as transferred direct from the Army. The weapons (M40A2 and M8C) are genuine but deactivated.

The original AMF number plates are held in the collection, though why they have not replaced the historic vehicle registration plates with the originals is not known to me: the vehicle was de-registered from the historic vehicles register several years ago and 'mothballed' once the FFR came on line. Mothballing included the removal of brake fluid from the system and replacing it with an inhibitor, hence the wood block to prevent the great unwashed from pressing the pedal.

Mike C

[Carzee]

Thank you Mike, very helpful info!
No brakes..
Can I ask if you recall any 'sportscar' films or pams in the AWM collection, anything training related that came from  RAINF?

[Mike C]

No, it's not the sort of 'stuff' that is considered appropriate or a priority for collection. Higher priority items are those associated directly with the Australian experience of war, rather than training information/images. Pams on particular items already held in the collection are given some priority, but by the MHT section, rather than the Research Centre. In saying that, I don't recall any info being held specific to the GB - and I looked at most of it in the MHT section at one time or another.

Mike C

[Mike C]

I'd better amplify my comment about 'appropriateness' for collecting: the AWM like most museums, has a space problem: they simply cannot collect everything, so by necessity have to be selective. As a result, there is an 'importance' level associated with an item during the deliberation process. High importance/well provenance items the Memorial will usually find space for - a VC, for example, is a sure thing, while several shelf metres of training pams with no provenance and little association with objects already in the collection would attract a very, very low priority for collection.

Space costs money, care and preservation for the long term cost money, and both have finite limits, so curators (and their managers!) are always careful to weigh up all the factors before accepting - or rejecting - an offer of an item.  It was how it worked when I was there, and I suspect not much has changed in that regard.

Mike C

[Carzee]

Well, I'm thankful for all the info we do have via yourself and a couple of ex-HW members (ZDelta and the NCO at the RAINF that I recall)

http://www.remlr.com/what-gunbuggy.html

http://www.remlr.com/2_2Agunbuggy.html
 

[Carzee]

 ..talked over you just then. Yes, I imagine if they had more space and money they may well have acquired a 2A LRPV.
...meanwhile, on the other side of Lake Hurley Griffin in the National Art Gallery.... Oh well.


Edit. Hurley hah. These smartphones are not as smart as they all think.

..but I.must add that their photo outputs are pretty good (see the AWM openday pics and those 13 of the gunbuggy).

edit
added AWM 111-613 photo info - http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL/19356/