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Modeller Build Logs
Humber LRC MKIII |
| By Alex Hill | | Started: | Jul 5, 2006 | | Updated: | Oct 8, 2006 |
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The LRC was part of a group of Humber vehicles which were, to varying degrees, derivatives of the Super Snipe. Whilst the MKI and II were limited by the use of a 4x2 drive train, the MKIII utilsed the independently cross sprung front axle from the Humber Heavy Utility and 4x4 15cwt trucks.
Armour plating was a less than confidence inspiring 1/2'' maximum, off-set by a respectable 45MPH top speed courtesy of Humbers own 4.1 6 cylinder petrol engine. In practice armament varied, but officially it was equipped with a .55 Boys anti-tank rifle and a Bren. However, as the war progressed the Boys ( already out classed by enemy armour in 1939)was relegated to use against light bunkers and anti-sniper duties, so most late war LRC's are generally seen without the rifle fitted.
Which brings me to the BLOG. The primary aim is to build IMA's Humber LRC with a detailed interior, but if sufficient references can be found, the scope may widen to include an engine and an improved drive train.
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| The Chassis - part 1 | Sep 15, 2006 |
It's been a while since chapter one, mainly because this has proved a tricky vehicle to research. Many thanks to Paul Owen, Dennis Stronks, Bob Gregory and Paul Gibson for the photo's they provided, particular appreciation has to go to George Moore who has built one these from scratch in 1/24 scale and consequently knows the vehicle pretty darn well.
Of course you can't get everything you need from the internet, so for the all important maintenance manual I went to Groucho publications (now know as Rob van Meel re-print military literature) who can be found at http://www.robvanmeel.nl/index.php and http://www.milweb.net/go/groucho/index.htm. Rob provides a great service and while these manuals aren't up to the standards of re-production that some of the scanned versions available on disc are, they're about best of the old style photo-copied crop. Unfortunately Rob doesn't have a manual for the MKIII LRC, but he does have one covering the MKI, II and Snipe cars which share an awful lot of common fittings. More useful pictures can be found at http://www.jagdtiger.de/index2.htm. Last but not least, thanks to Ivor Waterhouse, the owner of an immaculately restored Humber HUP, who kindly allowed me open up the bonnet and doors to get lots and of detail shots (the HUP is, of course, mechanically very similar to the LRC MKIII). So many good pictures in fact, that a scratch built or super detailed HUP may well be on the cards for a future project!
With that out of the way it's on to the building. As I've previously mentioned in the review of the IMA kit, the chassis and floor pan provided just aren't up to snuff for this project, so the first task at hand is to build replacements using the Groucho manual and some of George Moore's resources for reference. Of course the best references in the world don't help if you're an idiot. Case in point being the evening I spent making Super Snipe saloon chassis rails because I'd opened the manual on the wrong page!
However, as the pictures show things are now moving in the right direction. Obviously it's early days for the days for the chassis, but hopefully it's already a marked improvement.
1)This picture shows the change required to the rear portion of the chassis. The body will need to be re-shaped to accommodate the new chassis and fuel tank, but that's for a later chapter.
2)For those building their Humber OOB there's a little trimming required here. Once in place the kit rear chassis sections need to form a straight line with the rest of the chassis that's integrally cast into the floor pan.
3)Some will spot that plate used to box the inside face of the chassis rails and form the cross beams is shown with perforations in the manual, but as far as I can tell these were omitted on the MKIII. The portion at the front of the chassis that drops down will be drilled through to accommodate the front axle half shafts.
4)With the kit original placed alongside the replacement, the point of all this work becomes clear!
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