Morris C8 Quad FAT ideas and inspirations

[Volkodav]

Claymores excellent Sd.Kfz. 234/5 Mammut reminded me of an idea I had years ago but never built, an APC version of the Morris C8 Quad.

Though unarmoured the Quad has the look of what I would imagine a WWII MRAP would look like and its not too great a stretch to imagine a British Army requirement for an armoured Section Vehicle for the motor infantry of the Mobile Brigade then Armoured Divisions.  Same shape but armour plate instead of sheet metal, thick armoured Perspex, a more powerful engine, better brakes and either a small MG turret or a ring mount, possibly a rear door or ramp.

[Rickshaw]

I can just imagine the ramshackle type affair that might eventuate from such a conversion.



Entrance and exit isn't bad for such a vehicle, as designed, with wide doors on each side:



However, I have to admit I prefer a rear exit for an APC, simply so that the mass of the vehicle shields the occupants as they made their debus.

But aren't you essentially describing what was the CAPLAD Armoured Truck from Canada?





Or alternatively, the Indian Pattern Wheeled Carrier?





I must admit I've often been intrigued by the Indian Pattern Wheeled Carrier.  There isn't all that much information available about it or its uses in the Western Desert.

[jcf]

Guy built an armored car on their Quad Ant chassis, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Armoured_Car#Development
and various armoured variants were built on Chevrolet (Fox and Otter) and Ford (Lynx) CMP chassis.

The Otter is fairly close to your concept.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Light_Reconnaissance_Car

[Old Wombat]

Mirror Models put out a range of C8 & CMP variants, several of which I'm keen to get my grubby little mitts on when funds permit;

http://www.bnamodelworld.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&manufacturers_id=193&categories_id=8&search_in_description=0&keyword=morris%20c8&inc_subcat=0

http://www.bnamodelworld.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&manufacturers_id=193&categories_id=8&search_in_description=0&keyword=cmp&inc_subcat=0&page=2


I think this one'd make a good starting point;


http://www.bnamodelworld.com/military-vehicles-tanks-mirror-models-mm35400-1:35-british-morris-c8-quad-mk-iii-no-5

[Volkodav]

I'm not as brave as many of you in regards to extensive plastic surgery so would probably limit any efforts to making the base quad look beefier, i.e. substantial rivets or weld seams suggesting the skin is armour plate etc.

It just always seemed a sensible evolution of an existing platform to fill what should have been a requirement.  The other thought that crossed my mind for an earlier option was a Lanchester Armoured Car with an aft troop compartment, this was more a what if Monash and Chauvin had managed to get their motorised standing army post WWI than the evolution of Hobarts Mobile Force in the late 30s early 40s.

Saw those Mirror Models C8s when I was looking for photos yesterday, look good.

[Old Wombat]

That's why I like the C8 Mk.III No.5 as a starting point, the shape lends itself to easy modification into an APC;


Much of the work is either PSR to make the canopy look like metal sheets or styrene sheeting to replace the canopy;


All that needs doing is to move 2 of the side doors to the rear, fill in the door spaces with styrene sheet;


You may want to armour-clad the engine with sheet styrene & put protective shutters in front of the radiator;


Similar to those on the White M3 scout car (only angling forward, rather than back);


For the side windows I'd do fold-down flaps/shutters, for the front windscreen I'd do a shutter, also similar to the M3 scout car above.

It's really not that complex, although the dreaded PSR may become your constant companion, for a while.

  :)

[Volkodav]

Good plan, I can see a 7th Armoured one already.

[Weaver]

However, I have to admit I prefer a rear exit for an APC, simply so that the mass of the vehicle shields the occupants as they made their debus.

Why not have both? Several post-war 4x4 and 6x6 APCs do.

[Rickshaw]

However, I have to admit I prefer a rear exit for an APC, simply so that the mass of the vehicle shields the occupants as they made their debus.

Why not have both? Several post-war 4x4 and 6x6 APCs do.

Well, apart from it increasing hull weakness and ingress points for "bullet splash"/gas, it invariably leads I suspect to some confusion/controversy as to which door to use when egressing under fire.   I like a rear door/ramp (prefer the ramp, personally but would settle for doors/door) as it decreases that eventuality.  If the passengers know the APC is going to be parked between them and the direction the fire is coming from, they'll use that to their advantage.

[jcf]

Wouldn't worry too much an armoured, or just tinned, roof as
open top was pretty much the name of the game in period.
The Tamiya Canadian Quad show up regularly at cheap rates, often
as a rough build up good for parts. Hack a couple of'em about till
you get the desired look.

[tankmodeler]

This is cool, but you essentially end up with a C15TA, don't you? Now, a Morris equivalent is still a cool sort of vehicle...



Paul

[Volkodav]

That's the sort of look I was thinking of. Rivets, fold down armour plates at the windows, armoured louvers over the radiator etc. just simple additions to the Quad that makes it look more substantial.

JCF agree in the roof, could have an open top as seen on most halftracks, a canvas cover over ribs, anti grenade mesh screens, a slightly raised shrapnel screen (i.e. an air gap under a thin plat roof, or a full blown armoured roof with or without hatches, vents, air filters etc.

One with an open top, large hatch, or hatches with pintle mounts for MGs with gun shields (M-113 ACAV look) would be cool.