Thoughts on stowage...

[Harry Faversham]

I've reached the stage in my Desert Rats and DAK project where the PBI are getting some taxis to take 'em to the oasis. I've been studying piccys of some stunning 1:56 builds of Bren Carriers and Hanomags. They all look most impressive festooned in stowage, and a little daft...
valuable kit and tackle dangling all along the outside of the vehicles, wot's that all about? A perusal, particularly of Carriers, shows vast amounts of kit bunged on the back of 'em which kind of makes more sense to my tiny mind.
I'd be interested in the Brethren's take on vehicle stowage.

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

I've been collecting a few images for when I do my Bren Carriers. I don't know if these help?

I'm quite keen on adding an umbrella to one of mine, see below!

[Harry Faversham]

That's the kind of stuff I've been perusing, not much kit danglin' down the vehicles's sides, is there?

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

That's the kind of stuff I've been perusing, not much kit danglin' down the vehicles's sides, is there?

Yes, kit seems to be stowed front, back and inside. The only thing I've seen stowed on the sides are spare wheels.

[AKULA]

Nothing on the business end that is going to catch fire, explode, or turn into shrapnel when hit.

 

[Harry Faversham]

Yes, kit seems to be stowed front, back and inside. The only thing I've seen stowed on the sides are spare wheels.

Yep, while this looks most impressive. In my 'umble opinion...
the Sowjer in charge of the stowage would be on a fizzer, quicksharp!

 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

I suspect the loading depends on the environment.

In open country, such as North Africa, you could get away with stuff on the sides, but imagine the chaos in an urban environment, and the chances of it remaining attached.

Nice photographs by the way. I like the amphibious carrier, very Great Egg Race/Scrapheap Challenge.

[tin shed gamer]

Not at all .
It's about egress .End of. There's set drills for emergency egress and deployment from carriers reguardless of mark or role.
Kit is often sat on in carrier's. As its in the DNA of all things designated APC to violently object to your presence once they start moving.

Now you'll find the odd image of wheels and water/petrol cans on a side. Even then You must take a second look these are not central always off to either end of the side. To allow an unobstructed egress.

I've spent plenty of time myself going over period photographs and reading manuals.(really helps if your fluent in khaki.) Before starting down the road of churning out carrier varriants..
You cam happily chuck a tonne of kit and or people in the back or on the rear of the vehicle and get a fairly convincing model.
If you do one simple adjustment to your model. Which is simply lower the back end down on to the track's. It'll instantly imply the extra being carried is well beyond it's normal load.

There's one little detail that people totally ignore when chucking kit all over a carrier.
Where's it actually attached to?

[Cueball]

I've also been looking for stowage inspiration. Although the attached pics are all ETO, it gives you some food for thought. The idea that non-flammable kit isn't stored on the front may not be a 100% rule, after all, I remember reading somewhere that fighting mounted -at least intentionally - wasn't strictly British doctrine.
Thoughts?

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Ooh, a Browning Carrier.

Interesting load outs again.

[Shahbahraz]

Great pictures. More please

[gamer Mac]

Great pictures. More please

I agree, more please

[Blackwolf]

Interesting photos,not only for the stowage also the weathering. And in one of MLS’s photos the carrier appears to have two Brownings,one an air pattern,intriguing shot!

[Etranger]

Interesting photos,not only for the stowage also the weathering. And in one of MLS’s photos the carrier appears to have two Brownings,one an air pattern,intriguing shot!

The Canadians in particular had a habit of festooning their carriers with extra firepower. Not universal, but commonly seen. That could include guns scavenged from aircraft wrecks. The Canadian carriers are easily identified by the CT prefix to their numbers. (C for Canadian).

There are (for the British at least) official vehicle stowage plans, to show what should go where. In the field of course there were all sorts of variations. https://vickersmg.blog/in-use/transport/the-universal-carrier/ these are with reference to the MG carrier but also include 'standard' UCs.

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

The Canadians in particular had a habit of festooning their carriers with extra firepower. Not universal, but commonly seen. That could include guns scavenged from aircraft wrecks. The Canadian carriers are easily identified by the CT prefix to their numbers. (C for Canadian).

Some more photos of Canadian bren carriers.