Can anyone direct me to pictures of what, to me, appears to be a bucket mounting bracket on the right fender of a T17E1 Staghound Mk 1?

This appears on p.35 of Ampersand's book on the Staghound by David Doyle. I'm referring to the circular bracket, just below the tarp



Can anyone point me to clearer pictures on another Staghound or any other Commonwealth vehicle? It doesn't appear to be the US-designed bucket bracket -- it only seems to appear in Italian theater Staghounds so may be a local field mod -- but I could be completely wrong.

Anyone? Thanks in advance!

From other fora, it seems that the pic above appears to be a helmet. I'm OK with that -- helmets did appear on the fenders of MTO Staghounds. What's bothering me are these pics from a series of the 15th Pozanski Lancers in Italy:



SMIALY has a helmet in what appears to be a frame.



DZIELNY has an empty frame... right? It has similar raised lips at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. I guess I'm looking for clearer images of this empty frame. Not that this frame/bracket is NOT in the earlier pic. That's what's confusing me.

Of all the Staghounds I have found photos of,none of them seem to have had these.So it had to be a field modification.

Of that, there's no doubt. It's only seen on Italian theater Staghounds -- like the .30cal on left turret and the forward opening commander's hatch.

I believe it is a base mounting plate for the heavy bottle Jack

Keith.

Hi Keith, in other correspondences, I think it's rather certain that it's a purpose designed bracket. It appears on the left side sometimes and seems to be a wire loop.

Lots os detail photos here if you need them

http://www.warwheels.net/staghound1Dogger.html

Hi Scott: Thanks for the link -- there's a very good one of the headlights that will be very handy for me as I backdate the Bronco kit. Luckily, plenty of albums of Staghound survivors abound. This research quandary deals specifically with Italian theatre NZ and Polish mods during the '43 and '44 timeframe however.

Hi Roy,
I am actually building a kiwi staggie at the moment, here is what I have learnt it may or may not help / be of interest, these mods were also done on some Brit & Canuck vechiles both in Italy & nw Europe

Moving the commanders hatch to open towards the front instead of the side, moving the "rear" .30cal to the side of the turret at the commanders hatch

Changing the armament up to a 3" howitzer to provide infantry fire support, 2" smoke grenade discharges on the side of the turret on gunners side & just about any goes re stowage!!

Some also had the bow mg removed & fitted with extra radios,
HTH
Mike

Mike: I picked up the Bronco Staghound as a break from my other, more involved projects. I have the Bison Decals sheet for Dzielny and decided to model that vehicle. Here's what I'm doing:

Turret mods:
front hinges on commander's hatch
internal plate on commander's hatch
scratchbuild .30cal MG pintle plus cradle added to left turret wall
modified turret roof rear pintle mount
modified 2-inch smoke grenade port to earlier configuration
adding foil "canvas" raincover to mantlet
correct antennae bases added
field mod hatch supports
new casting numbers

Hull:
boxes added to front fender
engine deck backdate (hinges removed, perimeter boltheads added, bullet guards to rear facing fuel lids, new deck handles)
new lifting eyes for rear
backdated hull sides by cutting down the upper edge extension
new headlight bases
jerry cans to rear fenders
appropriate stowage


As you can see, some "mission creep" has gotten into this "decompression" build. hahaha

Hi Roy,

Ohh mission creep sounds so familiar!! I am guessing by the sounds of it you are doing a staggie mk1, I am doing a mk2, if your interested in the difference's I will try & post a pic for ya??

Will watch with interest how she comes out!!

All the best
Mike