LarryH57

When, I bought my Lwt about 20 years ago, I wanted it to look fairly orginal, but liked the splash of colour of the yellow bridge plate, and the Union Flag, but removed the Pegasus badge! Revisiting a few photos of the RE vehicles on exercise in 1980s in BAOR, shows a distinct lack of Union Flags, but green bridge plates and in one photo I have there is a number in 2 inches high numbers above the headlight.

When I was in the Army, newly built Series III Land Rovers were delivered to my RE unit in late 1970s , painted in Gloss Dark Bronze Green but with the galvanised parts, like front and rear fenders and tilt hoops left unpainted, and with yellow bridge plates. In the early 1980s the existing Series LRs were taken to Workshops and were sprayed Nato matt green and black, including the bridge plates. I never saw any grey coloured ones. A year or two later, the bridge plates were removed entirely. After that, I dont remember ever seeing a new Series LR delivered in Nato matt green, with unpainted galvanised parts. Am I remembering correctly- did the painting style / instructions to Land Rover change? Did they spray the entire vehicle before deliver, or were British Army units always supplied via a Vehicle Storage / Park type Unit, where they were sprayed prior to delivery? I do remember an occasion when a new Series FFR arrived and I painted it with Nato matt black to camouflage it, as it was just green. My own Lwt, a 1980 built 12v GS, is a bit strange as some parts of it are Gloss DBG, such as the part below the windscreen and aroundthe vent panels, but the rest is Nato green; were manufacturers using up old stock of parts or was this done by the British Army? My Lwt does show evidence of a collision, possibly with a tree or trees, as the front offside wing has been repaired and the Offside front bumper is slightly bent. On the nearside it appears another collision with a tree has bent the tub, while in use without the doors. Also at the rear, there is a box for the jack in the 'wheel arch' that has been added. There should be one in the nearside engine bay for 'HG' registered vehicles?

And now RAF Armoured Cars Use of captured equipment hasn't had much attention at MV shows. Why haven't we seen any 'LR Sdkfz 222' painted as RAF?

I guess France might celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Paris later this year and 'Mesuier Le Mayor' will wonder why no 'vehicles historique' have turned up in Paris, for the 'victory parade' It will be the same in 20 years but will they ever celebrate 'zero carbon day'?

So I guess, if you go wander off the route to Normandy you have to avoid cities.

Has that Lwt got a civi cab, with a trunkated tilt behind?

What is required for driving in France, with regard to getting a certificate to show your vehicles emmissions? Apparently the French Police will fine drivers for not having the correct certificate. Does this affect Historic Registered Vehicles? How will it hinder those going to D-Day commemorative events?

Has anyone tried to hire a car in Holland with a UK Pink paper driving icence? I have not moved since the 1980s so my Driving Licence is still current, with no penalty points and none pending Obviously I will have my UK Passport with me too.

I have decided to remove the faded union flag stickers as they were obviously applied after the Lwt was cast, by 7th Para RHA. I think plain and simple and realistic is probably best. I'm therefore having second thoughts about fitting an extra red NATO tow hook on the front bumper, a front ammo box and the '58 Webbing, attached to the side and every wing, plus get rid of the idea of 3 metre wip aerials with union flags attached from the wings and side of the tilt, like so many realistic vehicles I see at MV shows. The Pegasus emblem on a maroon background was taken off years ago, but were Lwts ever used by Easy Company, of 506th PIR, of the 101st Div?

Clive, when I bought the Lwt about 20 years ago, it had these Union Flag stickers already in place but luckily the previous owner from sometime after it was cast in 1991, had old photos of it which he shared with me I have therefore sudied these again today, and in its cast condition, the flags were not present! I have never noticed. I thought Union Flag stickers were standard for most British Army Land Rovers!

The very last thing I need to go with my NATO green paint for my Lwt, is some Union Flag stickers, as the ones on my vehicle are perhaps 40 years old and rather faded. Who supplies these, as I havent seen any since the original WP shows at Beltring.

I just received a supply of Matt NATO Green from Marcus Glenn, and I am pleased with the colour match. He is an MVT member and MVCG before that, so I think he appreciates the problems with 'Pound Shop NATO Green '

Thanks folks

I guess if a 'standard' coil works, then a 3 ohm non ballast coil is correct rather than a 1.5 ohm ballast coil?

Interesting, as my knowledge of Land Rover batteries is nil. What type did they fit at the factory?