oily

Wanted : Rapier Support resupply trailer/ rapier FAST trailer, how much can I expect to pay for a useable one?, does anyone know of one for sale,? Preferably south UK, I intend to use it as sleeping accommodation at shows etc, and tow it behind my saracen

Hi Paul, glad you enjoyed our show..... We did meet at some point, but didn't get time to chat, -I was marshalling the vehicles in the arena displays, (WWII and Post War),... The saracen wheels/tyres I collected from your yard a while back are still safely tucked away!, it'd be good to meet up for a chat and drink sometime.... I liked your collection of vehicles you brought this year..... Nice comments on the show too, thanks....

I believe the wheels are the same size, just the width of the tyres are different. Others may prove me wrong on this next fact, but I am under the impression that Stalwart wheels are the same too, but made from Aluminium alloy, instead of steel... And their tyres are 14.00 x 20..... And with a squeeze may fit too...

An age-old saying comes to mind here.... You can please some of the people, all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but not all of the peope all of the time...... It is very likely that it was just a coincidence that there was one or two civilian vehicle amongst the re-enactors in the 'Living History' field, after all their equipment, props and tents etc doesn't transport itself there.... Exhibitors are permitted to turn up at any time whilst the show is on, so, consequently there will obviously be civilian cars dotted about the show ground.... Just as there is at ANY other show of this type. As for the show resembling a car-boot sale!, -which boot sales do you go to, where so much military kit is for sale?....agreed there may have been stalls selling non-military items, but 'Overlord' shows always have, and always will be 'family' shows, and will include something for all tastes. The Hi-Vis vest was in the muzzle of the show-organising-club's FH70, due to the fact that at several times during the show, club members were actually working on the gun, and the barrel was often lowered to head height while work was done one the breech mechanism. The other, complete FH70 was fired on Fri, Sat, Sun, but not Monday due to a pyrotechnic's fault. Personally I attended the show from Fri lunchtime, til Tuesday lunchtime, and thoroughly enjoyed the FOUR days the show was open to the public. I spent most of my time directing/marshalling vehicle movements in the arena for the Post-War and WWII vehicle parades. I managed to get a look around most of the well-stocked stalls, passing by the very few non-military stalls. I wandered around the 'Living History' field, on each day, and I was impressed by the accuracy of the exhibits, whilst chatting with the exhibitors and public, unfavourable comments about the show and any aspect of it were VERY FEW, VERY MINOR, (and were sorted easily). True there is always someone who'll visit a show/event and do their utmost to pick faults.... Overlord don't charge exhibitors, Overlord uses a grass arena, with ditches/obstacles, Overlord promise something for all tastes, Overlord pride themselves on their toilet/free! shower facilities, Overlord strives to achieve the impossible, and we always very nearly succeed!, but then again this is not a perfect world, Overlord is organised voluntarily by its club-members. Some of whom are retired, and still manage to work from dawn-til-dusk...... I for one, will visit again, again...and again

Ah! Another member good taste in MV's, I have copies of all maintenance and users manuals (plus a few duplicates), so can offer some help and info. I have almost finished fitting new seals in my fluid flywheel!.... Long job!

I'd imagine just removing the wheels and hubs ought to be enough, you could mount the hull on a heavy duty wood or steel trolley with heavy castors on til it's in position, then refit wheels etc....

Very smart looking Goddess, just let down slightly by the rather grubby/rusty-looking wheels... Painting wheels is a boring and time-consuming job, but the end result is worth the effort... The icing on the cake, as it were.... When at shows, or in my case with my Saracen when doing weddings/proms etc, I even polish the tyres!.... Kiwi boot-polish gets that almost-new 'sheen' even on old tyres!

If you can't find anyone to move them, can I offer my services as a driver of one of them?.... I have plenty of experience of both ferret and Saracen driving, on and off road ....

... Conversely, -it is also quite likely that some of the chaps on here may also have a secret stash of secret girlfriends or mistresses!, or also, how many of the wives/gfs of members have a secret stash of blokes for when we are 'away' at shows, or working on our vehicles away from home? .....

Hi all Ferret owners, and 'Keeper of The Ferret Register', I have just been given a couple more in service photos of my Dad's old ferret, (-well, one of the 3 he remembered using), only until now I didn't know this ones reg no. It is 39 BA 22, does anyone know if it still exists?.... Even now, 6 and a half months after my poor Dad died, it brings a lump to my throat when I see old photos of him and his escapades in the Army, to know this ferret still exists would be great, and if it is in the U.K., that would be fantastic, since the chance of me actually seeing it would be REALLY great!, sadly the other 2 ferrets seem to have disappeared without a trace..... please take a long look through your 'Ferret Piccies' for my old Dad's Ferret! ...thanks guys! (P.S. I'll post them up as soon as I've scanned them into my P.C.) Matt

It's easier getting the one off the tank.... I ended up 'modifying' the right size spanner by cutting the ring end off, it's a struggle whatever way you do it though.....

When I used to come home from work (my 1st job when I left school was in engineering works), my mum used to say "hey, oilyboy, get off my nice clean chairs in those oily clothes!", so the name kind of got reserected when I bought the Saracen, for obvious reasons.... 'oily' is just the shortened version...

So sorry to hear of your sad loss, I know how you feel since I lost my dear old Dad in August last year, I miss him terribly even now, especially as it was my father that inspired my interest in military things from a very early age. As others have said, at least you can be thankful he is no longer suffering, more likely he is looking down on you with pride, and if he was anything like my old Dad, there'll be a little mischevious sparkle in his eyes, willing you to carry on the flame of interest in all things military, ... Try to remember all the good times, gradually, it will become easier, bodily he may have left you, but his spirit will be with you and yours always....please accept my condolences Kindest thoughts, Matt

Hi Alaskan, I do indeed have antennas on my Saracen, correct ones!, I will have to do some digging, but I think I may have a couple or so spare ones that I may be able to send you....

Aha! Andy.... Keep trying to catch you up the yard, to no avail.... I have a Wedding Reception Invitation for you and your good lady. I was gonna post it in your cabin, but you don't have a letter box... Could you P.M. me a postal address so I can make sure you get it? Kind regards, Matt

Hi, -despite being a self-confessed Saracen 'nut'/purist, I have been following your post with great interest, well done on the mechanical side of things, all seems to have gone really well for you, and I'll agree it still does resemble a Saracen, albeit on bigger tyres, but things have gone a bit adrift at the front now.... Why did you extend the wheel archs/wings down like that, and the odd sausage-shaped bumper?...The inside looks good where you've modded the steering etc, does it mean you sit even further back?... 'T' Junctions are a nightmare in a standard one because of lack of sideways vision. The engine fit looks VERY tight!, if you needed to get the engine out, I take it the engine can slide forward from beneath the bulkhead?.... On the whole though, very commendable.....eagerly awaiting some good quality video footage of it pounding along the road, and on the rough stuff too.... Regards, Matt

I used to have one of the 'boat-shaped' parts, many years back, when I was still a lad playing with Action Man, (now I'm 43, and playing with real Saracens and Ferrets!. I always wondered what it was, (-the boat thing), I thought it was some half-finished homemade Action Man boat, that my dad had made, or got from someone. It may still be in my Mum's loft, I'll have a look....

Hi Phil, and a warm welcome. Once you take the plunge, you'll never look back!....always plenty of help available on here....

Some of the 'distant' shots of jeeps seem to look like radio-controlled models, and the Germans helmets were WWI models with the longer more pronounced 'peak' section. I believe the sexton/priest 'tanks' could fire on the move, but accuracy would not have been very good at all....

Hi Rich!, looks like I'm the 1st!, ...... I've owned my Mk 5 since 2005, and have been interested in them since I was 7 or 8, -I'm now 43! ..... I bought mine for £2000 as a non-runner and gradually restored/decommissioned it to presentable roadworthyness by the September of 2007. I use it for shows, etc, and over the last 3 years, I was using it for Prom-Transport...Weddings etc. I'm currently about to re-install the engine, after having replaced the centre seal on the fluid flywheel, - a VERY involved job! . Now what do you need photos of? ...as my particular vehicle is almost totally complete. I'm not aware of a U.K. Saracen Owners Club, but we could always start one!, I have most manuals and publications too, so ask away! .....

very, very nice!.... feeling a little jealous now!:-D

When I said 'Miliput' I was generalising somewhat, but yes, absolutely I have some scraps of plastic card around.... As for the tubes, the ones in the kit will do as they seem close enough, if not identical , + there will be a couple of spares should I have any 'accidents'....but thanks anyway,..... :-)

Hi all 'Ferret-eers' I require detailed scale drawings of the '3-tube' type smoke grenade launchers. These were fitted to Ferrets of all Mk's, and Saracens from Mk's 1 to 5. I am building a very good, detailed 1/24 resin kit of a Saracen, but it only comes with the later 6-tube type. I have tried everywhere to find any of the 3-tube type in this scale, even the kits manufacturer, and even they have non available, as spares, or as extras which I obviously would expect to pay for (oddly, despite the fact they are now marketing a ferret in the same scale...), so I've resigned to the fact I'm going to have to scratch build some, ...admittedly I could make measurements from my own real saracen's Dischargers, but I was just hoping someone may already have a set of suitable engineering drawings of some. I'm willing to pay for copies of said drawings, of course!.... Luckily I'm a bit of a dab-hand at moulding and sculpting things from 'Miliput' modelling, 2-part resin....and like a bit of a challenge.... Thanks in anticipation Matt

Sadly I can't help on the Fox insignia info, but it is nice to see you are 'cracking-on' with your projects, you are so lucky to have such a nice, roomy, cosy workshop to work in! .... I've got my fluid flywheel I collected from you now fitted on my Saracen's engine, sadly due to the recent loss of my dad (-my main inspiration, and spannering assistant), and a slight knee problem, I've not been able to re-fit the engine etc. as I have to work outside, it's a little too chilly just now... Kind regards Matt

Re: Smoke grenade dischargers, for my Saracen kit....yes, it sounds like they may be 'ferret' type ones, with 3 tubes arranged in a sort of 'fan' shape....I'd willingly pay a reasonable price for a pair of the bases that the tubes fix to, of you could get an extra set made, with the next casting batch.... May I say the kit is going together very well indeed, so far I've almost finished the 1st few stages, the rear and centre suspension is built up and fitted to the hull, along with the steering 'rocking beams', the tiny brass etched washers are VERY fiddly, but with patience the result is great... Having the real Saracen in my yard helps a great deal, I must say... my gorgeous fiancée bought me the kit for my 43rd birthday last April, I rather like the idea of a ferret kit too, but I'll have to save my pennies for one, as we are getting married in September this year, ...maybe I should ask her for it as a wedding present! Lol!..... Thanks again Howard, I'll keep you informed of the build progress Kind regards Matt