Ivy House

Hi Tony, I've got a question about US Navy vehicles, in Normandy would the 2nd NBB Jeeps/Dodges, etc.. be painted OD or Navy grey? Also any idea what bumper markings would be for a Jeep of the 2nd NBB? Cheers, Steve

Hi Neil, We live about 600 metres from the Museum, 500m inland from the beach, from our house you can see the Memorial onthe Bunker and the flags, from the garden you can see other German Bunkers too. We are very close to Exits 2 and 3 of Utah Beach and only two minutes drive from Brecourt Manor, Ste Marie du Mont and the 101st Drop Zones. If you fancy coming over again let me know, we give a discount to all MV Owners! From here most of our guests tour the British & Canadian Sectors also, it takes just under and hour to reach Pegasus Bridge, then you can drive back up along the coast road (D514) past Sword, Juno & Gold Beaches, Arromanches, Omaha Beach etc... Best regards, Steve

Just got confirmation that all the parts will be here on Monday or Tuesday, I need this ready for June 3rd as there is a MV Convoy through Carentan and I want to be there to take part! :wink:

Hi guys, Yep just bad luck, not being very mechanically minded I just took it on face value, at least when I've finished the work I shouldn't need to replace a lot of these items for a very long time!! Steve

Hi Degsy, Will do mate, any idea what the setting will be for the Torque Wrench for the Hotchkiss? Cheers, Steve

Last year I bought a 1958 Hotchkiss Jeep in what I thought was quite good condition, I was assured it would fly through an MoT and so being a novice vehicle owner,I bought it. This was in August last year. Since last August the Jeep did less than 30 miles, to my parents barn and back where it's been kept over Winter. As it was un-registered in the UK and I was bringing it back to France it took me 4 months to get it sorted out, lots of red tape and form filling, to get the Controle Technique (MoT) I had to buy a complete set of brakes and discs all round, a new carburettor as the one on it was cracked and spat petrol all over the engine, then the lights stopped working, then the batteries died and had to buy new ones, to get it MoT'd then registered cost me just over 900 Euros, as it costs 140 euros just to register the vehicle. I also had to take it ti 2 MoT's and got charged both times. For the past 6 months it's sat covered up in the barn, two weeks ago I rubbed it all down and re-sprayed the jeep the colour I wanted and added all the bolt on bits and stencils etc.. ready for June, all was going well until I decided to take it for a road test. I took it staedy and did about 20 miles, at a junction I could hear a loud hissing sound and looked at the temperature gauge rapidly rising... I spent most of yesterday trying to discover the problem, (being a first time mechanic and having no manual!!) the radiator is knackered, the head gasket is knackered, the waterpump is knackered, there was no thermostat, some of the pipes are split in places and one or two other bits, so I called Jeepest and ordered all the parts I need, another 700 euros! So if you're new to buying old MV's like me, make sure you take an expert with you when you go to look at one, it'll be expensive if you don't!! Right now I've got my fingers crossed I'll have it all ready for June. Steve

Hi all, Having just removed the old head gasket on my Jeep I hav realised I'll need a Torque Wrench to replace the head, what is the setting for a Hotchkiss Jeep? Also, which is the best manual to buy which covers the Hotchkiss Jeep in detail? Cheers, Steve

Hi Lloyd, No mate didn't get a template and who's that bloke?? I got them from Jeeparts, just Aliminium ones, think they'll be fine for my Hotchpotch. Are you over here next month? I haven't heard if any of the LHA guys are coming over. Cheers Steve

Hi, I am currently converting my Hotchkiss to look like a WW2 US Willys Jeep, I have bought the set of Data Plates but can't find a photo of how they should be positiioned/in waht order etc... Anyone got a photo please? Cheers Steve

Hi Jack, As far as I know only US Servicemen were issued these, including the troops invading from the sea, they were intended to prevent motion sickness (sea sickness/air sickness) as the hierarchy wanted to be sure that their men landed in a good state. Unfortunately these pills didn;t work, many men were sick due to nerves and the sound of Flak in the distance as well as the rolling and climbing of the aircraft as their pilots frantically tried to avoid colliding and being hit by ground fire. The effect on some was that the pills made them feel drowsy and tired, much the same as modern sea sickness pills do, some troopers were so affected that they crawled into a hedgerow or ditch and went to sleep for the first few hours of D-Day! As far as I am aware there no connections with the effects of 1940's motiuon sickness pills and the "NAPS" Tablets given to troops in the first Gulf War, NAPS were to be taken daily as an attempt to combat the effects of nerve agents which were suspected may be used by the enemy at the time. The cause of GWS is unknown, maybe some chemicals in the air on certain parts of the battle area caused by exploding Iraqi munitions, depleted uranium in Allied Tank Shells, or maybe side effects of NAPS Tablet, who knows? Steve

Jack, I'm glad you had a good week with us, it was great to meet you and your family and we're looking forward to seeing you again in October. I got another addition to the Museum today, a German Panzerfaust in semi-relic condition which I've cleaned up, can't fit much more in the cabinets! A quick plug: We welcome MV Owners, Colelctors & Reenactors, if you own an MV or contact us via HMVF and want to stay at Ivy House you will automatically get a 10% Discount. We are only a few minutes walk from the beach and you can sit in the garden and see dunes an bunkers while you have a BBQ! In one of our outbuildings I have put my collection of weapons, uniforms and equipment on display which includes a lot of relics found in the area such as a US Paratrooper's Cricket, a Tellermine and an MG42, we have also built a home cinema for our guests so you can watch your favourite films in the evenings, needless to say we have Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan on film! Right plug over! Steve

Hi Ashley and Andy, Thanks guys, I'm sure we'll cross paths on here in the future! Cheers Steve

Thanks guys!

Hi all, Just heard about this Forum as the Webmaster has been staying at our place, some of you might know me from the WW2 Reenactment Forum as "507". I own a Jeep and live in Normandy where we run a B&B and Gites at Utah Beach. I'll probably be on here quite often asking Jeep questions! Cheers, Steve

Some vehicles are painted with Flat OD, a totally matt paint, as it is porous what is used to seal it, is there an oil or liquid sealant that anyone can recommend? Cheers Steve