Packhow75

Uh oh... no escape... you here too! Many of the MLU crowd here... and some other odd folk interested in more modern stuff ;-) Tim

Spray the inside of the shipping container with insulation foam - this should prevent condensation build up on the container.

Arent these the ones which got cut up?

Quite likely. It's a nice breech block... and I can offer a nicer home for it!

I had a quote - have sent u a PM. Tim

Am looking for a breech block and firing/striker mechanism for my Sherman Firefly. Happy to consider anything in any condition... though preferably live (have appropriate paperwork). If you have any of these or parts for sale, please let me know. Many thanks Tim

The people of Paddock Wood will no doubt be overjoyed with delight about this.

No 'space' key on your keyboard? ;-)

Of course it is! Though I will stick with the Sherman. Tim

Sect 1 - if you re-enact, then you could get an explosives licence and blank fire it... you should check with the previous owner to see if it has been proofed by London or Birmingham proof houses - if it hasn't then you will need to get them to come out to you to do that. Security requirements - will vary from county to county. Tim

Ta - been looking for one for a while - bit pricey though, but will fill a gap with my WS9 installation as long as no one else needs one! Tim

Do you have roads like that where you are?

http://ncap.org.uk Aerial photos from WW2 perhaps? Tim

Welcome. Good platform to start with... Far better than many around. Here's mine before it was recovered... Tim

Jon Would love to see the whole of that report as it appears to contradict what I have been told before. Looking to update my knowledge if incorrect. Thanks Tim

Whitley Bags... so called as you say to keep troops warm in cold bombers... not a sleeping bag - hence the design is most practical when seated in the bag. Why made in the material they were... given many are 1942 production, unlikely from a huge surplus of material left over... also, these are not the same colour as Smocks (based on those originals in my collection). Tim

If I recall correctly before the Sherman in the sea at Slapton was recovered, they had to purchase it from the US Govt because the US Government still consider items like this as their property. Fortunately these have never been theirs.

An update... hull stripped down... now hunting parts. Have decided on the Ford GAA engine until a multibank comes along. Key parts still required: Elevation Mechanism Recoil Deflector Breech Block, Firing Mechanism and extractors Mantlet Semi-Automation gear (bolts under breech assembly) Breech auto-open spring mechanism Junction Box Distribution No 3 (Wireless 19) Battery Selector Switch (for Wireless set power) Telescope mount (bolts to side of gun mount) Gunner's seat Commander's seats There are probably a few more, but until I can get inside a complete firefly somewhere to see what else might be missing... it's hard to be 100% certain what else is needed which is not a standard Sherman part. Some pictures to be going on with... Plan to start rebuild September 2017. Tim

Presumably along these lines... Approach Land Owner - find out if there are plans to recover the vehicles, If not, find out if they would support a plan. This would best be managed through any intermediary who may have greater influence over the persons you need to deal with - a friendly call is always better than a cold-calling stranger (and face to face if possible). The land owner would presumably want to know what you intend doing with whatever you recover, and what you will do to restore the mess created to their property in the process, if there is anything "in it for them". IF then you get a green light to proceed, you'd need to plan the who, what, when, how etc, for which no doubt several site surveys would be required - to pinpoint the location, to address plant access routes, any required facilities (Jet Wash/Toilets/Canteen/Car Parking etc), then cover insurance and costs. Such that Rick can then roll up with the kit, dig the hole, drag out the wrecks, load them up, backfill the hole, make good to whatever the landowner has requested, then go home. I'd be happy to consider a small project like this, but am also at the wrong end of the country to make it a realistic proposal... it needs someone local to the site to manage it. Am sure there are other elements which also need to be considered and this is probably a very simplistic view. Tim

This article, written last year, suggests someone is thinking about digging them up soon... also suggests they may not lie under the vines... https://arcticterntalk.org/tag/canadian-tanks-buried-denbies/

Vineyards rip up and replant the vines every so often (at least they do in France, so I'd assume the same here in the UK)... best bet would be to speak to the vineyard and ask them if they plan to replant any time, and then if you can excavate when they do.

115th Field Hospital Unit - US Army... Just outside Tavistock... though little remains today... http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1u2tw/WDDOct11/resources/36.htm

If you want an expedition... http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/crash_site.htm Tim

Go far enough North and you can get in without crossing the Tamar.

You could pop down into the South Hams and go to Slaptop Sands - of Operation Tiger "fame". A bit further West... Cornwall at War Museum.