plainmilitary

Just a two oddballs that used to fly over the house. The Boscombe Mil8 has now gone to pastures new, the 212 still pops out now and then.

Thats well good news Rich, I know on the weekend you said you were going to find out more. Well done old chap, great bit of reserch. 10/10. Tony.

Top man Mike, looks like I might have some work to do. I'm hoping that some of these great veriants still servive. Tony.

Would the Ranger be like the ISMLMs mounted on the Shielder?

Very nice indeed guys, would be great to get as many of your FV432s together as possible next year. Work has started on the next Salisbury Plain weekend and the FV432 50th anniversary is in the list for must get sorted. One idea I have had is, if we can get a fair few together, it might be worth asking the local Regiments if they would bring some of there vehicles along. I have a meeting set at WD in the next week or so and this idea is being put on the table. Don't forget, all post war and pre war vehicle owners are more than welcome to join if you wish. Work is well on the way towards a new website, this will have all the latest up-dates, news and info for this freindly and unique weekend. Tony.......

Hello Chas, sounds good to me mate. Many thanks for your support. Tony.

Correct John, 50th NOT 60th.. Yes Neil, the Cargo / Carrier was part of the FV420 series, FV421. Would be nice to find one of these beasties still about. By 1959 4 prototypes and 17 pre-production FV432s had been produced by GKN Sankey and ROF. 1961 the first FV432 prototype was shown to the public. Tony.

The FV432 family must be the oldest serving vehicles within the British Army todate. The old girl has seen a lot of changes and mods in her life, Abbott, Swingfire, recovery, Mortar just to name a few. The first of the FV432s saw the light of day in 1961 and has continued working right up to the present day. From the eairly drawing board days and prototypes to te newest Bulldog, this vehicles has become a firm and trusted friend to all the troops that have served with her over the years. If my maths serves me correct, next year should be the 60th for this vehicle? So my next question is, how many of these verients servive today in private hands? (Pictures if you have one). Would any of you be interested in bringing your vehicle for a 50th birthday party to Wiltshire next year 2011? The list. FV430 and pre-production vehicles. TROJAN APC. FV432 MORTAR. FV432 BARMINE LAYER. FV432 RECOVERY (FV434). GREEN ARCHER. FV436 CYMBELINE. PTARMIGAN. FV439 ABBOTT. FV433 30mm RARDEN. SWINGFIRE. FV438 BULLDOG. BULLDOG UA. and anything I may have missed. So guys and gals, have a think, post some pictures if you wish and if your interesed in a FV430 birthday get together drop me a line and I will take it from there. Remember, you read it here first. Tony. PLains weekend 2011....

Another year, another Plains weekend. I speak for all the organisers of the plains team when I say thank you. Thank you to you all that took the time out to come down to our little weekend and support us. May I also echo Rambo's words when he say's a weekend of laughter, Rich, Dan and Fred, you guys need to write a book. My highlights from the weekend. Meeting up with old friends from past Plains weekends, Dave and those breakfasts, dinners and teas, top dog dude. Latenight chats around what should have been a BBQ, but ended up as the camp fire and a source of much needed warmth. Fred winding Yogi up about aliens and being beamed up by spaceships. Rich and his Wolves, Fred and the man in the sports bag, Dan and that dog, Oye and ChrisG nodding off in the standing position. The visit to Wallop was great and Rich, don't forget to reserch that grave mate..... The convoy was for me one of the best and Steve has got some of the best pictures I have ever seen from any of the weekends..... Seeing the smiles on the faces of all the kids that got to ride in some of the vehicles was truly amazing, seeing the smiles on Yogi, mark and Grahams faces when they got the chance to drive the matador and Champ. I think I will be hearing about this for months to come..... One of the biggest surprizes for me was a visit from the ex Major of the Gurka Regiment and his kind offer of help and support in future Plains weekends..... It was just a shame you all had to go home.... Lastly, may I just take a moment to thank the following for all there help in making this weekend what it was. Graham, Mark and Yogi, without you guys and your kind offer and hard work, made this weekend. It's been a long road guys but we got there. Phil Plumb, Dave Ives, Criss Whiles and Steve P, many many thanks for everything. I will always be in the debt. Finally a big thank you to Dapper, Pete, Russ and Bonk, Many many thanks for the help over the weekend. Talk has already started for next years weekend, I was asked over the weekend if we could have a website for this event, the answer to this is yes. I will start work on it very soon. The picture will start being post very soon. All the best guys and see you all soon. Tony......

We will be there from 5 onwords mate, If Dapper remembers to bring my money over we can do a bit of shopping later on. We need to get the cook house set up, I have two large marque type tents to put up, plus yogi's tent. That is about it, phill will try and get over for about seven, so a trip to the local might be called forafter we have set-up. I have seen a list of vehicles in this years run and it looks pretty darn impresive. Sadly the Stolly can't make it due to not being able to get transport. Paulob1 and sirhc, are you going to be able to come? just need to know for food. See you all soon. Tony.

Dave, any idea of an ETA mate? can't get away from work till 5ish. The boss is playing silly mind games as ussual. I will get over to you ASAP so please don,t set nothing up till we get there, you should be resting up. I will be staying on site with you Thursday for an early start Friday.

Chris, you still got your Tiger1 kicking around mate? Fancy a battle with my little PanterG. Not as big as your, but like they say mate, it's not the size that counts. I'm trying to get Simon to bring his RC HUEY for the day, first one to nose it gets a lolly....

Great to have you both on board Dougy. Cheese and crackers, hell has the man won the lottery?? I'm pitching next to you in that case. Right, just a few things. Due to the constant rain, we have been unable to cut the corn so the big field is a no go at the moment. Mark is going to try and get the headland cut before the weekend but at the moment, the rain is still falling and will be falling again tomorrow. Fingers crossed it clears long enough for two runs around the outside, this should give us at least a good run around the outside. Please guys, remember, if you are bringing anything on a lowloader, please check your head room. There is a bridge with a 13.5 hight limit just up from the farm. Once you are on Sarsans lane just look for Piper's hill farm on your left..... I have added the post code for the Weyhill Hawk Concervancy for your SatNavs SP118DY. This place is right next to the camp site. I will post my MOBNUM tomorrow if you should need it. Lastly, may I just take this moment to thank all you guys that are risking the weather to spend time down here with us. We have a variaty of things to do over the weekend, Middle Wallop Museum, Salisbury Plain run and the pud display just to name a few. We do have a few village fete's running over the weekend if anyone fancy there chance on the cocanut stall.... If there is anything else you need to know please feel free to ask. See you all very soon. Tony.

Your not joking Dave, great scram but a tad pricey... I will knock up some bacon butties if you want???

Hopfully get to see one or two of the Dingo's rocking around the ranges soon. Just been told that Andy did see them at DVD and never told me, note in diary, beat Andy more often with a bigger stick me thinks.....

Top gun there Petop mate, they look a tad harder than the Springer MK1. That six legger looks the mutts mate. had a few guys up at DVD this year, not sure if any of them saw these vehicles, were they on display??? The MK1 has spent best part of six months out on the ranges with 16AAB, seems as if the little problems have now been ironed out. Sorry for being a bit dum, BUT, is the Wippet the six legger??? Great pictures mate. Tony.

Hello Dave, don't worry to much about the menu's mate, I'm sure we can throw somthing together that the guys will like. All we need to get in tonnes of baked beans and spuds. Feel a blazing saddles sketch coming on.... Just bear with me on the cooking front mate,

Great news Dave and very releived you are getting back to your old self. You had us all very worried down here matey, your not just a very good field cook mate, you are a very good freind as well. All you need to do is show us how to turn the cooker on mate and we will do the rest. You just sit back, have a beer and relax and enjoy the weekend. see you soon bud. Tony.

Sorry to hear that Eddy, there is always next year mate. Hopfully the Universal Carrier will be up and running by then.....

Sadly, due to Dave being poorly we wont have the field kitchen on site this year. So after much thought I have come up with the following. Friday, PUB. Saturday, Get up with hangover, cook your own breakie, visit Museum, BBQ, back to PUB. Sunday, another major hangover, cook your own breakie, bounce around the ranges for the day, back to PUB, Monday, strong coffee, pills and home. In other words guys, if posible could you bring some cooking equipment, SORRY. Get well soon Dave, not sure my belly can handle to much of my own cooking............

Dave, get well soon mate, listen to what the doctors tell you and stop requesting those bed baths. See ya soon chap. Tony and the boys from Salsbury Plain.

My cooking is real bad mate but I know of a good Indian take-away. Dave, bangers and mash sounds great mate.

Shouldn't be a problem Rich, I will get you a pole matey. I will dig out the Genny and get her running before the event, The only lights I have are those workshop strip lights on a stand. I will bring them along as well......

I work with a few HEHE not sure if they will stand there all night though....

Nice one Chris, just the job mate. I had a set of work lamps and hopefully a genny if I can get the b*gger to start.. We might have to build the camp fire a tad bigger.... Tony.