simon king

Apart from anything else, relatively rare to see BBMF a/c in such close formation with other operators a/c

My photo of the Me262 reproduction after the formation flight yesterday. The Spitfire PR XIX and Mustang seen above belong to Rolls-Royce

Small update - permanently fitted the rearmost vertical lockers and mudguards behind the rear wheels a day or so ago. Needed to topcoat the hidden backs and bottoms of the lockers as well as the structure hidden once the lockers were permanently tied in place. Had some spare paint once that was done so used it to topcoat the parts already completed below the tailgate, as well as giving part of the tailgate a topcoat, just to see what the colour and finish looks like. It will have SCC1A (dark camouflage brown) Mickey Mouse added eventually. The tailgate - which is new build based on photos - differs from standard MW and is specific to the MWR to take account of the spare wheel carrier and the general lack of space. Only has one footstep and one spring bumper, on opposite sides. A crew of 5, the radio, batteries, lockers etc etc filled the back so the tailgate needed straps on the outside to stow an engine blanket. There are also straps sewn onto the roof (a lucky photo find of an MWR being craned onto a ship) to stow a camouflage net.

Those are very interesting bodies on the first batch of Quads towing the German Howitzers. Wonder if they are local conversions or were delivered like that from the UK to Portuguese specification.

Just a small update - tow rope box, new can carrier and spare wheel carrier have now been fitted permanently. The can carrier replaces a post war frame and one of its frame arms is welded to the backing plate for the spare wheel carrier as per original photos and the weld witness marks on the original backing plate

The ads are really annoying and potentially will drive people away. Things like this can kill a forum -I’ve seen it happen before. So just what has changed to allow the ads?. It was never like this before. Is it the forum software that has been tweaked to include adverts or has something else changed?

Usually find them when you are not looking….

Did you find the correct aerial mount and specific variometer for the WS19HP?

That’s good news, I think they are relatively hard to find nowadays.

These are the spring loaded Shock Mounts needed to attach the No23 Carrier to the table. Clip onto the metal corners of the No 23 Carrier. New rubber feet were/are available from Jordan Baker in Canada. The rubber and metal construction of the feet seems to come apart on original examples.

The Colour Police will undoubtedly say that BS381c No298 is not actually the same as SCC15 Olive Drab, but given that there were probably some natural variations in colour - due to the fact that paint colours were mixed by formula and by eye in those days - it’s probably within the range of SCC15 variations seen. No computerised mixing or photo spectrometers in those days after all.

The MWR canvas is very complicated with cotton gauze windows, internal blinds, speaking tubes through to the front, leather patches and flaps for the antennae mounts, straps on roof for camouflage net etc etc. and on top of all that it will need painting with Mickey Mouse in due course. Just one shrunken survivor that we know of, so much has had to be worked out from a limited number of photos. Congratulations on your completion of the restoration. I’ve watched progress with interest.

Getting the appropriate canvas for SCC2 trucks seems to be really challenging nowadays. Not only that but the number of people willing and able to create canvases for British trucks -some of which can be very complicated - is quite limited as well. Bit of a double whammy really. Adds another level of complication to the restoration when SCC2 base colour is used

Is there an “operating instructions” manual available anywhere on-line for the “golf bag” 36’ sectional antenna - if that’s its height.. If the antenna is comprised of 8 x 3’ D Sections, plus 3 x 4’ F Sections, plus a bit more for the insulator and adapter between D and F sections, my simple O Level maths suggests that the height is 36’ plus. Is the telescopic aerial mast the 34’ example? Thanks

There’s a QL at 1.55 as well

The books are usually written with reference to the appropriate Army Council Instructions (ACIs) and Military Training Pamphlets (MTPs). Reality does not always follow the published guidance but units were only supposed to repaint vehicles into the new schemes when (a) stocks of the existing paints ran out and (b) the vehicle needed repainting Draw your own conclusions, but if you want to paint your 1942 truck in pink with purple spots, it’s your truck and you can paint it how you want….hang on pink with purple patches was probably an experimental LRDG scheme anyway😉

This book makes for interesting reading in the context of this thread

Or The Victory Show at Cosby, Leicestershire

As I jokingly anticipated, and to prove the rule, AK Interactive have just announced three Series IIA Land Rovers.

Thanks - that’s very helpful.

You realise that as soon as you complete your complicated scratchbuild of a Series 1 Land Rover, a major modelling company will release an injection moulded plastic model of the same subject. This is one of the unwritten laws of plastic modelling.

Does anybody know the RAF Type Number for the Austin K2/YF 2 Ton Tender? The list I have in “Wheels of the RAF” seems not to cover it. thanks

You probably know this but the RLC B Vehicle records are referenced through the post-war two number/two letter/two number VRN. If you’re lucky, the WV3 Chassis/rebuild plate, which gives the post war VRN will still be attached to the truck. The records “usually” (but not in my own particular case sadly) cross reference the post war VRN to the original wartime period census number.

All infantry and armoured divisions would have attached REME elements. It’s a case of choosing (a) which division you want to represent. Divisional signs are readily illustrated on t’internet. This marking goes on the near side front AND rear (b) add the REME Arm of Service square on the offside front and rear.The REME AoS square is same size as Div sign - blue over yellow over red (c) add the unit code in white on the AoS square. In 1944 in an Armoured Division this is 99 for the Armrd Brig workshop and 100 for the Inf Brig workshop. In an Inf. Division the numbers were 88, 89 or 90 for each of the three brigades in the division. The other markings included speed limit, Prep for Overseas Movement number and colour bars and markings to show the state of preparation for wading ashore

Trial fitted the new metal bins that sit on top of the wooden lockers today. The size of the lockers is based on the ones originally fitted ( which were unlikely to be the original MWR ones) and on dimensions found on the internet in an advert for a set of original bins and lockers that had been stripped out from another MWR. Sometimes you have to get your references from where you can. Generally the fit is fine. With this trial fit of the bins, I think I can say that all the hard work on the restoration/recreation/repair of the load area is now complete. Bins just need priming, then painting on the bottom, back and sides and can then be bolted down. Fronts and insides will get a unifying coat with the rest of the interior. The radio table with its WS19 and wooden No 23 carrier is already restored ready to go back on and the operators’ seats just need painting before the upholstery is finally fitted. These, along with the charging board, battery boxes, control box for the auxiliary dynamo and all the associated wiring will be fitted at the very end of the process.