51HD

Not sure if the Dingo will be coming along this year but there will be some MV's parked up outside as per usual. Cheers, Al

Gary, Shift diary says yes, so I'll more than likely be there. Think the way it seems to work up here is why give an organiser three months advance notice when you can just turn up on the day unannounced... Regds, Al

Just to let you know that The Scottish Military Vehicle Group will be holding their annual Military Swap Meet at the Institute Hall, Bridge of Earn, Perthshire, PH2 9RQ. (2 mins off Jct 9, M90) this Sunday the 18th March. Now a popular event, it draws the military and MV community together from far and wide to buy, sell and socialise with one another. In other words it’s just an excuse for one big get together after the long winter recess. On the stage each year there is usually a display of special military interest. As 2012 marks the 70th anniversary of Operation Frankton better known as “The Cockleshell Heroes Raid”, there will be a display centred on a full size replica canoe to mark the anniversary of what is regarded as one of the most daring raids of WW2. Also on display will be a selection WW2 bomber nose art panels to add to the interest. The popular SMVG NAAFI will be up and running as usual to keep everyone supplied with teas, coffees, fancy cakes and the obligatory bacon rolls, oh, and not forgetting the famous “Sandy’s pies” The club aims to raise funds for The Army Benevolent Fund this year and it is hoped this event will kick off our efforts. The event is open to the public from 10am to 4pm, admission is only one round pound, accompanied under 16’s free. If you require any more info about this event you can ping me an e-mail on secretary@scottishmvg.org or log on to www.scottishmvg.org Cheers the noo, Al Smith

Just a reminder to all you militaria enthusiasts North o' the border that the Scottish Military Vehicle Groups annual Military Swap Meet will take place next Sunday (28th March) at the Institute Hall, Bridge of Earn, Perthshire. (2 mins off Jct 9 M90) The hall is now pretty much booked out with stallholders and it promises to be another busy event. A great chance to thin out and downsize your collection of military gubbins, but more realistically its a chance to upsize your collection and buy even more military kit that you don't really need! The popular NAAFI will be up and running to keep everyone fed and watered, and of course there will be the usual display of military vehicles parked up outside to keep even those with empty pockets amused! Bring yours along too. If anything else, its a good chance to meet up with old friends and fellow MV enthusiasts for a natter over a coffee and bacon roll at a time of year that is otherwise devoid of any activity. Admission from 10am to 4pm, adults £1, accompanied under 16s free. Hope to see you there, Al Smith, Secretary.

Hi all, Been registered here for quite a while now but have never gotten round to actually introducing myself, Better do it now though... My name is Al Smith and I live in the Angus area of Scotland and I have been interested in military vehicles for as long as I can remember (wonder what triggers that off then?) But its only in the last 6 years that this interest has progressed into actually owning real ones. They say its a condition that will likely worsen as time goes on though. I am a member of the Scottish Military Vehicle Group (Secretary) and also a member of the MVT (Scottish Area Secretary) I am lucky to live in an area where I have many friends with similar interests and we all do our bit to try and satisfy the ever increasing demand for the presence of vintage military vehicles at events all across Scotland. There is a great deal of cameraderie and good times to be had "up here" whether you are MVT, SMVG or neither, we all in it together for the same game and its good to play just a wee part in it all. Now, if any of you are ever visiting north o' the border, check out the Scottish Military Vehicle Groups events diary on the website before you go, you'll be assured of very warm welcome at any of the events we host or attend. Aye yours, Al Smith.

You can get plenty practice in the SMVG's own "Despatch" Magazine....er, I did say Adam. See me after class laddie.:cool2: Al Smith The Scottish Military Vehicle Group

Many thanks for the reply there, I was going to argue with your answer as the M715 was built in 67' and not in 72' as your theory suggested. But I did some more digging on google last night and found out that you were right enough. I found a reference to USAF markings on one site which stated that the first two digits referred to the year of issue (72) and the next letter (K) referred to the class of vehicle, the other numbers will just be issued in sequence I assume. Five years of difference in the build year and year of issue might suggest it had been in storage for a while. But I have another theory, I did find the remains of a National Guard sticker on the drivers door which you could just make out at one point during the sanding process. It may have been with the NG for some time before being passed on to the USAF and being given 1972 issue markings. Would that make sense? Regds, Al Smith

Anyone out there know anything at all about USAF vehicle markings? I am busy restoring a 1967 M715 Kaiser Jeep at the moment. It had been previously marked up in US army markings and my intention was to keep it that way. However after rubbing down the surface paintwork on the doors I found original US Air Force stencilling underneath. Subsequently I have now decided to restore it back to how it would have been originally with its USAF markings. I have taken a tracing of the original markings so I can get the font and sizing right and be able to stencil them back in the correct places. Thats the easy bit, but the difficult bit for me is figuring out how to decipher what the markings actually mean. Underneath the black "US Air Force" stencilling there is a "72K 50" also in black. What on earth does that signify? Is it a census number for the vehicle? or could it refer to a certain airforce unit that may have used it? I have trawled through the internet and drawn a blank on this one. Any ideas out there? :coffee: