Peter4456

Brett, It looks nice and original and hardly touched since it left service (apart from the brass plate - very strange!). It looks like you still have the Larkspur radio boxes, rather than Clansman ones. As I said, when you have the Vehicle History card either post it on here or PM me and I'll translate it from Army Speak into English! A very interesting Ferret - please keep posting! Peter

I have a 1954 37 Pattern belt with black steel fittings!

Looks very nice indeed - I love the Comet! Is that a name above the T serial number number? Are there any other British markings on it?

If you email, write or phone the Tank Museum at Bovington they will, for a fee, send you the Vehicle History Card for your Ferret - they will email you a copy. Once you've got it, post it on here or PM me and I'll translate it from Army Speak into English for you!

Brett, Once you've found out for sure which vehicle it is, send off for the vehicle card from the Tank Museum and I'll help you decipher it. Try gently scraping the paint off above the driver's hatch - you should find the reg number there and also on the back of the Ferret. If there's an aluminium data plate inside the hull (often missing!), this will have the reg number and under that plate is the hull number (look for something like 6/54) 01 CA 19 - 1958 Ferret Mk 2/3 33 BA 72 - 1951 Ferret Mk 1 (may have been converted to Mk 2/3) 33 BB 72 - No trace of this number I'm wondering if it's a Canadian Ferret (plenty of experts on here!) or a British one used at BATUS in Canada.

Martin, Try Soldier of Fortune (www.1944airborne.com) - they sell all colours @ £8.00 a bottle! Peter

You could always join the Austin Champ Owners Club - the manuals are all on the club's excellent website. It seems to be a very friendly and helpful club, with technical and historical info always on tap at the end of an email!

Steve, Having written a few books myself I know what a huge undetaking this is - and your project is much bigger than any of mine! This is a long overdue book and very interesting indeed, so keep going and don't get too disappointed if you can't find a publisher straight away - you will get there in the end! Good luck - I'd buy a copy so that's one you've sold!

David, Are they too big to post? I'm happy to cover any costs involved but I'd like it soon if possible! Thanks for replying

Can anyone tell me - is there such a thing as a 12 x 12 tent manual / handbook? Next question - does anyone have a copy they could scan for me? Thanks

Richard, That was quick! - the plate says February 1960 and I know of another which says October 1959 Peter

It seems there are a number of Champs that were base overhauled at a location called B269 (that's what's stamped on the vehicle plate!). It is believed that this relates to Henlys at Weston Super Mare. Henlys did indeed have premises at Weston Super Mare - they certainly shared the Bristol wartime aircraft factory with Westland Helicopters in the early 60s - but did the War Office / MOD sub contract the Champ base overhaul work out that early? Did Henlys overhaul any other Army vehicles? It looks like there might be an interesting story here, can anyone help with any information?

I think so - I got hold of one for a 1964 Triumph TRW

The plot thickens - it's either a 'soft skin', 'SP', prototype painted up as an RSDG Gulf War veteran, or it's the real thing!! It's all very interesting and I can't to find out which it really is, but whatever it is, it was worth saving so thanks to the new owner!! Please keep us posted on this one!

I had a spare moment today and I produced the attached for you - laminate it and you've got a vehicle history board for shows! 03 FD 66 (Scorp).doc

I thought you'd like to see this set of Tank Denims I've recently acquired. Almost new, they fit perfectly, go well with our 1954 Champ and also mean that I don't have to wear itchy BD or the thicker 'Pixie suit' to be authentic!

A very nice vehicle and good to see someone who is interested in it's history (including it's former life as a Scorpion!) Can't help with pictures I'm afraid, but Operation Oculus appears to have been the deplotment to Kosovo (KFOR) - I've not heard that Op name before though. www.british-army-units1945on.co.uk is very good for locations of regiments

Very, very nice!! Let's hope we get to know more about it (history, present condition, restoration blog etc!) The background looks like a covered yard for cattle. Cattle = big fields, big fields = Chally I country!!

Yes come on, who knows any more about this lovely piece of kit?! What's the betting that an engine and gearbox suddenly became available when the deal was done!

As the author of two books on the squadron, I feel compelled to let you all know that FO Kenneth Roy Collier of 91 (Nigeria) Squadron was the first man to 'flick' a V1. He did it on 23rd June 1944 when he ran out of ammo and lost his temper with the rocket - a rocket which, as you say, was flying at around 350 - 400 mph! Sadly Ken, an Australian, was killed on 5th December 1944 whilst still serving with the squadron. It was an honour to vist his grave at Rheinberg in Germany some years ago with one of his many wartime girlfriends!!

Dear Santa, Please can I have a Tiger I replica for Christmas. Love, Peter Aged 47 3/4

I don't know if this helps but the 16th / 5th Lancers history, 'The Scarlet Lancers', has a photo of a Centurion in Hong Kong in 1964 and what looks like a Squadron of CVR (T) Scorpions parading through Kowloon, Hong Kong, in 1973 /4 (the only reg number visible being 02 FD 57 - is it still around?). Can we find out the reg number of the Ferret in the Hong Kong 'collection'? Were 432s really ever based there?

Very nice!! What unit do they belong to?

Just to update you on this thread. Mandy made me an RAC pennant and here it is next a faded original - a pretty good job, I think you'll agree!!