bigduke6

Thanks Rick, PM sent.

I've never used Bonda, but a tin ready to try,  have used the older Hammerite Red oxide primer in the past, I used it on a phone box, the box was stripped to bare metal, the primer was brushed on but was excellent it had two coates, I left it in primer a few months and at the time I think it rained for about six weeks solid. 

After 4 years no signs of rust etc and its been out side since, I did my matchless WD G3L frame in it and had same results, Must admit not over keen on the newer Hammerite is a slightly different colour and a lot a thicker, seems to dry as soon as its off the brush..... but have spraid an old metal bin with it and its been in the weather for the last year and is still as good as the day I sprayed it.

On 8/1/2019 at 8:13 AM, ferretfixer said:

VERY Hot Geoff! So hot that I only trawled certain stores looking for accessories & small parts for my Newly Acquired Jeep.

I had a mega Bargain from some Danish Guys, I was VERY pleased!

The heat sapped my enthusiasm for daily stall patrols though. As it did many others!

The Hard rain on Friday & Saturday morning. Did turn the tracks into quagmires everywhere. Not helped by idiots,

Who thought it great fun no doubt. Driving along at SPEED. Creating Muddy Tidal Waves all over Peoples vehicles & display areas!....The 5mph Speed limit became a dream, & disappeared into the ether!.....

Stalls were  down on last year. & some of the Major dealers were noticeable by thier absence!.....

I was also struck this year at the change of atmos. There seems to be something 'Missing'?.....

Little Monkton's was reserved for Civy camping only. Whereas last year it was PACKED with attendees!

America's Field was packed though, also with a LOT of Foreign Visitors. Which was nice to see. I chatted with 

quite a few of them.

Mike, I think there has been something missing for the last few years, I enjoyed it more at Folkestone Race course, A dodle for anyone on the train etc but everyone to there own. 

I normally sea a few vehicles heading over on my ferry or at least in the port but seen none this year apart from getting off on Wendesday and a few were entering Dover to go to France !!!

As for heat, After over 30 years in an Engine room (not all in one stint) I try and stay clear of it unless a well stocked bar is close by......speaking of which, I had to stay in Calais ( tax purposes), Hotel I use is like a sweat box at times, but that night......... an afternoons beer was turned into sweat within miutes, thinking at the time -30 at Batus wasnt that bad really.

Even at Euston Station at 0930 it was uncomfortable, luckily my journey went without any delays.

Hopefully next year for me, Maybe the Matchless and BSA will be done by then........

9 hours ago, ferretfixer said:

 

How was your week Mike ? any bargains to be had, I was tempted to get down Sat but the boss had other ideas......

44 minutes ago, LarryH57 said:

With Brexit, deal or no deal it is not proposed that our friends in EU would have to pay for or take out a license to bring a road legal vehicle to the UK. So if a Jeep or GMC or similar is driven off the ferry it's no different than them arriving in an every day car.

As for traders and re-enactors I guess they are already subject to inspections (I hope) should they bring in live weapons. So might Brexit be an excuse not to attend initially, while people see how things go but then it becomes business as usual after 9 months from 31st October?

Well said, You beat me to it, 

 I cant see it having too much effect on anything coming in as visitors etc, I work on a cross channel ferry and it would stop overnight if no vehicles could get in without paperwork etc, it seems everyone is blaming Brexit for everything even though were still in the EU........... I'm an out man myself but for one reason , I don't want to be ruled by an unelected Fedral Government , am sure once were out, others will follow....... 

Problem is everyone cant remember what the Common Market was all about, a good thing back then, but the EU........with its own flag and anthem, didn't Some bloke with a dodgy moustache try something similar in 1939, but went in a bit heavy handed...... 

Import & export only applies to goods that are entering or leaving the UK permanently, Bringing goods in tempory to the UK from outside the EU requires some paperwork in advance, IE for a trade example or a repair etc,  A trader from the EU would require something to trade even now I would of thought, even when we leave i think it will be kept as simple as can be.....Thats if we ever leave !!

4 hours ago, paul connor said:

I guess any show has a bad egg. Even Normandy 2019 was dampened for me a touch by camping near some people who assumed a WW2 event means you can wear desert 95s and drive a fictional 109 Land Rover WMIK fantasy piece and a GS Land Rover with more aerials that GCHQ and less radios than an indigenous tribe in the Congo, vocally despise "foreigners", in France and get upset why their Land Rovers cannot participate in a WW2 vehicle run? Reminds me of the caravans and best of Ford Van's displays at modern war and peace.  I brought a military radio to display, and two RVs and a caravan!

 

I digress, but rules are rules. No Tax/MOT/insurance no movements on site! Simple as that. Enforce it, or potentially lose it all, that includes the show.

Must admit my patience was wearing thin with a few on the campsite I was staying on near Bayeux , Normandy this year. 

I had a hook up and was on the corner pitch next the office and entrance to the bar......... (the Bar bit was handy) but every man and his dog decided it was always a good place to park when going to the Bar or site office, during the evening there was a lot drink driving, which was mainly the arseholes in jeeps, who on more than a few occasions had to park on my pitch because there jeep buddies had taken all the space up in the small courtyard next to the bar........ there was still families walking around with kids late at night, 

 I can relate to what Skiprat says about the quads etc at the W&P,  I was called an old **** last year when some obese woman with child on a quad were trying to get past me on a pedestrian part of the site, obviously my reply was very apt, "Less of the Old, fat arse" even more joy when it stalled and she couldn't get it going......... 

There is always going to be a few idiots at any occasion. 

Thanks all for above, be interesting to see your Colour from HMG, although very hard to judge on a Computer would be handy as I'm in Liverpool.

Being colour blind isn't easy when looking at colours, although its Green and red what cause me issues. (I can see the colours fine, but red writing on a green background goes a bit fuzzy, and sometimes not visible depending on the shade) 

Took a gamble on a petrol Tank for my RE/C, although the tank is a CO one,  I was a bit apprehensive as there was a lot of rust but hard to tell in pics etc, It turned out not as bad as I expected and after a dip in the Electrolysis tank it is very solid, it had some bad pitting in a few area's but they have cleaned up well, after an initial dip the underside revealed two Khaki Greens, not sure if the pics will show whilst one has a yellowish tint, the coat over the top is "a cup of tea with milk" 

The colour resembles the inside of a No32 scope can I restored a few years back, although the BS colour was a mile off when the paint shop did a sample, but cant remember if it was just a Khaki Green BS number, 

Anyone have have any number for KG3 ?

On 26 July 2019 at 6:10 PM, matchlesswdg3 said:

I visited today and my overall impression......as last year......is that the Show is now firmly geared towards pleasing the Public and not MV owners.  Fair enough if that is the direction the owner wants.  This was the penultimate show day and there were gaps in both the MV and re-enactor areas.  80% ?postwar MV's, so if WW2 is your thing, overall quality is way down.  As others have said, very little armour.  Unless you own a Jeep or L/R, forget the stalls for parts, although this has been true for a while.  I am sure the Public went away well pleased today (yesterday was quiet due to heat), but I heard many MV owners saying they would not bother again.  As noted, for the first time, I saw spaces in the re-enactor areas, so maybe that side is withdrawing support?    Dying on its feet?

I'm kind of Glad I had to give it a miss, although I don't just go for the vehicles etc, as I normally look round the trade stands for a day, then the vehicles on day two, I noticed the decline of WW2 vehicles a few years back, also the lack heavy Armour.

Being set up more for the public is just business, same anywhere I guess, when one or two of the bikes are finished then my only cost is transport and will fit in the van nicely, cant say it would be the same for the heavy stuff and understand the lack of it due to logistics and costs. Maybe next year for me depending on work schedule. 

Unfortunately I'll have to give it a miss this year, shame as I pass it on the way home....... but too much to do and sort out a temp kitchen before I knock mine down ready for the extension.

Will be interesting to see folks view etc, keep us informed.

Regardless of age they all think were strange Ron, Although my 7 year year old took me to a Military fair on Fathers day  (she had been doing WW2 History at school) every question was whats this Dad, Whats this Dad, never a dull moment though and had a good time, she had he eye on a calvary sword for some reason, but a hefty price tag so settled for some cap badges.

I was 8 when I started collecting Militaria........ so theres hope yet !!! 

Strange Girl....... 

All them bikes Ron ,  there must be side car on one which could of been plan B ?

Hmmm, as much as I'd love one, even if I had the £24,730.00 burning a hole in my pocket, I think I'll stick to the Bikes, 

Yep just spotted it....... so what do you get for the extra £20,000.00

£24,730.00

Maybe time to lay off the doughnuts ? 

On 22 December 2018 at 4:46 PM, SimonBrown said:

I did have an electric Mk44 air dropped torpedo for a while and connected the motor up to a car battery to see if it was still viable. The contra rotating props worked a treat. But the missus drew the line at an intact, complete and functioning (less the warhead and original battery) torpedo in the garage,

What a Strange Woman......., but something in Common with mine, as mine doesn't like a Bren Gun in the living room but is happy with Grenades on the bookshelves.........

Certainly a talking point if you got it going,  I'd build a torpedo around it. 

Got me thinking back to when I was an Apprentice Fitter in a certain Shipyard, I did a lot in the Torpedo rooms of HMS Trenchant and HMS Talent, setting up the torpedo load lines etc, worked in the tubes too (I was a bit thinner back then).

1 hour ago, john1950 said:

the people are really helpfull and nice.

Must of changed since I dealt with them, It didn't help matters when one was hurling abuse at me down the phone after my Mother had just died, I explained the situation but he carried on .......... yep I'll certainly have a few drinks to celebrate there misfortune. 

It does cheer me up hearing that Witham Specialist Vehicles have lost the MOD contract, pity it wasn't 20 years ago when I got there credit facilities stopped for a few days, absolute toss**s. 

Looking on the website its £50 for the "vehicles" you own plus camping for a week, but support vehicles extra £30 ,  I was planning to take a few Motorbikes next year,  But think I'll go back to Normandy instead,  I may go this year on foot, but depends if they have changed the policy on fees for Veterans and serving personnel.... In my opinion Its an Insult in charging Veterans regardless of what the show etc is. 

The small self service pumps (card only after hours) across from the Lidl in Bayeux had four star...... or equivalent, smelt like paraffin when I lifted the nozzle, then again the Diesel pump smelled like petrol.....

First port of call is the C/O or O/C of Rippon, Then go from there, It would make a good training exercise for the The Reserves (I know a few Recce mechs who could make a weekend out of it)

In theory it is scrap and not on the books anymore so it would be down to him/her but I doubt it would be so easy. 

I would doubt they would relese it with the gun in tact, unless you have a 120mm cannon on your FAC. 

At the end of the day if you don't ask you cant get......... good luck, I tried to prise a vehicle of a training area when I was on Exercise, never got anything back but never really went to the main man. 

Colin, I'm currently making a battery box holder for mine, except its at work and I'm limited regarding time etc, but have started on a few jigs, but could be a long time..... but intend to knock a few up. 

Does seem to be favourite to most......... explains the price tag, I'll post some pics.