RecyMech

Well for a start......just putting the military theme, or any DROPS/hook loader employment aside for a moment.......the two vehicles you quoted for comparsion are totally different vehicles. The term 114, means 11 litre, 4 Series, whereas 112 means 11 litre 2 series. The 'series' part referring to the cab shape/design & these two are very different. Other example variations lifted from civilian applications are, for example, 113 (11 litre 3 series)...144 (14 litre V8 4 series) The Scania 1, 2, 3 & 4 Series vehicles all employed very different shape cabs (ok, the 2&3 series are similar). Each of these (just to confuse maters) was available in a high datum or low datum cab. In the case of the 2,3,4 series the bigger cab being the R cab & the lower being the P cab. The small letters after the model number were d, c, l, g......'c' in your example meaning 'construction'. Built for tippers, mixers etc, that sort of use. The 340 in your example gives the engine horsepower. This numbering system finished with the introduction of the later 'R' series though (matters further confused) In terms of what defines a military DROPS from a civilian hook loader.... A DROPS is going to require some cross country ability for a start & is unlikely to be less than 8x6. Certainly a 6x2 (meaning 3 axles & only 1 driven) would be fairly useless in anything more than a homeland 'shifting stores by road' role. Does any of that help at all ? RecyMech

Thanks for that Robin, the last paragraph is really what I was getting at, that is to say "was cutting them in half the norm or was(is) there a 5 foot version".:undecided: The ones I've seen have no end 'link up', just on the sides. So if laid staggered (brick wall as opposed to parquet) then there would be a 5 foot gap at the end of every run. Anyone else got any info please ? Cheers.........Howard @ KFS

Morning gents, Just a question (well two) about the PSP airfield ground matting....the stuff often seen carried on Ferrets in two short lengths in place of 'proper' sand channels. Can anyone advise if this stuff was only produced in standard 10 foot lengths, & would therefore be cut to fit a Ferret, or anything else that carried it as sand channel. Or was it also made in say 5 foot lengths (which would fit a Ferret) Secondly, am I right in thinking when laid & coupled together as a mat it would be laid with the strips 'offset' like bricks in a wall for example ? Cheers for any help & advice in advance. Howard @ KFS

Chaps, Hope no one minds but I've just save a LOT of the pics from this thread for reference material. Late next year if all goes to plan we`ll be adding a Mk1 Militant 6x6 to the 1/24th scale model line up....will be a nice stable mate for the Matador I think. When the time comes I'll be asking around for some kind sole to let me photograph & measure their Mili to death. Hopefully someone will chuck up an offer of assistance . Excellent gallery too by the way. Enjoyed it very much. Thanks. Howard @ KFS http://www.kitformservices.com

Some of those faults described are identical to my old (petrol) Cavalier.....chased the fault for a week....found it in the end ....loose earth strap from the engine to body. I'm with your mate on this one.....although I confess can't tie in the lack of power steering thing. If the engine was running then so was the power steering pump. Odd. I'd check all earth straps for a kick off anyway. Not just the one from battery to body...there are others I think you'll find. H

Hi Griff, Well spotted.....this is what you get for lifting data from pictures of restored Ferrets rather than the User Handbook. That's my excuse & I'm sticking to it......or in the words of one Mr H Simpson "DOH" H

FTM, N.O.S, Thanks for looking in & having a browse through the Gallery too:) Re holding the Champ back in favour of the Matador....I think the only people who might be offended are the ones who've alredy placed reservations for the Champ & are very keen to see it released. The masters for that were completed & despatched for casting a while back anyway, whereas the Mat is still being mastered up. Odd story really, the Champ was slipped in inbetween the bigger vehicles & intended as a 'cheap & cheerful' kit....or so was originally thought. Small vehicle by comparison..."going to be easy & cheap to make, is'nt it" ? By the time it was ready for casting that was far from the truth. It's turned into a right complex little bugger. (Not unlike the real thing I would suggest :embarrassed:) Cheers.......H

Sorry about the temporary cock up with the pictures. They were there for a few days & then I went a'fiddling with the site & accidentally renamed a file (the wrong file)....which in turn knocked out the links.:blush::blush: That's what what happens when a Recy Mech is let loose on something he does not fully understand (applies to most things where hammers are not involved). Found the fault though today & they are back up. Please take a shuftie:D Best regs........H

Thats sounding nice Andy, starts off the button now eh ? Keep up the good work ! H

Nice one Nick, I never get tired of looking at the pics of the stuff you do.....whether its one of my kits or not. I picked Clives brain shamelessley for detail on the Pig & he was MORE than willing to answer all my questions. (Thanks once again Clive) H

TedTheShed????? Is that you, 'real slim shady' ?. :yay: Welcome welcome....you won't go wrong on here. Theres nothing that this lot can't answer or find a picture of. They've never let me down yet:banana:. Just read your wish list too......I see now why you sent me close on 500 pictures of the Scorpion Series...no flys on you is there ?:cool2:.......gotta do Jesus Mary & Joseph first though (its an in joke) Best regs.....Howard @ KFS

Evening Chaps. Just a quick bit of info. !/24th scale Ferret kit is now all done & dusted. Finished packing today so they're ready & in stock.:yay: Pics available as usual on http://www.kitformservices.com in the Military Range section.:cool: And finally. A BIG thank you once again to everyone who kindly provided info & photos as required.:tup:: Best Regs Howard @ KFS

Dizzy, If it will ease your pain any, I hear on the grapevine that AA are bringing out the complete rig in 1/35th. The DT is not my bag for the KFS 1/24th range......it's not British so it does not count. An Antar ?....maybe Happy now ?:banana: H

Hey Nik, I didnt realise you were on board here:laugh: welcome. Montie is the bloke to talk to if you fancy a crack at a REALLY interesting Saracen project in future. Montie has the South African Saracen 88 I think I mentioned to you a while back.....very do-able too. Cheers.......Howard @ KFS

Quote;- Or worse still, having to make and post out 50 replacement parts. Been there done that:-( Very true Chris....but then again, if I'd flogged all 50 kits I'd still be a happy man:banana: H

Was I dreaming or was someone on here trying to track the fate of as many Matadors as possible a while back ?....A Matador register sort of thing ? If I'm right then I have info on one that I accidentally killed. Having been searching for it for some weeks, I finally found the chassis info plate of the Matador that I rolled over on the M5 motorway in 1976. She was ex RAF I believe (so I was told by fellow mechanics) converted to a wrecker, usual stuff, Harvey Frost hand wound crane, aluminium & timber fairground style bodywork. I'd been out of the army for about 6 months & married for the same length of time when the garage I was working at sent me out on a recovery job in said beastie. Downhill with a tail wind she would do 48mph (not bad eh ?) but when the NSF tyre blew out & ripped the steering wheel out of my hand it was less than funny. She took me up the embankment & rolled over. Kept running upside down though, & it was the hot oil & coolant running over me that bought me round....whereupon I exited via the side window, bruised but otherwise unharmed. She was......03 YZ 15 chassis number 08531239, overhauled 5/54, M.T.R.S NoB403 (R.I.P) H

New improved Ferret...with a 4 spoke steering wheel !! (still can't believe I missed that.:blush:) www.kitformservices.com in the Military Range section. Thanks 'Ferretkit'....saved me a job of opening 50 boxes after they were packed Best regs. H

As ex REME serving with two RAC regts I'll echo some of the above. Apart from Northern Ireland I never saw an SLR once I left Bordon. In QOH & 13/18th (on Chieftains) the vast majority were issued with SMG, except the occasional officer. Further, speaking as an ex Recy Mech (Centurion ARV) my personal weapon was 'supposed' to be a 9mm pistol. This was issued to me once in 3 years....for about 3 hours, whereupon it was snatched back & given to an officer. My personal weapon was then to become.....wait for it.....a 30 cal Browning MG. (Which was instantly wrapped in a black bin liner & stayed that way for ex duration. H

Hi Matt, Yep, know Nick well (king of Dudley) great bloke, helped me a stack with pictures of the Bedford & with doing kit reviews for MiS. Nick mentioned you & your Ferret to me already....how is the sciatica ? (Ooooh:cry:) Nick should deffo join, very rarely do I ask a question on here & not get a proper informed & helpful answer. Friendly people with a wealth of info to draw on. Example, Clive Elliott help me out massively with the Pig project & loads of blokes offered internal Saladin pics. Great bunch. Best regs.....H

Quote;- If you want a page on my site for you're Ferrets give me a shout I would be glad to have it. Ah, cheers fk, I'd be chuffed to take you up on that. We'll talk more once it's released then Best Regs......H

I had that nasty sinking feeling when I read that about the 4 spoke wheel....hurridly went away & check my pics again. And now all I can say is oh f**%^"$£ hell......how did I bloody well miss that ?:banghead: Thanks for spotting that...(no really I mean it) I shall away this minute & get it sorted, new steering wheel before it gets released. H (ps is this why they call you 'ferretkit' ?

Af,noon chaps. For those who are getting a taste for the 1/24th cold war era stuff I'm doing, I just pasted up a picture of the KFS 1/24th Ferret kit parts at http://www.kitformservices.com in the Military Range section. Will shortly be attacking the test builds & instructions. Cheers. Howard.

Timbo, If you want to see what is INSIDE the Saladin that Chris is building have a shuftie here;- http://www.kitformservices.com/gallery.html (kits themselves are in the Military Section) Chris, Saladin lookin sharp mate !. Show em what you do inside your 1/35th Churchills though H

:idea: Must have a least a 50cal on the roll bar & a 105 recoiless rifle in the back though.....just MUST:drive: :rofl::rofl::rofl: H

Af,noon gents, Would anyone happen to know if Saracen ambulance was ever fitted with Kremlin type mesh armour, & also, did any Saracen ambulance keep their turrets ? Thanks chaps. H