RecyMech

Hi Bran D Brill, many thanks for that, all coming together now. Starting to make sense when exploded parts are compared to Bobs picture. Cheers again Bob, Bran Press on. H

Good one Bob many thanks. That'll get me started at least, I can get the general arrangement from that ok & a feel for the height of the pivot etc. I'll let you off with the 7.62 ammo box in the tray:cool2::cool2:(sarge these bullets are a loose fit):rofl: Anything anyone else has, other angles, manual drawings, etc etc still very much appreciated. Mercee bunkup as they say in French France. H

Evening all..... I'm now in the last couple of days (at last) of prepping the 1/24th model Saladin kit parts & etch bits ready to go off for production & have come across a small problem that only the collective brain of HMVF can assist with. The jobby in question is the commanders .30 cal MG mounting. I've got pics of the mounting 'point' on top of the episcope guard & pics of the hinged 'gun stowed' bracket that hangs down the side of the turret......but just realised I've got nowt of the gun mount itself or the ammo tray.:embarrassed: Would any of you kind gents have the relative photo shot or hand book piccy I need ? (I'll bet Clive is reaching for the relevant document as we speak. ) Any help, as always, most gratefully received. Toodle pip. Howard PS, Is it true HMVF stands for Her Majesties Vehicle Fanatics ? :D

Rob, Nice piece of kit. Might be a dumb question....but do the outrigger legs have to rotate 180 degrees before being lowered ? If not, are the elephants feet screwed in from the wrong end or something ? H

Rob, Ah, think I'm starting to see the plan.....correct me if I'm wrong.....one end of the chain & ring set of the drag rope attaches to the U shaped lug on the outside of the wheel & the other end to the lugs opposite number on the inside of the wheel. The short chain therefore goes across the tread of the tyre (bit like a snow chain). Thus when a pull is imparted on the rope (lying around the tread) the effort is transferred to the tyre circumference for best mechanical advantage ?? And I suppose you could probably just get half a wheel rotation before having to chock the wheel & reposition the ropes. Am I getting it? I know this is no big deal I just love to understand how things work & what all the mystery brackets & fittings are for (on anything from an ARV to an LMG) Cheers........H

Rob, Thanks for the input there, could I ask you to expand on that please. I'm really non the wiser.....I'm not doubting the accuracy of the statement, just need a bit more meat on the bones. Do you know exactly how & under what circumstances these wheel clips & 'drag ropes' are used? Thanks. H

Tim, While standing staring at the 'clips' the same thought crossed my mind....as did them being part of some device to wind the beast out a hole...using crowbars or ropes ?? The thing is though, they are much too light a gauge of metal for any of that & not really big enough. Also the 'U' part of the clips face inward rather than outward....so they would not retain a sling for lifting unless you used only one or two of them at the top & they would surely bend & snap under weight. They are also present on both sides of the wheel...i.e. inboard face next to the brake drum as well. Certainly has me puzzled....but I'm looking forward to being ejamakated agen in'it ! H

Now that's what I call 'putting the work in' Kiwidave !!!....crackin job mate. You wouldn't know it even started out as the old Tamiya kit....which we were grateful for at the time but was always a bit of a dog. Then again, it did start out as a motorised model/toy so I guess accuracy was a low priority. Mine ended up in a mini diorama as a range target, shot to bits & full of holes. If you're in to Saladins....our next release in 1/24th scale is in fact the Mk2 Saladin. Presently I'm battling with the etch parts design. Should have more news & some pics of the kit Jan/Feb 11. 1/24th Ferret masters are also finished now & in the queue for casting. Cheers.....Howard @ KFS http://www.kitformservices.com

Les, & GWT, Many thanks for the pics, excellent stuff. There are one or two items present on the gun in the laster strip of pictures that I now know are missing from the gun I already photographed...bits of the sights for example. Crackin job for that alone :cool2::cool2: Now, note the 'u' shaped clips around the outside edge of the wheel rims ??...anyone any ideas what these are for ? Cheers again. Howard.

The "Conq in the hole" I was referring to was a gun tank out on the slab at the bottom of a 60 degree incline. It was a set piece recovery task that required two Cent Arvs (in my day) doing a 3;1 compound pull to drag it up the slope. Once at the top it was chocked, all the tackle stowed away & then it was nosed back over the edge with a nosing prop & allowed to fly back to the bottom under gravity. Quite an impressive sight as it would be doing one hell of a speed when it reached the bottom. There were photographs of each recovery course doing the same job in the corridor outside the radio training room in the top shed at TTA. (next to the room with the toy ARVs & miles of string where you learned what a 2;1 & 3;1 pull looked like) The recovery Guru in our day was a bloke called Sgt Bohanna....he was the guy who had quite a bit of input into the restoration of the Sherman BARV gate guard that stood just outside the guard room of the barracks next door to TTA. H (327 Recy Mech 1972)

Oooooh, would`nt mind a cabby round the slab again before I snuff it, preferably in a Cent though. 'Memories are made of this...' (Dean Martin) Wonder if the Conq is still down the hole ? See the F88 240 wrecker with the Mili on the hook ?, that was brand new & on trials at Bordon while I was there in training. Apparently the gear was ok but being 4x2 it was otherwise useless....lost out to the Crusader in the end I believe. The vehicle collection shed was then home to the MT Section, with about a dozen trucks in a vast hanger... where I did many a winter 'cold start' on TK (no not MK) for HGV3 & then on Militant Mk3 wrecker for HGV2. Happy days. H

Well the 1/24th ones are not going away so no panic....& by next year there will be the Saladin & Ferret as well (& hopefully several others). You need a big penny jar & start saving now :cool2::cool2: Cheers. H :-D

If the missus is flush for cash & you'd like something bigger than 1/35th & VERY special then.... http://www.kitformservices.com/standard.html H

Does weight make a difference ?....not in the slightest. My first year in BAOR 1973, weather not unlike it is now...relatively little snow but SO much colder...27 below one night. Anyway...the job on was towing dead M47 & M48 hulks onto Hohne ranges. I got 52 ton of Cent ARV stuck on a slight incline on a concrete range road (steel tracks mind not those hush puppy jobs) tracks spinning on black ice & my weight made no difference at all. Not going forwards I just put the brakes on thinking I would stand still....nope....me & the M48 just slid backwards & jack-knifed. Much'o embrasso.:blush: Some years later I also found my series 2 LWB Landie would go anywhere in the snow whereas the 3 series Safari I had after it was less than useless.....odd that. H

Just a thought....put on yer best modern thermals & gortex & all the other up to date latest kit & spend 1 hour after midnight sitting still in the worst of what you've got (snow I mean). Then spare a thought for the poor buggers who spent 4 long winters (WW1) actually living & fighting outside on a permanent basis, in kit that is now nearly 100 years old, trying to stay alive & keep kit & weapons & vehicles in working order. For our tomorrow etc etc....... Depressing thought init ?:cry: H

Way way too close to the truth for comfort. The satirical pencil obviously very sharp ! Funny but in a 'wincing' kind of way if you know what I mean. H

Hi Bazz, Ah, so that's what it is, thanks. Being side on in the picture I did'nt click it was another set. Chieftains of my era had B47 fitted (which if I recall correctly the crews referred to as the 'battle-link set') Makes sense now ! B47 was something I never got involved with personally though. Being C13 & C42 trained only. (See what I mean ?, you just can't ask the wrong question on here) Any other input anyone ? Cheers.......H:-D

Afternoon Gents, Just been having a discussion re C42 radios with the pattern maker (David Jane) who's working on the Ferret patterns for our 1/24th scale kit. We`ve hit a question that only the blokes in the know can answer..... Would any kind sole here have a photograph or two in the collective album of the correct C42 set up in a Ferret Mk2/3 please ? I've gathered some C42 pics from t'interweb but the one & only 'installed' picture we have is in the Pat Ware book page 69 (bottom left) which shows another table & other unclear kit on top of the sets. Could anyone clarify what should/should`nt be there please ? Thanks fellas. Howard.

Yeah, like the enemy will allow you to dig that hole without objection.:cool2: Wonder how they dealt with a misfire ? H

Just a public thank you to Sharky & the Boss at Armourgeddon for making me welcome yesterday & allowing me to photograph & measure the 5.5....Sharky even held the tape measure :-D Now I know where you are & how to find you without venturing into the hell hole know as Leicster I'll be paying another visit when the 432 time comes around....although I did sneak some pics of the suspension while I was there. If you ever get hold of a Conqueror gun tank be sure to tell me first:cool2::cool2::cool2: Thanks all.:tup:: Howard @ KFS

James, If you are new to & want to know a bit more about working with resin, white metal & etched parts have a read of this;- file:///C:/Users/Howard/KFS%20Files/KFS_Web_Site/working.html The theme of this refers to our resin truck kits but the actual methods are identical for all scales & subjects. AA have a very good name for what they do & supply & certainly I wish I could achieve the size of their range but in 1/24th (one day maybe). Now of course I don't (at this time) have the kit you're looking for so it's a bit of a moot point. All I can do is quote Nick Shuttleworth in his MiS review of our 1/24th Stalwart kit...."there were times when building this kit that I forgot I was working with resin". Let me asure, with the quality of the castings & detail of the instructions I provide in the KFS kits, that if you can put a Tamiya kit together then you can certainly build a KFS kit. Regards......Howard @ KFS

Whilst a) Scot is quite right about the serviceman never being allowed to be apart from his personal weapon of course (or else !)(my personal weapon was a .30 cal by the way....should have been a pistol but the officers always got there first). b) There is a 'need' if that's the right word, for MVs in private hands to be displayed to their full capacity at shows/displays for Joe Public. For example the LR in the pic about would be nothing more than a LR without it's array of shooty stuff & would not attract a second glance & a Scorpion would look silly if presented with the barrel removed....it then just becomes a hull on tracks. So yes I can see Bilbos point of view...for public show/display purposes as long as things are representative & reasonably accurate. But a .303 bren used in the capacity we started this thread on is a non starter really H

Incoming !! H

Ohhh poooh....:banghead::banghead: I was at Telford all last weekend for the IPMS Nats show. Now you've reminded me I think I remember seeing those some years ago while reporting as a reservist. Shall bear this in mind & see what Sharky comes back with. Many thanks for the reminder. Cheers Diamond.

CVRT series is on the cards as long as sales & interest in the scale & present releases continues to pick up. All a matter of time & money (is'nt everything ?). The 2011 slots with the pattern maker are pretty much rammed full now....still got to complete & release Saladin, Ferret is underway now, Matador & 5.5" gun next, then Champ, a couple of Landrovers & FV432....in that order. If I get difficulties with Land-Rover though (I hear they can be a difficult firm to deal with sometimes) I may just skip those & head for CVRT early.:nut: Rest assured this will be the first port of call for reference info on CVRT when the time comes :cool2::cool2: cheers.........H