fv1609

Andy I think the reasoning was that if the Allied invasion failed then these superfluous stocks of vehicles could be of use to an invader. When I was a boy living in Devon in the 1950s the story was that there were dumps of such vehicles buried around Bovey Heath. I can remember in the area Nissen huts with piles of leather items just going mouldy.

I'm sorry there is such a delay in the UHB I sent it in to be posted in the section with other Rover/Ambulance documents. But nothing has happened yet. Relevant parts manuals for the parent vehicle will list if it includes the ambulance amongst the variants. There was a specific supplement for the Marshalls ambulance body for Rover 9 & 11 in Army Code No.22108. There was no repair manual as such for the ambulance, or indeed the parent vehicle. Some limited repairs were in EMER WHEELED VEHICLES Q 024. But these are a complete mess with odd bits of Rover publications wedged in flitting from Series 1 up to Rover 11 often not differentiating what model is being covered. Most of the EMERs are modifications & miscellaneous instructions. The EMER ambulance suffix was originally /7 but changed to /2 for Rover 9 & 11.

I've never seen a penthouse or map reading fluorescent light that has not had a 3rd pin for the cable screening. As the fluorescent tube relies on an inverter they can radiate a fair bit of RF interference. So I would have thought they should all have 3 pins. Watch out though the 240v AC lights they look similar but their sockets are larger. But even so with no inverter these still have an earth shield connection ie 3 pins.

I knew I had come across this system before buried in one of my articles! Ministry of Transport eg 3 S 41008 which is a ‘D’ shackle with a narrow jaw. Presumably an alternative way of writing 3/STORES/41008

Bob I thought I was onto it as EMER POWER W 133/1 covers fault finding on the vehicle. It does so quite comprehensively but doesn't mention what the vehicle might be

I've been looking for the AESP (Army Equipment Support Publications) getting myself led astray seeing a NSN as the NSC identifies the octad for the AESP. But the device is not included in the AESP system. It is covered in EMERs & Army Code Publications. The books you need to look for are: Army Code No. 61108 - User Handbook Army Code No. 61492 - Parts List EMER (Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Regulations) INSTRUMENTS C 280 Data Summary C 282 Technical Description C 283 Unit Repairs C 284 Field & Base Repairs C 287 Modification Instructions C 288 Inspection Standards C 289 Miscellaneous Instructions Not all of the above EMERs may actually exist. Only C 280 was listed in 2003. I don't have any of these but at least you now know what to be looking for. It is possible that some of the above may be in the libraries of the REME Museum (Arborfield) or the Tank Museum (Bovington)

Strikes me that stores reference code does not fit in with the normal codifications of their various kinds used by any of the three services. Although it has a "pheon" arrow this is by no means an indication of military use, merely Government property that is an "attractive" item (ie likely to get stolen). So it might for instance have been a Ministry of Transport tool?

Prototype Pig FV1609. I do find the IQ/common sense of the average Tankfest visitor to be extremely high. Of all shows it is where I get the most interest from visitors & appreciation explaining about the development of the vehicle & its context in history. Having pictures of it in service does seem to augment the appreciation.

Already booked in my exhibit. Would dearly love to hear what Edward Fox has to say about the film. But I suppose ordinary people would not be able to gain access to his talk

James that's a massive amount of information you need that is contained in EMER TELECOMMUNICATIONS F 580 - F 589 for 351 EMER TELECOMMUNICATIONS H 610 - H 619 for 353 It would takes days & days to copy. I could scan you the odd circuit diagram but that would have to be it I'm afraid. You say it is not downloadable from VMARS but is it there & available maybe if you become a member?

A friend brought this plug that had seen very little use but was failing to function. I applied 5Kv to it but no sparking so as it was coated with carbon I cleaned it with abrasive grit. Abrasive cleaning should be done for the minimum time so as not to damage the insulator but even so has the effect smoothing the electrodes making it a little more difficult for the spark to jump. So really the electrodes should be filed to restore them to a flat sharp edged profile. Cleaned with meths & re-gapped. I didn't bother with that as I felt 5Kv should find its way across the gap anyway. But I could not get a spark. I measured the internal through resistance of the centre electrode & this was quite normal at 1.5 k ohms. There was no measurable resistance from the centre electrode to the outer until I got above 1 Kv (something that would not be revealed using a multimeter). But still no spark although I could hear a weak buzzing noise from the plug. I dismantled the plug & was disappointed to see that the grit blasting had not reached the deeper recesses of the insulator. However this should not matter too much, but in this instance it did. Because blasting the extracted insulator showed the circumferential crack that was allowing a spark through. So it seems the only way to test a plug out of the engine is to apply at least 5 Kv & see if there is a spark. So if anybody wants any plugs tested it is a very simple matter & I will be happy to test any at the various shows which so far are: Overlord Evesham W&P GDSF

Yes Alec absolutely correct & hidden from view until dismantled On an unscreened plug Alec you could be quite right. But in this instance I think it must have been dropped as this screened plug protects the insulator. But you are right that careless use of the plug leads can cause trouble even on a screened plug as the mica collar can get abraded & tracking occur. The worst thing to do is to blow air into the plug socket as this can rip the mica away & shred it or at least make it thinner.

Yes Andy quite correct, a dud plug

This is the inside of an RSN12Y Alec, but there is something special about this particular insulator.

I've no idea, but the feature of this particular example is more down to earth :-D

That was certainly clever stuff.

No its the same material Chris

Through the door? :-D Seriously though a washing machine. My wife persuaded me we needed one large enough to wash horse rugs, so it will take a sleeping bag. But I think dry cleaning is a no-no because the residual vapours that could get trapped unless it had a very effective airing.

Yes quite correct, but it is displaying a particular feature of note.

Yes well Done Chris very good. But there is something special about it

It could be but a bit smaller than that.

Nothing musical Derek

Very good yes it is indeed.

I'm afraid you don't Tony :-D

What's this all about?