fv1609

Yes I think you are right Chris now I can see it on the PC screen, that's what happens trying to look at detail on a phone screen. (Plus an element of excitement I suppose)

I only wish as a schoolboy I had been given the opportunity to go to events like this, but there weren't any. So the more young people that can see what the hobby is all about the better, be that as participants when a bit older or to expand their education it can't be a bad thing.

Chris they are super gems there. As above I wonder if the second from last picture is showing the VPK LtWt in a sort of angular Picaso camo is in fact an example of "Distinctive" as opposed to "Disruptive" camo?? It looks deliberate rather than a few different panels from different VPK sets?

Ok Chris so that takes it to 1972, there were lots of strange things going on in the early 70s with Army paint schemes in all theatres.

Is it home-made? :argh:

As always Chris some super stuff there with much detail. That VPK LtWt, what year was that, can you recall? Do you think it is possible that it was gloss deep bronze green + the black?

Well they had a stall at the last Malvern. It was all systems go & they seemed very pleasant, helpful & sensible. So I will be going. I expect they will have a presence at Stoneleigh.

I also was given a signed photo, still have that. John's signature was in felt tip & faded away. Pete just signed it as "Pete", but the other two used a biro with fairly lavish signatures. I think they are genuine it was before they got round to facsimile signatures on fan photos.

I joined the fan club in 1966 to find out their gig list. I won the prize for devising a crossword puzzle, it was meant to be a drum & some sticks. After a lot of chasing I received a side section of a drum from the Pictures of Lily kit Keith had made. The piece was about a foot square incorporating a picture of said Lily. When I was a student my parents moved house & told me they cleared my belongings of "rubbish" this was gone & various bit of WW2 radio "junk".

Suitcase :wow: Yes the things I have pulled apart. I could get 19 Set chassis for 7/6 (no valves or case) from Arthur Sallis, Brighton & 38 Set Mk II (basic set with valves but no ancillaries) for 22/6 & most of them worked. The things I chucked away & my parents chucked away for me (including a part of Keith Moon's drum but that is going off topic)

Ok Chris I think I had three altogether I had fixed in my mind one was a Canadian, but anyway I pulled them all apart to try to make a telephone exchange & morse code reading machine but neither of those projects was a great success. Just wish I had left the things alone, never thought they would be worth saving

I bought my first wireless remote control unit in 1958. I think they were 7/6 (40 new p) new & boxed, nearly a months pocket money though. I think this was my Canadian one.

"wireless remote control units a"

Gordon I wondered that, perhaps there is a tiny diode bridge rectifier in them?

Thank you Chris & nice to have those rear shots, so often vehicles pics are just full frontals. Good to see the sand bag arrangements.

Yes there are quite a lot of EMERs & AC books, that are approaching a couple of feet thick. I go to WTiV was going to take the Pig last year then moved. I might take the Shorland or Wolf this time. I see a PM has come in.

Nigel do you have the Servicing Schedule? There are things to bear in mind, for instance do not put gear oil in the gear box, use engine oil SAE30. So hopefully it will be at the shows this coming season, where are you located or more to the point which shows will you take it to? I am in S.Wales if you within range I can show you the pitfalls & things to look out for on my FV1609. PM me your email & I can send the limited info I have on yours.

Richard yes I'm sure you are quite right that originally not everything was covered in engine paint. For those who want to be spot on typical specs for SII. Chassis: Shot blasted then Pinchen Johnson red oxide primer 0541 Primer (Stoving) followed by Berger Chassis Black SB.1179 (Stoving) Springs: Carrs chassis black Not sure how long that daft chassis under-sealing went on for.

Bit of a As far as military Land Rovers go it is as well to ignore most Land Rover forums, where there is talk of Duck egg blue, Duck egg green etc The correct colour for a rebuilt or preserved (preserved may not necessarily mean rebuilt) is BSC 381C No.101. But looking at a number of documents laying down the design specifications for military Rovers produced in 1959, 1961, 1962 & 1963. All the specifications accept the manufacturer's standard engine colour & all of them quote it as: Engine enamel grey Donald Maphearson LSW 703 I sent a message to these people, http://www.macphersonpaints.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx "I am doing research into Land Rover engine colours for some contracts for the MOD in late 1950s-early1960s. The enamel engine paint is specified as Donald Macphearson LSW.703 I wonder if you are able to still supply that paint or at least equate it to a BSC 381C or RAL? I have searched your site & googled but the only results I get are where I have posted the subject on Land Rover forums!" Had this reply: "Thank you for your enquiry with reference to old colour codes for Land Rover. Unfortunately on searching our records we have no information with reference to the colours used. It is possible that this was before Macpherson became part of the Crown Paints." I would have thought they would have known when Macpherson became part of Crown Paints. So anyway no definition of LSW.703. See what I mean? That is just the engine colour. The bodywork would normally be high gloss heat resisting Deep Bronze Green BSC 381C No.224. Then we get into the worms again as many will argue that around 1970 IRR NATO Green BSC 381C No.285 was introduced. Well there was no such colour in BSC 381C until 1980, there was no Defence Standard on IRR paints until 1980, there was no document introducing the use of IRR paints until 1980. During the 1970s there were various schemes & intermediate colours used. I am writing an article about this based on the documentation of the time so I may be a little while.

MI I think wait until you get your history back then you ought to decide what particular era you want to depict. This will determine the colour of the top coat & whether you want to choose an era compatible with fancy unit & formation markings. Even the engine colour, as it was not delivered from the factory in Sky Blue No.101.

Well done on getting that chassis plate picture, it is difficult getting the camera & your head in there. The belly plate is from a Pig rather than a Hornet. The exhaust pipe on a Hornet exits in front of the O/S front wheel & the cylindrical silencer was under the front of the engine. So it needed a rather bulged belly plate to accommodate the silencer. I knew that there must have been something on the plate on the right corner. I thought it was my bad eyesight rather than a word being chiselled out. A normal Pig chassis plate has just on the top line 'TRUCK 1 TON ARMOURED' there is no other word. The spacing showed that there was another word up there. Despite what they have tried to remove the Hornet identity is there in the Asset Code 310125.01.777 that for a FV1611 was 310118.01.777 both of these variants were based on the FV1601 which was 311135.01.777 All Hornets were based on FV1601 & not as some drivel in books & the internet say they were modified Pigs. So I think your Hornet was re-bodied from a knackered Pig & a replacement engine fitted from 27 BK 08. This Pig was FFR & had the 2-speed generator which would explain why yours has one. Pigs Mk 2 were not all 2-speed generators there are some single speed ones. But your Hornet history is not just evidenced from the record card & Chilwell register but you have that Asset Code 310125.01.777 evidence on the plate, nobody thought to hide!

Thank you that looks all standard Mk 2 & fits in with the Asset Code on the bonnet 1760-2501, other than an ammeter/voltmeter on the dash. Such a meter was not part of the Hornet set up. The engine is not original it should be 7858. What you have I think is 8528 & that was originally fitted to 27 BK 08. That was a Mk 2 & is no surprise as there were often engine swaps in NI. Any chance of getting a bit more of a view of the right side of the chassis plate please? It would be interesting if it says "Launcher" & if it displays the FV code. Not easy taking photos up in there I know! A bit easier, have you a view of the front belly plate as they were different.

It comes from a table in Defence Council Instructions (Army) 40 Part IV Annex issued 18th Feb 1970. As it happens I had gone through the whole DCI (Army) & DCI (General) for 1970 today, teasing out details. It took a while as the DCI pile for that year is 3 inches thick. It just happened to be in front of me otherwise it would have taken a while :-D

The annual permitted mileage in 1970 for a Ferret was: 3,000 in UK except: 5,000 in Armoured Reconnaissance Rgts 3,500 in Armoured Rgts 3,000 in BAOR except: 3,300 in Armoured Car Rgts 4,000 in Near & Middle East 2,000 in Far East except: 6,000 in Malaya 5,000 in Singapore

Richard my database shows I have this, but only the first three pages! If I come across them I will see if they have anything useful & scan them. The trouble is I have fair number of documents here although they are unpacked from a recent move they are in no logical arrangement. So I usually give up looking for stuff & only find it when I am looking for something else. At the moment books are stored in the loft & two rooms. I have a lot of fiche I haven't catalogued yet so there may be something there, if I can find the box!