Great War truck

Stumbled across this on the G http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=74&t=248521&start=45 Looks like it was fun. Interesting to see that amongst the US vehicles there are a couple of British and Canadians, but also a few Germans as well (Kubles and a Schwimmer). I guess it all comes down to how you define liberation.

I think our FWD was in regular use by a French fairground up until the 1970's. They certainly knew how to keep these things on the road. The Quad of Colin who started this thread is progressing, but there have been I understand other vehicle distractions. Such is the way of things.

Thanks for posting these photos. it is quite amazing how WW1 trucks keep turning up in France. I understand that the US Army did not think very highly of the Quad which is probably why they left so many of them behind in France. Tim

The linings were left in the oven for about 10 minutes and then hastily transferred onto the shoe whilst they were still hot – and pressed down at the centre of the shoe with the lump hammer, which was just being used as a pressing tool – not as a hammer! They pressed down fairly easily into position with that pressure on them and were then were quickly clamped down before they cooled off. Now both the shoes and linings have to be drilled for final fitting. Not rivets in this case but four 3/8” Bronze bolts in each one, nutted on the outside – as per the originals.

Whilst Steve was in Axminster, it was a good opportunity to have that second pair of hands available to help shape the Transmission Brake Pads. In accordance with advice, the Domestic Authority vacated the kitchen and the Top Oven was heated to 190 degrees. A piece of plywood was placed on the kitchen floor to protect it – one of the Brake Shoes was held in a large vice and placed on the Plywood as the curvature of that was to be used as the former for the Lining. The pads were placed in an old baking tray which was also protected with silver foil – “just in case” and all tools and clamps were placed to be readily available for the forming of the hot linings. A “lump” hammer was available to be used to press the hot lining into the shoe.

Steve was in Axminster today and brought with him the newly made Dust Shields, just described. He wanted to trial fit them before passing them on to the “Axminster Paint Shop Sub-division” for completion. Very pleasingly, they fitted “like gloves” and they can now be painted ready for final assembly over the Christmas break.

Heavy Aviation, but without wheels. There was steel Engineers body for it on the back of something else. All we need is some clever person to match those two items up with the Heavy Aviation which has no drive train but good wheels which is in California and photos of it somewhere else on this thread. Make a great combination. Tricky logistical exercise though.

That is a super model. Where did you get the drawings to make such a fine model?

Nash Quad up for sale. Eagle eyed readers will recognise it as the Defresne Quad that was sold in 2014. Currently up for sale in Holland by “Happy Old Iron”

I would call it a "Sprag".

The clip you are referring to shows A battery of the 18th Field Artillery Btn, 1st US Army firing the T27 (4.5 inch) rocket launcher. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:T27_rocket_launcher_OS_9-69-pg-092.jpg Also fitted to Jeeps: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=type+T27+rocket+launcher&biw=1684&bih=814&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CB8QsARqFQoTCMjty9W8jskCFcIwGgodcacOQA&dpr=0.95#imgdii=hcpdexDRY3eqFM%3A%3BhcpdexDRY3eqFM%3A%3BiKPlAYjczb8pwM%3A&imgrc=hcpdexDRY3eqFM%3A

I agree with you Mark. It is just asking for trouble. Nick also rented his stretch 432 limo to Vivienne Westwood and she parked it outside David Camerons house while a group of children sang "Who do you think you are kidding Mr Cameron". All a little childish really. Just because he is entitled to drive an Abbot through London doesn't mean that he should. It is only a matter of time before stunts like these get armour legislated off the road.

I have a hole in my pocket too!

These are two pictures of the Brake Linings that have been supplied and are to be fitted to the Brake Shoes. They measure 8” x 4” and are 3/8” thick. They are totally rigid and have to be bent around to a much tighter radius to match the Brake Drum and Shoes. We do not think that they can be bent around cold as we think that they might break or crack. We understand that to re-form them, they should be heated and bent around whilst they are still hot – is this correct?. Does anyone have any information or advice on how to do this please? 180 degrees oven heat has been suggested – and if that is correct, how long should they be left in the Oven? The Domestic Authority might not be over-keen on this operation.

Crikey John. That is an amazing find.

I believe it be quite safe. Steve was quite taken with it. If we didn't have enough other trucks to be getting on with I think he would have liked to take it on.

Oh. Now I understand. Thanks for explaining.

Well I must be being thick then. All I can think was that they were either going to or coming from the MOD and didn't get to where they were supposed for one reason or another.

I use it for holding combustibles for my log burner too. Does not look out of place in the living room. In fact we both really like it. I don't generally bring stuff into the house now. Last time I did I received "Oh just what we need, another bayonet", so discretion being the better part of valour it all goes straight into the garage.

Following on from Ian's interesting find I thought I would add some photos of my coal bucket. Marked up AM NG Ltd and 1938, it is one of the few pieces of military stuff that my wife allows in the living room.

Not the average MV collector then: http://www.metcalfeheavyhaulage.com/gallery/gallery.html

I have had the opportunity to ride on these on several occasions and have declined. Wouldn't put my kids in them either. I just don't like the idea of riding on one which has been operated on a commercial basis. If it was a green one and owned by someone I knew then that might be different.

Thanks Richard How very interesting. I thought it would have been a Willeme conversion, but judging by its history obviously not. Thanks.

Steve tells me that there are at least three others surviving, so not as rare as I thought. Still.

It is interesting how things turn up. Steve came across this today while on his wanders. Believe this to be a 1928 FWD R6T, one of the original 24 before FWD became part of AEC. The one at Duxford is the later version (ex Budge?). Now fitted with a diesel but the steering column still has the advance/retard so it was petrol at one stage.