simonm

Interesting to see the bren gun mounted on the rear / roof of the Saracen (top image) . Not actually seen a picture of it up to now.

Just looked up Panther on the Interweb, I was particularly looking for postwar use and manufacture, it seems that REME went into business making them! From Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_tank After the war, France was able to recover enough operable vehicles and components to equip the French Army's 503e Régiment de Chars de Combat with a force of fifty Panthers. These remained in service until about 1950, by which time they had all been replaced by French-built ARL 44 heavy tanks. In 1946, Sweden sent a delegation to France to examine surviving specimens of German military vehicles. During their visit, the delegates found a few surviving Panthers and had one shipped to Sweden for further testing and evaluation. Testing continued until 1961. The tank is currently on display in the Deutsches Panzermuseum in Munster.[122] Last 'production' Panthers were produced at the factory by German staff just after the end of World War II under the supervision of REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) using available components. A complete Panther and a complete Jagd Panther produced this way were shipped back to Britain for post-war trials. Both vehicles are now at the Bovington Tank Museum, Dorset, with brass plates on them, explaining their history. And also worth looking at: http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkampfwagen-v-panther-sd-kfz-171.htm some amazing photos! I suppose anybody looking to buy a German Panther needs to watch out for a British or French knock off !

Might have the solution. http://www.thefusecompany.com/fuses/miniature-fuses-glassceramic/c519-5x15mm-250v-1amp-to-5amp-time-delay-glass-fuse-pack-of-ten-ul.php But this is the slow blow. "The Fuse Company" are checking to see when they will next have a delivery of fast blow. As soon as I hear from them and am able to order I will repost with a link. I'm guessing that with the Clansman I need fast blow.

Hi I'm on the same hunt. I've got two clansman systems, both working but neither with a working spare. The size of the 1 amp fuse is approx 16mm by 4.5mm RS don't list that size and there was a pack of ten just sold on ebay...

The comment above about insurance. I looked up ASKMID which shows if a car is insured or not. The number above KE33 is now associated with The details on the MID are: [TABLE] [TR] [TD]Vehicle Make/Model:[/TD] [TD]MERCEDES-BENZ C 200 CDI (122) COUPE[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Lets hope the Jeep is still around. I'd rather have that than a Merc

I took this picture in Canterbury just up from Kings School, must have been back in 1976. I'm guessing it must have been a very early enthusiast. Picture taken on an old Pentax S1A on B&W negative film all developed and printed by me - remember Dark Rooms? I must admit to having been very jealous even then as a 19 year old. I've got an image of the other side somewhere. Note the old Austin? in the background.

Thats how I describe my hobby, its Airfix but bigger! I used to do a lot of conversions and scratch build, back then there just wasn't the range of models, if you wanted a JagdPanther, then a Panther plus plastic sheet and a lot of careful cutting, I made a King Tiger, Sherman DD, and various scratch build, I think including a Tetrach! Not a patch on what some of the brilliant models I see in the big tent at W&P, but you could tell what it was supposed to be. As to the effects of the .177? My dad used to load his own cartridges so there was always gunpowder to add a bit more realism, never went bang though!

I used Britannia rescue for my S reg Monterey (Super Trooper but with a vauxhall badge), it blew a hose and popped the cylinder head coming up the Brenner Pass. They agreed to all the repatraition of us and the vehicle without a quibble even though it was just over 10 years old at the time. They did comment "Did I really want it back?" yes of course! And a new head gasket and I still have a great 4x4. But, my advice is, don't break down in Italy. They might be in the EU but... We caught the last breakdown truck prior to a 2 week break, so nothing happened for two weeks. We got home pretty quick. When Italy returned from holiday the breakdown insurance company said " The Garage propose to do some work to explore what went wrong" I immediately said "No Way! They may not do any work!!" It was so obviously a popped gasket and that being caused by a burst coolant hose. I could see a bill that would only be limited by the garage's imagination. Anyway, try Britannia.

No, I think you've got it wrong. HST stands for High Speed Tank, its pulling the helicopter up into the air much like a winch pulls a glider.

What do I own? listed below. I was very proudly showing my business partner the Saracen and Ferret. He's an angler, when he said, "your mad, what do you want to own these for?" Simple answer "Beats sitting by a river with a stick in your hand" (Apologies to all Anglers reading this)

I went through the same problem some years back: On the plus side its a Saracen! On the minus side its an old vehicle that is very complex, everything is very heavy, it drinks petrol, it takes up a load of space etc etc.. The plus side had too much going for it. I've still got it and taking it out for a spin is brilliant and makes up for all the stress. Fortunately mine seems to be in great nick, just started her after a month standing, a few turns with choke in to get the oil circulated then choke out and starts 1st time. I've replaced the fluid flywheel oil seal, that is almost certainly going to be a task that you will have sooner rather than later, but it is possible without taking the engine all the way out. Otherwise about zillion grease points, loads of transmission fluid filler points, hydraulic fluid and of course the kick back on the kick down gear selector, never drive with light shoes, always boots, as big and heavy and tightly laced as possible. Something else to consider is that it is perhaps a bit too big to take out without crew. I have at least one person in the rear on the intercom (clansman) to tell me what is going on behind. Go for it, but do check why its being sold and ideally have a drive. Just like with buying a car! Simon

I've got Autohome as well, with the Saracen as the vehicle to get home. Note that the deal is, they will organise and pay up to a cost of £1,000 which I guess gets most people home from a breakdown. I tend to keep my journeys less than 20 or so miles when driving the Saracen on the road, but in any direction I am driving downhill away from home so in the event of breakdown I would need a heavy recovery vehicle. The Ferret I would expect to be able to tow (very carefully) with my Landcruiser.

About when I lost all hope someone told me if it's not leaking it doesn't have any oil in it. Thank you for that!! Perhaps the best bit of advice I have had this year so far :-)

Hi, Apologies if this is covered elsewhere (I've done a search and can't find a mention) but this year, 27th July is the 60th anniversary of the end (actually the Armistice) of the Korean war, certainly the forgotten war. I wondered if anybody had any information on any events or memorials associated with this. My own M38 Jeep is a Korean war veteran (then sold on to the Pakistan army) and wondered if any veteran's association (Mid Kent area) that was doing a specific Korean war memorial event might be interested in its presence. Also an excuse to give it a spruce up. Simon

I like my MK1/2 , wife wants a turret, but that's on the Saracen and there are only so many turrets to go round. Ha Ha !!!:laugh:

A good follow on read to "Tankies" would be "By Tank into Normandy" by Stuart Hills. He recounts his experience in the Sherwood Rangers as they trained on the Sherman DD tanks ( A very interesting first hand experience) then landed on D Day or in Stuart's case escaped from his DD tank as it sank and spent D Day on a raft just off shore. Back to Normandy with a fresh tank then fighting all the way through to VE day in Germany. While he includes the horror and personal tragedy of war in his book, what struck me about Stuart's experience was the "Tank broken, here's another one from stores" the logistics described were truly amazing! He also describes small and large scale tank on tank battles.

Hi Richard If the aim initially is to get the fuel tank clean in the sense of you don't want it to explode when you weld, here's what I have done in the past. With the tank level simply fill with water, this must be brim full with no air locks! Now set light to whatever fumes are at the filler, if its petrol there are bound to be, then very slowly drain the tank, there should be some flame as you drain to be absolutely sure that any residual fuel is burnt as the level goes down. Otherwise, however much you might feel you have drained and flushed the fuel tank, you are still working with a potential bomb with even the smallest residue of fuel. I would be interested in other ways, but I can confirm I have done this twice with petrol fuel tanks then gone on to weld. Simon

Hi All Who has picked up the occaissional Pan Ballantine or Purnells Illustrated, Battle, Campaign, weapons book. Well I've been collecting these off and on for the last too many years actually since they 1st came out in the early 1970s. I now have the full set ! All 200 and more. Its taken 40 years. In fact the collection was completed when the late Barrie Pitt's collection came on the market, he was editor in chief. The books are a fantastic resource with a very focused subject and many many images, while there are many of the titles that are common, some such as "The Indistructible Jeep" I had never seen for sale.

Back to the left pedal. I've got and drive ferret and saracen. The ferret gear change is so gentle that I have to constantly remind myself that its a preselector and not a clutch, no kickback. The Saracen however, a totally different beast and the 10 stamps in each gear, serious all the way down stamps before starting is very necessary, strong heavy boots are vital. Then once in a blue moon there is a kickback, at most only once on a drive if it does happen but invariably just as I'm changing down when approaching a junction and not giving the GSP a serious enough stamp, then a strong left leg is needed to push the pedal down from fully up usually with help from left arm and some strong language. All part of the fun though!

Finally got to see it. Also noted the convoy of Ferrets all MK IIs in B&W 00 CA 81, 00 DA 75 and what looked like 00 00 51 (might have been 00 DD 57)

Did a double take on that, seems like history repeating itself. The Supacat Jackal isn't far off being a younger cousin to the Bedford. You would have thought that when we went into Iraq, then again, then to Afghanistan they would have said a bit sooner "I wonder what design works well in the desert? Ah lets look at what the LRDG and desert Rats used and copy them" Fantastic bit of modelling.

A few years back I mislaid my camera, a nice one at that. My wife said that it was unlikely I would see it again. I said no, I'll go and get it from lost property, its that kind of show, with the right kind of people . I was right. Perhaps no longer. Such a shame that a tiny number of people ruin so much for so many. Locking them up in HMP Ritz seems to be more like a reward.

In reply to "How many tanks the soviets had" here's some stats from the IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies) "Military Balance" 1981 - 82, an annual review of forces. UK: An army of 176,248 with 900 Chieftains, + 60 in reserve, 243 Saladins, 1,429 Ferrets, 2338 FV432, 600 Saracens, 200 Fox, 271 Scorpion. The German army had 1,200 M48, 2,437 Leopard 1, 150 leopard 2 with 1550 on order. The US Army had some 11,500 Tanks, this was before the Abrams so mostly M60s and M48s. The USSR: 1,825,000 troops ((of which 1,400,000 conscripts) 45,000 tanks with a mix of IS 2 / 3, T10 T54 plus 10,000 T64 / 72 (medium tanks)

Just been watching "Carve her name with pride" A film crying out for a remake. About 1/2 way through a very heavily camouflaged Saracen!

Don't necessarily pass up an M38. Mine's 1951 (not 1942) and ex Korean war, shipped out to Pakistan at the end of that war and then most likely served through a couple of Indo Pakistan wars. I bought mine in Pakistan and shipped it back. Its a pretty standard Jeep engine, the body and chassis is slightly larger than the WWII jeep and apparently stronger. The main visual clue is that the headlamps stick out rather than being recessed. Many parts are interchangeable between earlier Jeeps and the M38 though always check. Mine has an M38A rear drive (diff and hubs) . As a general comment about jeeps, mine was running a bit rough and I traced the fault to the crankshaft, it had broken in two! I managed to change it on my front drive in Islamabad without taking the engine out! As to the M38 being around in 1942, I'm sure I saw one in the film "South Pacific" which was set in 1942! Perhaps that's where the Greek confusion started?