Steve 82

Hi All, How are the site ground conditions holding-out ? Cheers, Steve W.

Just a quick call to see if anyone else is currently looking for longer term storage in the Kiddi / Worcester area. I am fortunate to have a reliable storage but it is a good hour`s drive from where I live - would be great to look again into the feasabilityof setting up a joint storage closer to home. Cheers, Steve

Thanks Paul. Mmmmm....had`nt thought of that one - but mercenaries are as old as soldiering itself. Whilst they may be given posh names these days such as `security advisor` or `bodyguard` , the chaps I have seen out in the Gulf are privately operated soldiers - AND provide a very valuable service in many instances I hasten to add ! So look forward to seeing your display. Cheers, Steve

Received mine a couple of days back - wife emailed me a copy to the Middle East where I am presently posted ! Are the costs that much more this year - Thought fuel cost more last year ? Cheers Steve

Just a quick call to see if there are any other VW181 / VW182 owners out there coming to W&P ? The guy who has run this for many years is not well, and i am hoping to pull together at least a few cars (in addition to my own) still in military condition for display next to a Bundeswehr radio post (under living history). Cheers, Steve 1974 VW181 Radio car

I recall photographing a Pzkpfw III and Jagdpanzer IV at Beltring during the first couple of Beltrings I attended (late 1990`s). Wounder who these belonged to ? Cheers, Steve

>We're portraying a unit during the Cold War. >We're subcontractors for the West against subcontractors for the Soviet >Union. >Paul Paul, which unit are you portraying? Cheers, Steve

Hi, Given the number of privately owned NATO MV`s in circulation (probably exceeding WW2), am suprised that more folk dont get involved with some sort of Cold War era re-enactment. Would be interesting to know who on the list will be attending with a NATO or Warsaw Pact display , as I would like to pop-by for a chat to exchange ideas. Cheers, Steve

Hi - remember many a snowy training night in the UK and Germany using this system. More often than not, when in the field, closed the nylon poncho as a sort of tube and slid myself and the sleeping bag inside. It worked, and was quick. Used whatever was available beneath me (grass / bushes). Many guys purchased their own civvi camping accessories initially. Cheers, Steve 82

Problem of rebuilding a Schwim is the running gear. All metal panels are now available on the Czech repro market, and even saw complete bodies being sold within the last 6 months. Recently rebuilt the whole of the front and rear ends on my Kubel - not for the faint-hearted. To the best of my knowledge, the 4WD addition + water proofing of the Schwimm makes it an even greater challenge ! As for cost well, best join the Schwimm / Kubel register on www.vw166.com and see whats going on.

Hi All, I managed to contact Jim Dowdall who confirmed that all the Baptys Kubels took part in the 'Dirty Dozen' and ' It happened Here'. The lack of records will almost certainly prevent linking my vehicle to any other Baptys films, but its a big help nevertheless. So thanks guys for the lead, and of course - to Jim. Cheers Steve

Iltises ? (well, sounds better than the latin - sounding Iltii....!) Interesting car though - its the one VW `Kubel` I am missing, but its non-aircooled powerplant is difficult to get enthusiastic about (for me, anyway).........sad, I know

Andy, Thanks for the heads-up on the wwiireenactmant forum, but after registering my interest to view the off topic content 2 weeks back - the system still keeps telling me that my 'application is being considered'. Life is too short to worry about such things, and the encouragement received from all at this forum more than makes up for the disappointment of the other. Looking forward to post my NATO and WW2 vehicle pics / research on here in due course. Regards Steve

Hi Mark, This probably seems the best place to post a few recent pics of my operational vehicles so here goes: VW82 1945 : 1964 Unimog 404 teleprinter truck and trailer mounted generator: 1974 VW181 radio car All the best Steve

thanks guys - will try to follow up.

Just a quick introduction - been involved around restoration for many years, and started aquiring my own ehicles about 10 years ago. My main interest centres around WW2 and NATO German vehicles with their associated signals equipment. I currently run: 1945 (March) VW82 Kubelwagen 1964 Unimog 404 telex truck with trailer/power unit 1974 VW181 Kubelwagen radio car Enjoy making the full systems to work (am a licenced radio ham) and regularly take the vehicles out to practice original operating procedures (usually involving gassing over the radio to others with similarly disturbing hobbies in UK and Europe). Mostly take part in VMARS (Vintage Military and Ammateur Radio Society) meetings at present - and of course Beltring with the VW181 Kubel. Would really like to get together with a 1950`s - 1980`s NATO / Warsaw Pact re-enactment theme, so if anyone has any ideas, please PM me. Next project - currently researching and tracking components for an Opel Blitz radio truck restoration. Will Post my pics under the relavent section heading. Cheers Steve Kidderminster

At the end of the 1970`s, as a spotty faced student, I was asked whether for a 100 Pounds, I would ferry a Unimog 404 from a field in Kent to South Wales. For a student, that was a no-brainer, and I was given a lift to Kent to be confronted by a field of Unimogs (apparently, the dealer had purchased the whole batch from the Bundeswehr)... Fast-forward 35 years......I had long forgotten about the location and names, but then came accross a fellow Unimog fan in the West Midlands who showed me pics of the unsold Mogs which were still at the same place - trees growing through the engine compartment etc......

Trying to establish some more post-war details about my 1945 Kubelwagen. From the previous owner, I understand it was brought to the UK during the late 40`s / early 1950`s and sold to a vehicle provider to the film industry by the name of Babtis/ Baylis ?? (a company, based in London which apparently proided many of the German vehicles to British post-war made ww2 movies). Have no positive indication which films it was used in, although a couple of titles were mentioned. Unfortunatly, Babtis had up to 10 or more Kubels at their peak and it would be difficult confirming this without records made at the time. The company eventually broke up sometime during the 80`s due to the death of the original owner and the collection sold-off. The guy I aquired e vehicle from then purchased the vehicle in the mid 1990`s and jointly restored it, whereupon it played in several TV films - including `Island at War` and `Hitlers Britain` (have unrefutable evidence of that) I then aquired the vehicle in 2005 - and had to rebuild most of the mechanicals due to it never having not been restored / registered for road use post war. The VW factory at Wolfsburg helped with documetation here. Finally, I registered the vehicle in 2007, and am just getting used to using it on a regular basis. Just out of curiosity, has anyone any knowledge of the film company `Babtis`in London ?? Regards Steve

Really nice thread this, but must admit, when I first saw the title, thought it referred to those little heaters we put in tents.....:sweat: