robin craig

Andy sent you an email r

may have some, email me to remind me, will be back in ours next week on tuesday. R

Antar Mike, are you a welder? R

I have no pictures readily to hand. It would be easier to drive up to where it is and walk out in the swamp to it than find my pictures. Its high bug season right now so I'm not going out there to "take one for the team" and get some photos, perhaps in the autumn. Robin

Regarding welding on galvanised material. The zinc when heated gives off cadmium which is a heavy metal and builds up in the human body over a lifetime. The symptoms of breathing in such fumes are a migraine headache and nausea. Drinking milk is an old wives tale and doesnt do anything for you. A 100% respirator is required when doing such work. All zinc has to be ground off before welding as the weld metal will not bond properly to the base metal with any contamination. As a welder that is what I know. R

While not strictly a tank but definently armour, there is a Staghound and turret a few miles from me. It is minus egines and running gear but I have had discussions with all parties locally and if anyone wants it I am able to locate it easily and all the players are willing to allow civvies to recover it and take ownership of it if anyone has the desire. The Canadian War Museum has been offered it but have declined it. Robin Craig Canada

Our heartfelt condolences to Marc's family and friends. Tragic. Robin Craig Canada

Any developments on this thread chum? R

Well, as one from the shores of where that and its cousin the other "Jiffy Jeep" are both from I managed a few weeks ago to actually get up close and personal with the guys and one gal from the Canadian Forces Electrical and Mechanical School at Borden near Toronto while they did a display in Ottawa a couple of weekend ago and took a whole slew of pictures on my spankingly new digital camera. Now all I have to do is go through the resizing process as the file sizes are over limit, I'm well aware of that thread and have been mucking around with a couple of pictures already. I can confirm that there was a liquid in the radiator but they use hydraulic disconnects and an aircraft one for the few remaining electrics. The chassis has been tricked out with quick release pins for the spring shackle and all other manner of cheats like two cones on the chassis that locate the body and jack stands that mate into holes in the chassis and lifting poles that slide through the engine and gearbox for lifting. The poles stow into trays on chassis rail sides over the rear wheel arch. Oh its a clever piece of kit and draws a suitable crowd but it definently wont be going on the public roads. The windscreen is so clear, until you realise there is no glass in it! As I say, once I get the photos done I will put them up. Robin

If I understand correctly, vinyl was a cost saving on cloth on later manufacture run Both were in use at same time from my memory R

Gents, As we get to know and use our FV436 we have identified that for the driver to get in and out of the vehicle there is a sad lacking of a safe route up the front of the vehicle. At least that is our view point. In common with our basic policy for the collection of "no new holes, nothing welded on" we are considering making a simple set of steps up the front of the vehicle with a hand hold. It will use the front right towing point and a pre-tapped block on the front armour as good solid mounting points and will likely be fitted in such a way that no hand tools are needed to remove it, ie quick release pins etc or large clamping nuts with handles attached. We have some firm ideas of what we want to make and considering we have some fabrication talent in house we think we can make something workable and not detrimental to the operation of the vehicle or to how the vehicle is displayed when off site. Any input from other users? Robin

They hold all the required paperwork pertaining to the vehicle you are driving, mostly used for wheeled kit, I can't speak for the zipperheads (armoured corps track laying types) but it carried mileage log with sign offs and POL record and your FMT 3, accident procedure paperwork and recovery paperwork and the work or movement paperwork that someone had signed off on that authorised the journey. It was the first thing an MP asked for if a vehicle was involved in an RTA (road traffic accident) and god help you if it wasn't sorted and up to date, as often happened with vehicles that had multiple drivers. There were many unit and sub unit ways of marking the outside of the holder, usually it ranged from a crude indellible marker of the vehicle ARN (army registration number) like 23 GN 45 or something more tidy like a white block painted onto the cover and then neatly stencilled with the ARN. They were re used when a vehicle was cast or transfered. They were part of what you picked up in the MT office with the keys to the wagon. That is the general idea, others can chime in and add more detail i'm sure. R

Will Tim Vibert be able to retire on what you have bought from him, looks like lots of bright and shiny new bits everywhere. R

Brilliant, wonderful if a complete one can be feasibly saved. R

So, while leafing through my manuals for the 432 I was looking at the various variants shown there in. Was figuring that the FV 432 with internal winch kit is none I have not seen anywhere in private or museum hands. Did any survive? R

Thanks mate, just didn't want to do any damage with an over pressure or anything like that. Seen too many anomalies on kit with fluid cavities, nothing will surprise me any more. R

Andrew, block wheels on one side, hand brake off, jack other side so that front and rear are off ground. Rotate one wheel the other on same side should also turn. Repeat on other side. This proves drive train to each corner is connected. R

Just doing some first parade maintenance work on the 436 which is just a 432 with different equipment fit so hence title to catch a wider audience. When i checked the front hubs they both have oil full to the edge of the plug hole, which according to the manual is higher than required at the bend in the elbow. Is this an issue, should they be drained down a bit? my sense is its ok to go. R

Maybe he has a problem and doesnt realise it? Andrew, what do the lines indicate? Are you going to apply areas of black as well to complete it? Robin

I think petrol CVR(T)s are over rated, I think the diesel Stormer is a much nicer wagon. I think 50 k is a bit light, considering you need also to have provisioned for a primer mover like a DROPS ( if capable of moving it, cue antarmike on legalities please) or a tractor / trailer or as you call them and articulated lorry. Then you have to erect or kit out the proper building to keep it in plus spares inventory and shop tools. R

whats with the lifeboat in the background? R

By POM Cse I presume you mean Plant Operator Mechanic course, so your a Sapper then? R

In 1987 when I was working deliveries of yatchs to and from the US mainland out to the British Virgin Islands I was treated to an interesting experience. We had just gone through a storm and I had been at the helm for an extended period of time. It was early morning and I became aware of a vessel bearing the lights displayed by a tug. She was gaining on us ever so slightly and was only visible at times because of the huge troughs we and she would disappear into. After a couple of hours it was obvious as daylight broke that the strange formation of lights behind the tug were two ships of a ghostly grey colour in tow by the same tug. At this time I made contact on ch 16 and switched to a working channel. The skipper was very chatty and we talked for nearly an hour as he slowly came aboeam and then overtook us. He was bound from the Hudson River near new York to some foreign parts, I think Taiwan, with two WW2 Liberty ships to be cut up for scrap. He had a huge steel hawser between him and the fist ship with a concrete block part way along it to keep the bight low and the same between the two Liberty ships. There was a crew of two on each ship under tow, the rudders locked ahead and the men were equipped with liferafts and VHF and cooking kit and basic amenities. Not exactly a plum cruise job. Anyhow he gave us the latest weather reports and eventually disappeared over the horizon. Really quite the sad sight on such a grey morning. R

Dear Lord in the heavens above, please no don't let someone desecrate another MV and bastardise it R

be it said that I am electrically stupid. That is the same starter as on J60s and Stormers. Im thinking that there is a rubber bushing missing hence silicone. Think others here would have more concrete advice for you. R