robin craig

Chris is correct in saying the right hand vehicle has a home made turret, otherwise known as a POST ie Previous Owner Stupid Trick. Servo for what? Brakes? Hmm Fuel system idea sounds interesting and doable but not really required if you cycle the selector often and keep the tank full anyway. So what other ideas? Come on there must be some more ideas out there. Robin

Stunning, Im speechless. R

So here are pictures of a somewhat sad 432 that I took a couple of months ago. By now both will have filled with more snow and rain and started to fill up again for the winter. The first vehicle is on loan to a government establishment but is owned by a federal museum who will not part with it but will do nothing to secure its current position. An offer "without prejudice" has been made to block the vehicle up and open the drain plug and screen that and erect a temporary structure over it by volunteers doing the work and providing materials at no charge but that has been refused. This winter this vehicle will for about the third winter in a row sit outside at the end of a yard where they will push the snow up against it and over it. Note the plaque from when the vehicle was refurbed and then presented to the museum, I was present and watched it drive in. The second vehicle that is partially covered with the blue tarp is "on loan" to a supposed museum but again owned by the same federal museum who are doing nothing to ensure that the museum it is on loan to care for it. Sorry for the poor quality picture. How many more years before these two previous museum items will be more than a difficult or expensive rebuild or just simple become junk This makes me so mad, in case you had not picked up on that vibe. R:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:

So, as I await the 2 Canadian Ferrets I have bought, I am already thinking of things to do. My main thoughts are to take this opportunity to correct any "issues". Im kind of dissapointed as the only two things that I think I need to do apart from all the usual cleaning are to fit electronic ignition and to fit a battery master shut off. Im also tempted by a spin on oil fliter kit and would like to find one for the pesky Vokes fuel filter also. Can any other Ferret owners think of any other parts that can be modified for any kind of improvement but in a such a way as to be reversed if needed? What would you guys do? Attached is a picture of the pair as is. Robin

The collection owns:- LR 101 GS LHD LR 101 AMB LHD LR 90 LHD BEDFORD CALM BEDFORD TROOP GS X 2 HAGGLUNDS BV 206D6 M35 M109A3 (NOT A GUN LATER M35 THINGY) M818 ROGERS TILT BED TRAILER us origin SANKEY TRAILER X 2 FERRET MK2/3 X2 CVR(T) SABRE CVR(T) SPARTAN EX BATUS CVR(T) SPARTAN EX BELGIUM CVR(W) FOX SUPACAT MK2A (ONE OF ONLY 10 MADE) SUPACAT FLPT X3 (ONE GOING TO USA SOON) M104 TRAILERS X2 M SERIES TRAILERS X 4 And a partridge in a pear tree, more to come in 2010 Personally my lady and I own Ferret Mk1 Canadian X2 Eager Beaver forklift parts machines X2 two will make one idea. Robin

Here is a picture of the most un camouflaged vehicle in military service! More to follow Robin

and how would you be proposing that happens for those of us in the colonies? Would we be using ZULU time? I think I have a better offer at the moment R

Dont know anything about the Chevs that were sold off, they didnt interest me one iota, plus they are half way across the country. They were sold through Mitchener Allan in an auction this summer. Robin

Does anyone have any pictures of the big pull that "blobby" aka Mario Aliperti did that year towing a bunch of kit with his Foden beaver tail please? Hopefully you have a shot showing some loon sitting on top of the cab, thats the picture I would like to have, as that was me. Thanks R

Well its kind of like the manual says, installation is the reverse of removal. Yes we had problems with the fuel system that triggered the decision to take things apart. Once we started getting in we found that the prep work supposedly done by the UK seller was less than perfect as suspected. We found all kinds of gremlins and crud and decided that we had the vehicle apart far enought that we would remove the pack and try to do the best we could which is what should have been done in the first place. The fuel tank had crud in it and also the screen in the carb was also on the way to being clogged. The tank was sent out for cleaning and a new lining applied. The fuel pump was rebuilt and electronic ignition fitted. The rad was presure tested and all the hoses replaced and the engine was cleaned down and repainted, the plugs were replaced and all the fluids were replaced. We proved that the right rear bevel box was defective at the connection to the prop shaft so we swapped that out for an NOS unit from our stores and kept the old one for rebuild. All the fluids in all the cavities except the brake fluid were changed. The vehicle was given a thorough greasing and nipples cleaned where required. Given we have a 40 by 40 shop that is heated we had no worries in bringing in our Bedford with crane and venting the exhaust outside and doing the work in the warm. Infact this project was started one winter and finished the next as we have many other things to do on the property, the MV collection is a luxury of time in the ork year calendar. We built a rolling frame for the pack on which it stood for all the work except when the rad was off. The only issue we had was the sealing washers on the banjo bolts at the bottom of the tank, which even though were new leaked. We had to do the job of the washers twice but it was minor. The fuel filter was filled on assembly and with minimal cranking time the engine came to life with that wonderful Rolls sound that we all know. A very satisfying job. You might note that the engine lifting frame, which we made in the shop ourselves using substitute materials but the same dimensions as in the manual. From the raised operators position on the Bedford I had a really good vantage point while my co worker eased and guided the pack in and out. Regards Robin

The crane is our Bedford MJ CALM, very useful tool to have. R

I do have to say that the baby M113 known as the Lynx C+R is a fave as well. R

It is only when you see vehicles side by side does one realise how far AFV developement has come. Robin

I was sorting through some pictures today and thought I would upload these for anyone who is interested. Sorry they are not exactly in order This was our workshop a couple of winters ago. R

You look as if you are having fun with your new machine. I would and I think others might be interested as well, to know what your criteria was for buying a 432 rather than say a CVR(T). What were the trials and tribulations in acquiring this? Robin

I think that Bovington, past errors forgiven, have in my opinion got it right with putting punters backsides on seats to watch running vehicles to draw crowds and raise funds. Sadly other museums have not been able or not seen that this really is a way to go. Architecture has eaten away at funds and as a result collections have dwindled because space is limited. The once great collection of CMPs held by the Canadian War Museum has evaporated, other vehicles have been farmed out to organisations with less than stellar buildings or even a lack of buildings. Quite frankly I am outraged as to how this has been done by public civil servants who are supposed to be working for us and am on the trail of finding out exactly where items have gone to and what is being done about things. I am unable to be more forthcoming at this time but pictures and emails will be put up gradually. It pains me when private individuals have offered to care for vehicles on behalf of the museum only to be turned down and the vehicle left outside to fill with water and degrade as so quickly happens in our climate. Museums need to get in on private financing initiatives to keep things in such a way as future generations will have something to look at More later Robin:argh:

are there any of the Muir Hill loader / back acter / winch machines preserved in private hands and anyone got pics of them to post? R

Just as a point of interest the red and white Chev / GMC range safety vehicles on the front cover shown above have been cast now. They went out for auction this year. Dont know if another batch have been purchased as replacements or whether something else has been acquired. Im sure recymcech will send us a full [photo report when he gets there this spring, wontcha mate? R

afvnut just sent pm to you r

Dear AFVNUT, I think you are a brave man for considering such a beast. I hope for your sake you have the following:- Deep pockets, a secure covered preferably heated workshop, available paid minions or a bevy of skilled friends, an unlimited supply of beer to pay said friends, something of equal or larger size as a recovery vehicle when it breaks down in the back 40 acres. We have CVR(T) and they are in my humble opinion along with the venerable 432 about the largest tracked vehicle any sane person would own with reasonable ease. The question that races through my mind rather than buying an unkown why not have a go at the one on MILWEB that is already a known runner? I wish you luck my son Robin

Fabulous! Shades of "Holding up the bypass" and "top larfs". I love the way it sounds, Im adding a ride in one to my bucket list for sure. Robin

If money was no object and I had a wallah to o the scut work then I think a full set of the petrol CVR(T) variants plus the newer diesel variants. Add to that a Hagglunds BV 206 D6 and a Clark aiportable bulldozer with scraper bowl. To round it all off the latest version of the BARV in service in the UK would be the best for playing down at the beach. For the moment its all a pipe dream as I have to maintian someone else's collection. Robin

who was the customer and for what purpose? I honestly dont know. Sorry about the quality of the picture R

I am very curious to know why people wear military clothing when attending events with their vehicles? What are you trying to acheive? R

So, there are many vehicles that are restored and driven into museums around the world. Should those museums keep them maintained as runners or should they be left to deteriorate into non runners again? My feelings are that if possible they should be maintained as runners. What are your thoughts? Robin