robin craig

Tony,

me thinks the lower photo means that it was painted with a Low Volatile Organic Compound paint ie environmentally friendly type paint.

R

Im not sure what I want to do when I grow up yet, but so far:-

Have been a soldier. Public authority worker, dealing with the stroppy public is over rated.

Ships agent, likely the most interesting job I did, dealt with Morflot Soviet Union merchant marine as one of our customers. Loved dealing with the Soviets during the cold war. Had lots of dealings with special branch and other sneaky beaky types who always thought they were invisible to the Soviets. Best incident was having an HM Customs and Excise black gang Rupert wanting to enter the radio room on the aft deck and being shown a pistol through the porthole of the door!

Became a freight forwarder for a major French road freight company in a UK port dealing with high value, oversize, and dangerous cargoes. Had British Nuclear Fuels Limited and Electricite De France as customers am. Had a ball in that job too. As the EU got closer to one unified world my job was evaporating and was offered a job in Valence, France by the same outfit.

Opted for a vacation in Canada for a few months before taking the position but never made it to France as I met a woman and eventually got hitched and stayed out here.

Have run a wharehouse for a large retailer, became a certified welder in many areas of the welding trade including some defence work.

Now manage a large estate and family retreat and run the farm doing cash cropping. We also do all our own construction on the estate, from renovations to new construction. Have an excellent crew of guys who are my co workers even though i'm the one at the top of the food chain and taking the blame.

We also operate and try to maintain a fleet of mainly British MVs for the owners, and sometimes take them off site to events.

Always looking over the hedge but right now at this stage of life I think this is the last job.

Sorry to be so long winded.

R

Today, as we are in a new house, was bathroom fixture install day.

My higher domestic authority approved the location of this item.

I was asked if I was capable of putting the roll on afterwards.

As you well know, I am not a very technical person.

How did I do?

R

Adrian, Mark and LandAndy and others have pretty much said it all.

I laughed my ass off about the comments on wing mirrors, that is such a classic.

The one caution I would put out there is this simple gem, steel on steel is to be avoided at all costs. Universal carriers are the usual suspects on steel ramps.

Having witnessed 2 near deaths and had my own life put in jeopardy by an unknowing supervisor because of the above we now as policy, unroll used snow mobile tracks as an interface and have never had any problems ever since.

I'm so very happy to hear that others have had the same experiences, good a bad.

R

Thanks for suspecting the same as I did Lynx 22B.

I have one of yours here, we should talk off line about it.

And I did say "I put my hand up for that" meaning I will buy your take off bits.

R

shows more of it and other videos.

R

Ha ha, knew my memory was correct, even if others say nay!

Here you go:- http://justacarguy.blogspot.ca/2009/12/failed-1934-expedition-acorss-canada-in.html

R

welcome to the forum

Robin, Ferret owner in Canada

From dim distant memory, and I have been wrong before so that is my out if I am this time, there was some kind of Trans Canada expedition years ago funded by some adventurer toff like character that used a number of them.

Upon reaching western Canada, they encountered some severe terrain and I think funds or time or fuel supply or the whole darn lot conspired to thwart their progress, it was near a big river and a massive drop off above it.

The silent documentary showed the vehicles being launched over the cliff, It did give one the impression that some were left up top. The team then were extracted on horseback or something esoteric like that.

Will dig around to see what I can do to support my suspect memory.

R

I deeply suspect that this may possibly be one of the original 124 Canadian Ferrets, for a number of reasons:-

1 it has square side hatches, some but not all did

2 it has no turret

3 his location, as most of them ended up south of the border in the US

As far as re-power there is a company called GKL that did one kit and the other is the KADDB in Jordan which did another.

Neither company lets on any trade specific info and from memory a Chrysler automatic was used.

I tend to agree that the B60 is a good engine if set up well and fully supportable.

I guess my question is what is lacking that causes you to want to change it.

If you do change it there is a market for the old engine, I will put my hand up for that.

R

This BV206 D6 in the collection I manage is ex UK MOD.

The front car has a comms fit and it is obvious that it had a significant signals role as the rear of the front car can be isolated for white light and there is a ton of cabling and fittings related to it all. I dont know what it all does or what was used.

The rear left corner of the rear car has a mast mount that we would some day like to use.

Any info would be appreciated.

R

As promised here are 3 pictures of the mast mount or at least what I think it is.

Any comments on what mast may have been used?

I am going to also post this again in its own thread so it is related to the BV on its own which is tidier than in here.

Thanks

R

I thought that free enterprise is one of the by products of all the wars that so many laid down their lives for.

I know it is annoying but it is life.

R

where were they used when in service and what kind of user had them, do you have any picture of them?

R

Yes I agree its a bit a tangent but as I said didnt know quite where to post it!

I did get a digital slide scanner from my lovely lady, now to get some of my Canadian Forces images scanned in and thrown up, that will be a lifetime project, I have about 25,000!

R

I have been shouting this from the roof tops for a while now.

Canada is doing the same with it's current vehicle disposal of the MLVW fleet. All being cut up. Makes any that escape worth more.

Our history is going in the melting pot.

R

Mike,

This is the closing of an event from nearly 15 years ago when I went back to a T shirt and a pair of jeans as my only belongings, a long time rebuilding my life with another lady, "I will rebuild" was what I said then, and I have. This is our home, the last one.

As far as the basement walls, poured monolithic concrete can not be beat. concrete blocks below the level of the surrounding earth grade should not, in my opinion, be allowed in this arctic climate. There is a lot of lateral pressure frond the ground once it is back filled on 3 sides. Our walls are 8" inches thick with heaps of 15mm rebar. You only do it once and the up front costs are cheaper than any subsequent rework!

The ally forms you talk about are called "slip forms" over here, very common and highly cost effective. Our forms are wood and have slots in them for ties that hold the panels together during the pour. Then snapped off after and left in the walls.

In one wall we had "cast in place" vinyl windows poured into the walls with wooden bucks inside to stop any deformation. Our basement or lower level is well lit with natural daylight. The interior walls have a wood stud frame set inside and fibreglass bat insulation of R20 value all the way around. Spray foam is an option but big dollars and I can do fibreglass myself.

On a sunny day cold winters day the propane forced air furnace stops coming on at around 9am and only kicks back on around 3pm as the sun looses its energy.

Hope that answers your questions. Happy to answer more.

This is all great info and confirms a lot of what I suspected but it is good to hear from those who actually know.

Wonder if any were sold off and people don't realise what they own.

R

It is well documented that various vehicles of the ordinary civvy varieties were used by the military during the Northern Ireland operations.

Makes and types such as Escort, Cortina, Granada, Transit and many more were in service, some modified even armoured.

The question that comes to mind about these is did any survive and who has them?

I'm thinking the chances are slim to none but one never knows unless one asks.

Here is hoping.

R

Well,

Maybe its kind of not the right place but it is what my lady and I gave each other here, a new house.

We managed to get permission from the building inspector to occupy based on substantial completion stage the friday before Christmas. It was a very close shave at the end. We got the septic tank to the bed connected the monday before Christmas. It snowed the next day.

Here are a few snapshots of poor quality but you get the idea. Poured concrete footings, poured concrete walls. Modular home ext size 26' 9" by 48' prefinished inside, pre wired and pre plumbed.

next step finish inside and finish exterior and build garage and workshop in the spring summer. Then I can get back to call sign 31 Ferret work, hopefully.

R

Very interesting vehicle, grand work your doing.

A few questions arising:-

Is the chassis hot dipped galvanised original? If so was that a typical Aus military spec that is on all of that era?

You state it is a "workshop" vehicle, so does it have a drop in kit with drill press, welder, gas bottles etc or is it like a ute filled with tool boxes and spares as for various needs?

R

Quite amazing detail depth being used here

R

Would that be the same mast that was used on the rear of rear car on a BV206?

Ours has a base socket and a clamp above for something, I know, you need pictures.

R

Likely someone has posted this already and I haven't noticed.

But here it is.

Makes for sobering viewing.

R

Thanks for posting.

Great looking truck.

Good luck with the venture

R