robin craig

Tony, me thinks the AA needs a new building in your neighbourhood where your new acquisition can be stored!:thumbsup: So are you teaching Helen to drive it or are those kids of yours all grown up now and can drive it? R

I, as a self confessed "pongo" type am quite happy for others to enjoy a different perspective. Royal Navy is just as legitimate as any of our "army" stuff. Some of the RN vehicles are just as cool as any of the green stuff. Welcome in R

The time period is right when the change over to the SLR was underway, there is a brief moment when the No4 is gone and wooden SLRs are in use. R

He has 3 other videos if you watch it on you tube. What was the purpose of the black lower section of the doors on the Commanders? R

Just curious, what are you using for primer and what are you using for finish paint? What kind of spray system are you using? The reason I ask is that at 1/35th scale I am an OK painter but now that I have a 1:1 scale vehicle to paint i'm kinda wondering what to do. As yet I really don't feel like doing my whole Ferret in spray bombs. . . . . R

I have tried listening to this but cant because of my computer illiteracy issues but anyone else can listen to his interview on BBC radio 4 here:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/saturdaylive/saturdaylive_20070609.shtml R

Wow, this is getting interesting. R

Moderators?????

Dear All, posting this on behalf of a mate who owns this truck. What was C/S 38G? How were the zap codes applied / handed out? When did the BATUS fleet go from sand + green to just Sand What is the paint code for sand? Is there a vinyl rag top available for the vehicle? Robin

Howdy Brett, welcome along. Is yours the white one that Sean Deren was involved with? Regards Robin (2 Canadian Ferrets)

Frankly, and no disrespect to those who do use it, but 9/10ths of what is on the so called social media is pure drivel. I watch my employees twitch every time a new message arrives in on their phone / crackberries and watch the loss of the work day for absolute &^%$&*. I work darn hard and have little time to myself and my partner as it is. I have real friends with whom I talk to in person and meet and you fine people here and on MLU. Frankly I would find all the nonsense overwhelming and end up pitching the blackberry, that is actually useful, and becoming a hermit under a rock. So many of the members of the younger (my father is likely rolling in his grave listening to me go on) generations behind us fail miserably at basic human interaction skills and I see it everyday at work. Sorry to rant but that is how I see it. R

Jack, the one that Andy pointed you to is an ex Belgian unit. Have a look closely at the covers on the front deck, you can see peeking out from the side is a small channel which is where the smoke dischargers were mounted. Also it has had the wading screen removed. R

Over here, in the colonies, I know it is not "proper" but we use Detroit Diesel Alpine Green as a substitute as we can get it everywhere and it looks darn close. R

Oh well, if your going for the '68 pattern smock then a Bedford RL for you to jump out of the back with the SLR in hand is perfect accompanyment! R

Andy the wooden furniture looks way too clean. You need some "authentic" stenciled number on the butt! The SLRs in most units had braille scale sized stencil numbers on them from what my memory banks have on file. R

I think you need some Northern Ireland Patrol boots to go along with that and some lightweight trousers and some padded gloves and an eighties moustache! Classic bit of kit. R

Welcome Fraser, nice to see another transplant to this side of the pond! what happened to the S3 109 rag top? me thinks you need a piece of armour now that you live in Texas. I also have an affliction for the military Land Rovers and am a member of Ottawa Valley Land Rovers http://www.ovlr.org regards Robin

Stupid question, I know, but is it another replica of the same real vehicle like this that made an appearance in one of the 'Allo, 'Allo episodes with all the steam engines where the Merc gets flattened? R

Sid, As a fellow Ferret owner, welcome along. Nice to see you used your real name, any chance you can add a little more to your profile page and put town and country etc on so people know where you are when you post? regards Robin

So, it was just an unloved and never used piece of kit that just took up space and was left behind if given the chance. It's a wonder you didnt call it a Rupert Mast! Thanks for the info. R

Richard, yes, we have the EMERS for base overhaul in various ages and from both UK and Canada. I think I'm mistaken and i'm likely also splitting atomic hairs in my whining. R

Dear Richard, As I don't have the manuals here at home I can not quote chapter and verse verbatim. Yes you are correct in what you say, but that is the outside part of the speedo I am thinking, if i'm wrong as I am thinking I may well be, then the step was stated. Any comments on the gearbox adjustment as seen Richard? Any comments on the lower bearing condition as described? To expand there are slight marks rather than pits where the rollers have been at rest on the races. the rollers themselves look to be about a 8 or 9 out of 10 condition. Our worry is that the lower bearings seem to be designed with a sideways thrust capacity to them and wonder as to their availablity and cost. R

The top of the gearbox casing is tagged with a nice plate giving details of when it was last rebuilt. Of note is the fact the top line states RCEME which stands for Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, sadly this is hard to read from the picture but is visible in person. The workshops is 202 which still exists and is in Montreal, Quebec just two hours drive down the road. The last part of the tage is the date which is interesting as it it is the 17th of November 1978 which is only 3 years before the last Ferret was disposed of from service. All the gears look to be in fine fettle and no signs of wear. R

With the speedo drive gear off we could pull the two gears off that are behind. With those off and the lower shaft removed we swung the unit around on the bench and took the left side off. R

Here is the lump of the right side housing unit. The lower bearing that is shown still in place, sadly has some small marking / pitting from having sat in less than clean oil. It is a shame as to this stage all the other parts have shown no kinds of damage. I am of course wondering how bad it really has to be to warrant replacement of the bearing. I know Tommy wants to replace it. R