ferretfixer

No Response so far! So I am guessing, nobody has a handle for sale?

OK, Ill try another route:

Does anyone who owns a Deact M2 60mm Mortar. Be willing to take some close up photo's for Me.

Of thier folding handle on the Traversing wheel? Armed with those, I could make one myself.

T.I.A.    Mike.

8 hours ago, saxmanguy said:

I last saw Stu in January 84, at Windsor, when i was posted out

He was probably propping up the bar in the Mess, long after you left!  

Very nice guy, Quiet & knew His stuff. 

4 minutes ago, saxmanguy said:

It certainly is Stu Reid 😁

I knew Him well. & met him again when i was at Warminster LWC.

6 hours ago, paulob1 said:

I had a heart to heart with the council and asked why they are fighting me.  they genuinely, I felt, came back and said its not a fight its about policy and i have to give them enough evidence to go outside of policy...this is where of course it becomes the fight, what they want and what I can give they know is impossible, so whilst he is right its stacked in their favour not mine and they make the decisions.

Errr, Is Policy 'Law' now then these days?.......

Dale, it MAY be that the steering system has two slave cylinders for each side of the steering braking system?

The logic being I would guess. Is that if a cylinder fails, you can still steer.

A bit like a rolls Royce, two Braking & two ignition systems for 'Failsafe'!

Just my thoughts on this.

Amazing what you have done so far dale. Excellent!

It will protect the inner hull from rust & looking unsightly . Also easier to pressure wash out, should you get a fluid leak in the future.

On 5/22/2020 at 8:30 AM, Chris Hall said:

British contract L2A3s only ever had a Sunc finish and have different markings to the commercial offerings. The serial numbers are also US or UF prefixed rather than the commercial KR or S prefix. Some MOD spares were salvaged from broken up commercial guns (because the commercial gun was not to UK spec) but I believe they were refinished to MOD spec.

Not quite correct chris. I have inspected, repaired & modified many Hundred's of thousands of SMGs during my Time in Service. I recall through the 70,s-80,s. A vast number had the crackle finish & were L2A3 spec. these were the original weapons bought by the MOD direct from sterling. They only lost that finish when going back to field workshops when the finish was very worn. Known as 'Rust Proofing'. Or 'Parkerising'. when all component's were degreased, vapour blasted & then Zinc Chromate (Parkerising) Finished. They were sprayed with Suncorite 259 heat resistant finish paint. & baked in a specialist over for 30 mins. For the finish to harden. then ALL components & Receiver's were dipped in in OX18 Oil & reassembled.

The L2A3's that the MOD manufactured illegally without a Licence from STERLING Armament co in Dagenham. Did not have the crackle finish from the off. There are books on the debacle with Sterling & the MOD. Where Sterling quite rightly sued the MOD & won Compensation. It Nearly Crippled David Holroyd who Owned Sterling at the time!.....

That is why the STERLING magazine is a different profile / shape to the MOD issue versions. The MOD version is different in profile to avoid Patent infringement. & thus the Crafty MOD got away manufacturing many, many, Hundreds of thousands of magazines. Without having to pay STERLING Royalties!.....

23 hours ago, Chris Hall said:

Ferretfixer may be able to confirm this, but I think that gun has the crackle finish as it’s not an L2A3. It could be a training installation as I think that gun is an L2A2.

These Photo's were taken in the School of Infantry at Warminster. Now the 'Land warfare centre'. I was stationed on strength there for three years in the eighties.

The Soldier is posing standing approx. 30 Feet up from the Main Armoury. on the Road that runs parallel with the square behind him. Later & today used as a car Park.

Also the building behind him is now the support weapons building. & has a 120mm Conbat standing outside now.

On 5/22/2020 at 9:57 AM, 43rdrecce said:

Here is an interesting press photo from a sequence taken in 1972. Crackle finish paint on this L2A3.

That is NOT an L2A3. it is the earlier L2A2. Note: the trigger shape is different to an L2A3. & also the Folding butt is Different.

The L2A2 Butts will NOT fit the l2A3! You will observe in the above pic. A rib pressed in the side. The L2A3 doe NOT have this.

The reason the butts are not interchangeable is. The trunnions are in Different positions on L2A2's to L2A3's.

Bipod now sourced!

However, I do have a small problem. The Traversing handle is missing off the Trav Hand Wheel.

Does anyone have one? Or a lead as to where I might source one at all Please?

The pic's below. Show the Trav Wheel without the folding Handle.

Thanks in advance!

Mike.

On 5/12/2020 at 11:58 PM, 43rdrecce said:

I believe these are made up from parts bought in bulk. However, it seems that few genuine L4s have ever been released. Maybe a 'bitsa' is the only option.

Genuine L4A3s were RN weren't they?

Yes they were intended for the Royal marines. The A3 has a hold open device in the ejector block. They are converted from MK II Bren's.

L4A4 SHOULD all be converted from Mk III Guns.

Coming along quite quickly now then Dale! 

Well done!

Mike.

15 hours ago, Chris Hall said:

How do you find having the M2 on the back? I’ve already got an M2 but I don’t know if I should put a M31C pedestal mount in my jeep or stick with the M31 mount with my M1917. The M2 looks impressive due to the size but the M1917A1 is much scarcer on a vehicle and probably more in keeping with the VEP.

Chris, If you put a Fifty on, as Jerry has said. It is not good without the support legs! It will vibrate back & forth like a tuning fork! On a previous Jeep I owned. I actually fired a live fifty off of it! Strangely, it did not affect the accuracy of the gun without the legs?

If you have kids in the back. the two rear facing legs shouldn't affect their space. They are after all. only sitting.. Yes?

I am looking for a .30/.50" Cradle myself, if you know of one for sale?  

It just occurred to Me. Your Name on here is 'Waterworks'. & one of the many Names given to the sten. Was 'The Plummer's Delight'! Lol

On 3/5/2020 at 7:48 AM, andym said:

"I've got a brand new combine harvester, and I'll give you the key ..."  🙂

Andy

'Ive' got a brand new electric combine Harvester, & you can tow the 3.5 KVA Generator'!...……..😁

On 4/13/2020 at 3:40 PM, daleheywoodtanks said:

These are a carry over from German wartime tanks. typical German attention to detail! They are cone shaped, to resist Bullets & shrapnel. IE: Helping to deflect them.

The Turned down opposite 'spigot' end, is to assist in lining up the holes in a section of armour plate. Armour as you are aware, is HEAVY! So lining plates up by hand can be a little 'tricky'! The 'spigot' end helps find the threaded hole to get a bolt in a few threads, whilst you get the next one in & so on.

I can feel your Pain Dale!   

There are some unissued Petrol & Kero Tags for sale on Ebay at present.

Dale, I can only offer that you contact the Tank Museum at Munster, Germany. This is the Bundeswehr's vehicles, weapon & equipment museum. Military Run, so thier Library department should be able to help perhaps?

Also, the Bundesarchive may be able to copy a manual (Or have a spare ) to help you out?

Those road wheels are almost new! look at the mould casting rib round the centre! Excellent!

Paul, If you can prove visitor numbers & footfall to the Museum. After 1 year you could argue your case for  bigger Better Expansion?  Hard to argue with facts, & visitor numbers would prove your case perhaps? Then you would be IMPROVING Facilities to cater for the great numbers?...…..;) 

Yes indeed Wally. You cant help but wonder, had Paul applied for permission for Another garden centre selling lots of Pretty coloured Flowers. & a Shop retailing Fluffy Bunnies. & Bags to put over your head to Blot out the World. & Reality. & having a fitness instructor facilities,, to enable a certain section of the public. to be able to stretch. Enough to enable them to stick thier heads up thier own Posteriors. It might well have gotten passed?...…...

4 minutes ago, daleheywoodtanks said:

Looking everywhere for manuals etc 

evidently Rhienmetal will be accommodating when they reopen. 

Excellent! I feel Germany will be your best bet for hard copy manuals. The Bundy stuff is not held in as high esteem over here. & thus Info is harder to glean!  German Armour is Scarce in private hands over there also. Due to the strict Laws on 'Deactivating' Armour plate itself. So they tend to collect Manuals etc as it is easier. The Tank Museum at Munster may well be of assistance for you? Prices for Ex Bundy vehicles when available. are much cheaper in the UK than Germany Itself.

17 hours ago, daleheywoodtanks said:

I have lots of B series parts, too many really. 
I should be ok. 
I wonder what jets are in the carb. 

RR should be able to help with jet sizes. Unless you can get a german copy of the parts list?