Alex van de Wetering

Very nice! They seem to be very solid(?). What about the the CMP C60L. Yours as well??? Alex

Excellent work Jules, and even better to hear that you are planning on finishing it with the proper PU body! Alex

Congratulations! Excellent vehicle. Alex

Fair comment Hanno. I have only known the Sherman as "After Hitler" and not "America first", but I would be very interested to hear more. Here is a link with some picture taken in 1946, shortly after the museum opened. There are a few pics of the Sherman in question, but I can't make out a nickname.... Also pictured is the other 7AD Sherman "Cookie", which as most of you know was sold a few years ago and ended up as a monument for the Canadians in Ortona. http://www.gahetna.nl/collectie/afbeeldingen/fotocollectie/zoeken/weergave/grid/tstart/0/q/zoekterm/overloon/q/commentaar/1 The event itself looks excellent, by the way. Alex

Very nice! Indeed the strips on the hull sides point towards a history as a DD....even remains of the welds used to hold the support struts and the fittings for the commanders controls when standing on the turret platform can be seen on the rear hull plate. Is the turret original to the tank? I wonder if remains of the platform on the turret can be seen. Did the M4A4T tranformation also include swapping the cupola in the turret by the way? Any idea what kind of monument we should be thinking about? Probably more likely to be related to it's time in the French army and not from it's history as DD?? Thanks for sharing these pics and information! Alex

I don't think it's a GMC cab that they crafted on, but more likely a Dodge cab. http://i79.servimg.com/u/f79/11/09/77/84/dsc03411.jpg Alex

Bob, swapping a Ford nose clip for a Chevy one is possible, but not very likely in this case; The contour for the headlights differ from Ford to Chev.....Ford cutout is almost a round hole, while the Chevy has a more oval shaped hole, extending to the lower edge of the clip......leaving no space to write Chevrolet Canada:D Also the lower edge of the front clip differs between Ford and Chev, look closely at the section above the steering box one one end and above the horn at the other end. Alex

Great pictures. Bob, don't worry, not all Fords had the "Ford Canada" written under the headlights. If I had to tell by heart I think it was only done on 1943 produced trucks(?) If you search on youtube you will also find one or two movies of the French F60T which now also has the trailer. Alex

That forelast picture of Zemsi shows a Diamond T wrecker with a larger cable drum. I saw one of those a few years ago and presumed the drum was a civvy modification. But, over the past few years I have seen quite a few. Is this larger drum a wartime thing or a post-war mod?? or just an early vs late production feature?? Alex

Very nice and congrats on the purachse. You are in a luxery postion when it comes to choose on what vehicle to work on......definately jealous! Alex

That's what I was hoping for, the F60T. A very rare CMP nowadays! Alex

Or even F60T....?

Yes, that was it. Not much of a success in 2009, so let's try again in 2014, maybe now focussed on a certain time, in stead of the whole day. I know you were there with the QL, along with a C60X and an Aussie Chev MCP.

Dah, dum, dum....tsee..... We should have another go at that MLU meetup in 2014 as well, Richard. Geoff...by the way. The last time I was in Ver-sur-Mer one of the bunkers was being converted into a villa!

Sounds excellent! 2014 it is! Will certainly come have a look at the camp in 2014.....missed it in 2009!....I don't know how, but we weren't able to find it....:blush:

You could be right there, Pete. BUT....I have to admit I cheated a little; Shortly after you sent me the info I got inolved in master making for Resicast, so was able to get a Leyland Chassis/cab for my folding boat project:D Keep the pics coming! I love to see and hear more about the project. Alex

Guy, Thanks for the responce. It does look very good! The base for the rear body looks good. Tyres....yeah, well....who can beat free tyres. Maybe in the end you can at least swap the front tyres for a more Britsh-style tyre. Alex

Excellent work Guy! Can I ask you what brand and type of paint you are using?; i quite like the finish! How is the rear body coming along? Found some good timber in the meantime? Alex

Excellent! I am already looking forward to the next update. Please post the next update in the evening.....I will be waiting with a Stella as well.:-D Alex

Hi Ian, No, sadly I don't have more pics, apart from the ones posted on MLU. I know you are on MLU and there is a good thread about 10cwt trailers over there...sadly not too much pics of the Mortar trailer though. If I remember correctly the original pic of the crew in 's Hertogenbosch is slightly bigger. This one seems to be cropped. I will check if I can find the pic....I should have it in a book somewhere. Alex

Here is the picture from Hanno's G503 webspace: http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/836/medium/s_Hertogenbosch_1944.jpg

Geoff, What is the expiry that for the beer? I have a busy schedule, but have some time off early June 2014:D Alex

Ian, there is a pic of a few of these Mortar trailers and mortar crew in action in 's Hertogenbosch, Holland. I don't know if it is THE reason, but you see the trailers resting on the towing eye which gives very easy access to the cargo area of the trailer for quick action. Alex

Pete, Great to see you have started a log on the Retriever. I don't know if you remember, but years ago you sent me a CD with pictures of your truck for a scale model I was planning. The model is still not finished, but these pics sure bring back motivation! Love to see more picture of the project! Keep 'em coming Alex

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUMB-ex-French-Military-4x4-Truck-spares-restoration-/130760312025?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e71ec04d9&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:GB:102&clk_rvr_id=383062893201