Richard Grosvenor

Hello everyone, Does anybody know were I can get transfers of the Royal Artllery Crest as in the photo below I'm looking to replace the crumpled up ones in the cab of the Militant Regards Richard

Oh that looks easy! :wink: I will have to give it a try Many Thanks Richard

Hello How do you make it so you can show more than one picture for your Avatar ? :? Regards Richard

Jack, you could spend months reaching what colour to use. You could even get an exact sample from GMC (if that was possible), what ever colour you paint it, at the first show you take to it, some know-it-all will tell you it's the "wrong colour". Just paint it a colour you like, it's your vehicle after all :lol: Personally, I like a SATIN/EGG SHELL finish on a preserved MV. My little Ferret is still in MATT Gulf War colour and it is hard to keep clean, the dirt seems to get into the paint. I don't know what others think of a GLOSS finish on MV's, I think it tends to look over the top. I think in service MV's would have been painted it whatever was available. Regards Richard

Many Thanks, I've looked at the nuts on my Ferret and thought that they looked the same, the nuts on my FH70's rims also look the same. I've already tried Marcus, he is only about 10 miles from us, but he hasn't got any. I'll try Richard Banister tommorow. Thanks Richard

I must have been posting at the same time as Kewelde! When I said they are M16 that is the modern size I can get that fits, the ones on it now are imperial. There is a gaiter on the rims so it might be alright :? Yes the bolts have a slot in the top and have a locking tab to stop them turning but over the years quite a few of these have broken and a blob of weld is now there to secure them. Even though the nuts may undo with a lot of heat they are in such a poor state that I don't think I could reuse them. That is why I am looking for a new alternatve. Regards and thanks Richard

Thanks for all the advice, but if I cut off the nuts I still have to find replacement ones. The chap who is helping me is a commercial tyre fitter, along with the very well equiped service van, but still no luck in removing the damm things! Any more ideas? Has anyone used flat washers with Nylock nuts instead of the normal tappered/cup washers? Many Thanks Richard

I,ve tried impact wrenches but all that happens is the nuts round off, they are very rusty so it doesn't matter how good a fit the socket is the nut has "gone soft" so will need replacing anyway. Alot of people have recomended the oxy/acetylene route but just as many people have warned agaisnt it on wheels. And, has D20 inner tubes aren't cheap, or that easy to get hold, of I really don't want to mess them up. On 3 of the wheels the nuts are facing out so they have been covered in several coats of paint and have come undone easily, but on the other 3, the nuts are facing inwards and have had 30-40years of muck on them. Replacement does seem to be the only option. Richard

Hello , I have a little problem, I'm trying to change the tyres on my AEC Militant but I am having problems parting the rims on 3 of the wheels due to the nuts being totally rusted to the bolts. I've tried the normal things like soaking in oil and shot blasting the nuts but without success. I don't fancy using oxy-acetylene through fear of damaging the inner tube or the rim itself. So the only option is to cut off the nuts and replace them with new ones. But I don't seem to be able to find a supply of suitable nuts and bolts. They are M16's with about 50mm of tread ( no problem) but they need to have a tappered/cup washer on both sides as the holes in the rim are countersunk. I have tried most of the Military dealers without joy so does anyone know where I can get any from, I can't be the first person with this problem. Or is there any reason why I couldn't use flat washers with Ny-lock nuts to hold the rims together? Many Thanks Richard

Its called "Grangers Fabsil" I've not used it yet as it has been to wet to re-proof the canvas on the Militant but it looks like good stuff, it also protects the canvas from UV light. Regards Richard

You can get a proper stuff from caravan and camping shops. Richard.

There you go, my FH70 My other toys are 1953 AEC Militant HAA Gun Tractor 1962 Mk1/2 Daimler Ferret and 1970 Zil 131 This posting pictures lark is quite easy isn't it. Regards Richard

Hello Don't worry about setting up an FH70, they are very easy! In service a crew of 8 could set them up in 2 minutes. Me and a helper can get mine set up in about 8-10 mins I brought mine from Withams a few months ago, not in the Tender Sale though as I wanted one in full working order. It is! I think all the ones in this Tender were complete but I don't think they were all runners. The most important thing I have found is to lock the Trail Legs up BEFORE trying to move the gun. Failure to do this results in the ram braking and if the rams aren't fully up the gun can not be moved, most of them in the tender had at least one leaking ram If your mate wants any help on setting the gun up,( there is an order to it get in wrong and it takes ages), just get him to contact me and I'll help him out. Regard Richard.

Hello Personally, I don't consider myself as a re-enactor just because I own MV's I wear camo gear when I take one of the vehicles for a run or to a show but this is more a case of having a bit of fun and getting into the spirit of things. True re-enactors ,such as Rolling Thunder, must spend ages researching and finding just the right equipment and their vehicles are just another "prop". Has anyone else noticed that at alot of re-enacted battles the Americans start off completely out numbered, dodge hundreds of bullets and shells , then they fire a few shots back and the entire Viet-Cong army fall down dead! :wink: Regards Richard Grosvenor

Thanks Jack You can drive over 8000kg if it's a commercial vehicle built before 1960 To summarise Vehicles upto 3500kg require a "B" licence ( normal car licence ) Vehicles 3500kg to 7500kg require a C1 licence, minimum age 18 Vehicles over 7500kg require a HGV licence, unless they are older than 1960, and not used for hire or reward and used empty (other than hand tools,oil, water, etc.) then you only require a C1 licence, minimum age 18 You can tow a trailer with an "exempted" vehicle only if the tailer is unloaded or has a "permanent load" ( artillery pieces and caravans are classed as a permanent loads. Regards Richard

Right, the article is in the October 2003 issue of CMV. Page 51 Quote "Vehicles under 3500kg can be driven on a ordinary "category B" car licence. At weights above this, things are a little more complicated. If you passed your test before 31 Dec 1996 you should have a "category C1" on your licence- this allows you to drive a vehicle upto 7500kg GVW" It then goes on to explain the 1960 exemption and how a vehicle over 7500KG GVW before 1960 can be driven on a C1 licence. It also says if you passed your test after 1st Jan 1997 you have to take a separate test to get C1 entitlement One of the examples given is for a Bedford RL, at 8800kg it would need an HGV licence. But a pre 1960 example could be driven with a C1 licence. Damm I'm good! :lol: Regards Richard

Hello Again No no, I'm sure you will find it is a C1 licence you need to drive a commercial vehicle over 7500kg built before 1960. I can't find the issue at the moment but if you search through your old copies of Classic Military Vehicle magazine there was a large article on licence requirements. But just for a quick check have a look at the back page of the September 2005 CMV and look at the licence needed to drive a Stalwart.( in case you haven't got a copy, it's says UK Category C1, minimum age 18 ) C1 isn't a vocational licence either as I have it but haven't taken an HGV test yet. If I can find the article in CMV I'll post the details. Regards Richard

Hello I'm not 100% sure but I think you have to have a C1 entitlement on your licence to drive vehicles over 7.5 tonnes and made/first registered before 1960. I know you have to had a full licence since 1997 to have C1 entitlement. To drive a tracked vehicle you need to get an H Class licence, the strange thing is you can get this on a tracked digger which is hardly the same as a fast CRV-T. It always seem odd to me that I can drive my 1953 AEC Militant towing my 155mm FH70 Howitzer, totalling 28 tonnes and over 56ft long, on a "car licence" but to drive a modern 10 tonne Truck I need an HGV Licence. Even more frightening, if you have a C1 licence you could legaly drive an Antar or Dragon Wagon, mind you've got to find someone to let you drive one first! Regards Richard Grosvenor Ps. I've seen some trucks,such as the Foden FH70 limbers registered as a mobile cranes to get around the MOT and HGV Licence requirments, be carefull as mobile cranes are not allowed to tow trailers.

Hello You say why aren't many British Vehicles seen at shows compared to American Vehicles. Well, at this years War & Peace Show (on the Friday at least) when the the British Vehicles came into the arena the turnout was massive, in fact they were running out of room to get them all in. But when it was the turn of the American Vehicles they had the impressive display of only two Rio's! Perhaps there are less British Vehicles but at least thier owners are proud of them :lol: As to the comment that "young 'uns" aren't interested in British MV 's is a little unfair. I am 30yrs old and already have an AEC Militant Mk1 HAA Gun Tractor, a Daimler Ferret Mk1/2, a 155mm FH70 Howitzer and am on the look out for more soon. I also have a Russian ZIL 131 and I regulary display my vehicles at local shows. Regards Richard

So you can't sell it! But you could give it to someone and charge for delivery!!! At the end of the day, hand guns have been banned for years but you can still buy them. Regards Richard

Hello I was also shocked when I first read about the proposed Bill and it's implications to Military Vehicle owners. I own a Daimler Ferret, AEC Militant Gun Tractor , ZIL 131 and a 155mm FH70 Howitzer. As I take these to shows, along with repilca guns I was worried that if the Bill becomes law I would not be able to do this. So I contacted the Home Office via email to ask if the Bill would affect me. They replied the following day with; Dear Mr Grosvenor, Thank you for your message of 16 July about the Violent Crime Reduction Bill. The Bill looks to ban the importation, sale and manufacture of realistic imitations; it does not ban their possession and use. You would be free to display your vehicle and your howitzer as before. Keith Bottomley Firearms Section, POPCU If any one is worried if the Bill would affect them you can contact the Home Office at <public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk> The more people who ask questions the louder the Military Vehicle owners voices will be. Nice to see a forum like this. Good work Jack. Regards Richard Grosvenor