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Adrian Dwyer

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Posts posted by Adrian Dwyer

  1. 2 hours ago, Ron said:

    Ha Ha! There's your main problem. Did you buy UK parts or Indian made?

    Yes always use the valve lifter to get over compression. It's surprises me how many guys and girls I meet who just don't get it🥴 Ron

    New old stock!

  2. Thanks Ron - just replaced the quadrant, pinion, spring and bushes.  It's better than it was but still jams occasionally.  I'm thinking my technique is a bit too T150 and not enough 3HW!  Is it your experience that you have to me more careful engaging the quadrant on the 1940's box than on Triumph of the 60s and 70s?  

    Thanks again.

    A

  3. Morning all.  Is it a known problem with the 3HW gearbox that the kick starter jams when the quadrant fist begins to engage?  This has become an issue with the 'elastico' 3HW (see previous post for more detail about the '42 Italian Triumph): a good swinging-kick starting from the fully-upright position of the kick start routinely causes it to lock solid.  Should I be gently prodding it to a more horizontal attitude before I apply the downward force of my ever-increasing bulk!  Or is the jamming-up symptomatic of a gearbox issue, as yet undiagnosed?

    The two images show the resting position of the kickstart and the point at which the quadrant just starts to engage (and at which it sometimes jams).

    Many thanks in anticipation!

    A

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  4. Morning all.  As has been noted, this is such a useful piece of work (much used by those treading the wary path through ebay sellers).  I know Edward has achieved his aim but I thought the following images might be interesting as they give dates. 

    • NI combat glove dated 1984
    • Braces, dated 1980
    • Both sides of the folded tag on helmet 'sock', dated 1983
    • Anti-mine goggles case , dated 1973

    All the very  best and, once again, many thanks to Edward for the original legwork!

    A

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    • Like 2
  5. Morning Larry - an authority on the history of SD-2s made the comment (copied below) on the RE BD facebook page.  I think he hopes to join HMVF so may be able to add even more!

    'Beaverettes were also used by the RAF to clear airfields of SD2s in another way: a long thick rope or chain was dragged between two Beaverettes, rather like minesweeping ships.'

    • Like 1
  6. Morning all. 

    The term used in the caption 'airstrip cleaner' is not one I've ever encountered as a euphemism for UXO tasks.  I do know the fear of the SD-2 'butterfly bomb' certainly taxed the RE BD units, particularly from '43 onward: not least of all because, by visual means, it could be problematic to determine if the fuze was a failed impact fuze, a time-delay variant or an anti-disturbance option. The first airfield to be attacked by the SD-2 was Harlaxton ,Lincs, on 18 August 1941: 70+ were deployed with only 11 impacting on Air Ministry property.  However, between June-October 1943, almost 10,000 SD-2s were dropped.  The late Arthur Hogben (in this excellent book 'Designed to Kill') noted that in the August of '43, 3000 SD-2s were dropped by Luftwaffe fighter-bombers that followed allied planes back to their airfields in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk.  A tactic repeated thereafter elsewhere: so, the problem certainly existed and minds must have been focused!

    In terms of the family of incendiaries known as Elektronbrandbombe, they would typically burn to nothing relatively quickly or remain inert.  The incendiary with the high-explosive element (in the nose or tail) was much less common than the straight pyrotechnic type. 

    As a former Royal Engineer I know very little about WW2 RAF BD, but using such a thin-skinned vehicle to 'push' enemy UXO off an airfield would no be my first guess.  The theory about dealing with unarmed bombs that detached unexpectedly from our planes may be right, but still sounds a bit odd.  However, someone must know.  I'm happy to post the question - with the photo - on the RE BD EOD history page - if that would be considered helpful?

    All the best.

    A

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  7. Thanks Ron.  I have found an ally fluent in Italian, so will try a more personal approach.  It is, of course, entirely possible that the Italian nation is more than a little embarrassed about making a Benelli out of a Triumph!  And, as a result, rather wishes these WD-elasticos didn't exist.   As a clichéd character from an '80s sitcom once said, what-a-mistake-a-to-make-a.  Vermouth anyone?

    All the best.

    A

  8. On 8/6/2023 at 4:36 PM, rewdco said:

    I think it could be worth contacting the MotoCiclismo d'epoca editor. When I was working in Italy in the 1990's I always bought this high quality monthly. It used to have (still has?) lots of in-depth articles. Definitely worth a try!

    No response from MotoCiclismo d'epoca.  I will try and locate someone who can translate my question into Italian!

  9. Morning all.  Just came across these photos of the original owner of the original Mk8 goggles.  He was an instructor on the B-24 and B-25 and a contemporary of Blag. He finished his war in the far-east: having flown his B-24 there from the west coast of Canada to China (I have his logbook recording the epic).  What a man!

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    • Like 4
  10. Morning all,

    Re: the Dan Dare helmet, does anyone know if it is possible to acquire the replaceable padding pieces for the brow and the neck?  I've attached a couple of images for anyone who has no memory of almost removing their ears pulling these things on and off in a German winter!  If anyone has any suggestions of where I might try, please let me know.

    All the very best.

    A

     

    DD helmet.jpg

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