Stone

OK, next round of questions! I now understand how the connection from antenna socket to radio is made, using the hollow-nut+washer+silicone approach, for HF antennas at least. With the VHF spacer installed it attaches to the inside of the antenna mount as if it were a HF antenna cable and presents a coaxial connector at the user end instead. Is this just standard 50 Ohm BNC? Also will it still work at higher frequencies than it was designed for? If it could do 80-140 MHz without too much attenuation it would be great for FM and airband, if it hasn't got a lowpass filter too, that is... Thanks :-) Stone

RB44s were first in service 1990ish (ours 5/12/1991 with a middling reg number) so it makes sense that the 101s were pressed into filling the gap while they sorted the snags. Does make you wonder what they thought they were going to do between April '90 and the RB44 in-service date though! Even without all their initial problems there would have been a gap. Stone

It was a blue VW Lupo with the bonnet up :-( We were on the hard shoulder for less than an hour, probably about 1540-1630?

I agree with you, but the plan was to have retired Harrier by the in-service date anyway so we had to have F-35B. At least now they've accepted we should use the carriers conventionally (or one of them at least!) we can get the cheaper, better version. Thanks for the Janes link, I knew about our fledgling railgun but not the catapult. You're right, it'll be really interesting to see which way the MoD jump :-) I can't see much going to Witham's with the cuts, they'll just store them for the inevitable life extension programmes. Why refurbished everything when you can break a brand new unit out of Ashchurch? Stone

Not sure what you mean by this, they're keeping both carriers! One is going to be converted to launch F-35Cs with catapults (possibly the nifty American electromagnetic ones) and the other they haven't said yet but may well end up covered in helicopters and Marines, and minus the ski jump. The cost saving on buying F-35C instead of F-35B will be pretty significant on its own - not to mention the operational benefits in carrying more fuel / stores etc with the loss of the VTOL units' weight. I'd wager they can land without dropping all their unused missiles overboard too, unlike certain jump-jets beginning with H :cool2: The biggest mistake in the carrier design IMO was not making them nuclear - then they would have oodles of power for exciting new electronic kit (anyone fancy an ABL-class megawatt laser as deck armament?) and all the steam for catapults they wanted. As it is they'll have to spend half the time refuelling while Aldermaston continues to draw up on-paper designs for kit they'll never be allowed to build :mad: Canning Nimrod seemed pretty inevitable really - the damn thing just refused to die. How many billions had they wasted already? Stone

My experience of trying for age-related plates is that they don't inspect the vehicle if everything is in order with your documents. You need: - Correctly filled-in V55/5 - Proof of your identity - easiest is to bring your driving licence photocard (don't need the paper bit) and register it to the address on your photocard. If you don't want to do this you may need utility bills etc to prove you live at the address you're registering it to. - insurance certificate (usually insured on the chassis number) - MOT certificate (or V112G - declaration of MOT exemption - if applicable) - Proof of vehicle age; this can be either through a recognised owners club (See DVLA V765X1, 'List of vehicle owners clubs'), or an original release form indicating date first in service (usually MOD Form 654 for recently-released vehicles), or a letter from Defence Equipment and Support indicating date first in service, if they still hold the records. This can be as simple as 'This is to confirm that your vehicle of type [vehicle number], VID [chassis number] has a date in service of [date]'. Note that you have to bring an original document. - I usually bring A4 printouts of good macro shots of vehicle ID plates, and pencil rubbings of same for good measure. You don't need the engine number as they can just register it as 'not known'. Once you've got all the documents in order they'll charge you for a year's vehicle tax (possibly free if Historic tax class) and the £55 'first registration fee', and give you a receipt - this receipt may or may not indicate which registration number you've been allocated. If it does you may be given a V948 'Number Plate Authorisation Certificate'. The V5C and tax disc are printed centrally at DVLA Swansea and sent out to the registered keeper at the address you've given - this is normally quite fast. You then use either the V948 or your V5C to obtain number plates and away you go! Note that you are no longer allowed to have white-on-black pressed metal numberplates made for road use as they were banned in 2001 - in reality I doubt anyone really minds :cool2: You shouldn't be using a V765 on any vehicle that has never been registered before, as it's only for 'recovering' a historic registration that the vehicle once bore. You can pick up a V55/5 at your local DVLA office or order them online (I think it's called an Importation Pack which includes V55/4, V55/5 and some other stuff you won't need). It's worth filling it in with stuff like length/width/weight at home just to save you the time when you get there - leave any field blank that you're unsure about and they should fill it in for you. Try not to take any full-vehicle pictures as these usually just scare them and they worry about getting it wrong (and then err on the side of caution and refuse to register it)! If you can bring them a fully filled-in form and they have to do a minimum of original thinking it goes a lot smoother. Good luck! :-D Stone

The other two numbers are maximum weights for axles one and two so you can avoid overloading it. You're right that it doesn't explain what's what though! Ours came with a VOSA plate in the cab which was much more detailed and had everything spelled out. You may not be so lucky? (it was in a metal holder on the passenger side of the removable gearbox cover in the cab) Stone

What are you supposed to do if you accidentally pick up military transmissions from people still using Clansman instead of Bowman? I know when we were intercepting unaware operators we needed to have a RIPA license which was a pain in the bum to acquire! Stone

Saw a convoy of the new MAN cargo carriers (GS versions) while sat on the embankment of the M4 near Leigh Delamere waiting for the AA :blush: :cry: Does anyone else think having the ECU cut the fuel supply when it detects low oil pressure is a bad idea? In our case it happened at 70mph in lane 3 while overtaking two artics :shocked: To top it all it looks like it was just a dodgy sensor! Stone

Interesting - it had a Czech roundel painted on the turret so I assumed it was imported from one of the large storage yards. It doesn't surprise me that they're robust, that's how they build everything! My only concern would be trying to get it through the DVLA (and somewhere to park it...but there's always the front garden) otherwise I'd be on them like a shot. For what you get they're relatively inexpensive too. One day Stone

On a similar note, does anyone know where I can get a couple of the UK standard earth spikes with the 'T' top and brass wingnut to attach the earth strap? I need a couple more to go in the fitting on the back of the RB44 along with the sledgehammer... Stone

Ours is the same as that one - 5300kg MAM with a max train weight of 7500kg. I'll spare you the picture as it's the same as the one above! Good luck with your MOT - we paid the DVLA today so waiting anxiously for the V5! Stone

Seem to recall it's all controlled by OFCOM now..? To muddy the waters still further, it is possible to get a transmission licence for a one-off event, but it can be quite expensive! (probably not sensible for individuals, maybe for large events though). You have to specify what frequencies, time and location(s), then they check if you would be interfering with normal users and grant it if you won't. You can find a lot out on their website but as others have pointed out the penalties can be severe! (including payment of consequential damages, there's a not-very-funny story about that! :shocked:) Stone

Misunderstanding, Borehamwood is our closest DVLA office. I'm not driving it there! (isn't there a mod kit for Phaser engines to make them Euro4 anyway? If not the company can always pay the LEZ change if they need to get somewhere...) When I went on Thursday I discovered that whatever Swansea tell you by phone, a VOSA-issued plate with year of manufacture and date of first registration on us apparently not proof of either! Wasn't too happy with that but I'll try again next week... Clive: good news!

Does anyone know the P.O.L details and air/oil/fuel filter numbers required? Apparently the AESPs have all been deleted from the big database already, all except the one about the Starstreak HVM fit :nut: Failing that, has anyone got the manual I could nab a photocopy of for some folding beer tokens? Cheers

I went a month or so ago, interesting place! Bob mentioned using their T55 as much as possible as it was the cheapest to run... I had to decline a ride on time grounds (and it'd be a lot more fun if they let you drive!) but they still had plenty to look at. £5 well spent! Stone

I'm hoping it will be a bit more obvious when my replacement antenna base turns up and I can look underneath. (on ours there's a plate in the way with a hole to let the cable through and I don't want to take the top off as it's raining!) Thanks for your help so far :-)

Thanks for that, I've now found this pic (described as Base Antenna Support No31 Mk3 with Base, Antenna Element): The connector has been cut off ours so I couldn't see what it used to have. It doesn't look like normal coax cable though, it appears to be just plain stranded copper wire...I don't really understand how you could sensibly terminate it in a BNC as they only make sense with a central conductor and outer screen. Is the spacer there to attach the cable screen to the top of the hull while feeding the central conductor into the antenna element? Can't see how you get your ground plane otherwise. If someone's got a pic of the inside of the spacer it would make much more sense, I think! All I want to do is replace the antenna mount with a decent one that's not been smashed up or sprayed over and terminate it in a BNC or something sensible so we can use different radios with it - then we can just use different length antenna rods depending on the band that radio looks at. I never realised how complicated they made it! :nut: Stone

They're very useful for targeting practice / simulated missions, too. There used to be a couple at Spadeadam (have a look on their website, most of their stuff's public) to represent threats we can't buy second-hand yet...

Well, it's arrived...:-D Needs some sorting (bit of a soggy accelerator pedal, clutch could use adjusting, getting the overspray off the lights, couple of oil drips) but it seems pretty happy otherwise. We even got a Ministry plate in the front with date in service and correct chassis number on so we may not even need the Form 654! It's a lot bigger than I remember (not an lot smaller than the MJ!) so it's currently upsetting everyone by taking up three parking soaces :cool2: I expect a trip to Borehamwood is in order shortly... Stone

Perfick, thank you! Is the lead that attaches to the radio part of this mount or attached separately? I can't tell on ours if it's bolted onto the inside of the mount or something...I assume there's an electrical connection between the bottom end of the inserted element and the mount when it's screwed in but I don't know how that gets into the radio. Also would this fit it? It would be easiest as a springy single-element whip but I guess they're designed to be taken off as necessary. At least if I have a spare I can bodge our own antennas onto the hole pattern as necessary :-) Stone

Hi all, Our new RB44 has what looks like a Clansman antenna base on it (like on the front wings of Landies) but it's been mutilated by the previous owners and had top and bottom snipped off The designation marked on it is 'Base Antenna Support Number 31, mk7' with a NSN of 5985-99-744-3410. Four questions: 1) Is it actually from Clansman or just a lookalike? 2) Is it supposed to have a fixed antenna element or does the operator slot the right length into the top? 3) Can I get an antenna with this base and a sensibly-common RF connector on it? (N-type would be great but I suppose I'll get what I'm given...) 4) If not has anyone got a spare I could buy off them? Thanks in advance! Stone

I already failed my Cat C twice on the company budget, it's wearing a bit thin :rotfl: I already passed both theory tests (a year+ ago) so I have another 8ish months to pass the practical before they expire. If they do I'll have to do the CPC, if not I won't... sirhc: caught on a rare sunny day there! Has anyone got any pics of the signals boxes with the big Clark masts on the roof? Best I could find was a postage stamp from N K Recovery... Stone

:rotfl: If you only knew...! (I'm thinking it looks a bit like Soothsayer!) Stone

All it means is I don't do such a big gulp when they sting you for transport :-) The disadvantage is that they refuse to negotiate at all if you're talking from behind a corporate email account. I wanted to get something extra just on principle (another spare tyre maybe, some jerry cans?) but there's no point arguing really, and from the company's point of view the price is the price...The main advantage is I still have a few quid allocated for modifications so we can think about reinstating the Dodge 50 disc brakes, f'rexample. Besides, I haven't passed my test yet so I can't drive it! My licence only has B, B1 and H, RBs are C1. Bet you the ones with no brakes are the ones with the master cylinder robbed to fix a better one! I've bribed one of the chaps here (TA, REME but deployed with a light gun reg so they still operate a couple) to get me a copy of the PDFd manuals in exchange for a couple of slabs of beer so hopefully we'll be all set soon! :-D Stone