Meteor mark 4B

John, there's one at Elvington. Not sure if you can climb all over it, but you can ask.

Taken at the West of England Steam engine rally, as major SW show. I can see how you assumed my name was Mark! Meteor mark 4b is actually the engine in a Centurion!

John, there's bound to be one around somewhere not too far away. I know the feeling, after about 35 years I spent a lot of time learning all about the Centurion again, and the day I lifted engine and transmission decks after all those years was quite a moment. (Sad isn't it?). I didn't actually lift them on my own, as I did whilst a driver, but it was good to see all the gubbins again. I drove one as well, gear changes not quite as slick I fear. Probably best not to go down the "corporate tank driving " avenue, you might be disappointed. Not to mention empty of wallet. I googled "Chieftain tanks in the North of England" and a few things came up, but all appeared to be business things. Someone will know I'm sure. I'll ask the question on our old comrades web forum, but will probably get a load of "humourous" replies!

As one who was involved with Centurions, Chieftains, Antars, and Diamond Ts, this combination looked pretty impressive!

Seen yesterday in deepest Cornwall.

a. Why is it many people always knock our own stuff? Seems to have been a national hobby for years. b. I'm not quite sure Pinzgauers and MANs are that reliable, and lots of the parts are as far as I know, VERY expensive. c. On this thread somewhere it was said the squaddie loves to moan, particularly about his kit. Quite right too.All squaddies moan, been there done that. d. If you want a Toyota or a Dodge, or a J**p, ok, but I'll stick with my Land Rover thanks.

Nice pictures! (From an ex Plant op) Oh, its a TS 24 by the way!!

I note in our local paper, that the pilot on Culdrose Air Day was the same as when the operation to the Falklands took place in 1982, Martin Withers.

b****r, missed the T off "it" !

Vulcan turned up at Culdrose Air day at about 1600 yesterday, and proceeded to give a memorable display, much longer than I expected. Possibly not many more chances to see this wonderful plane actually flying, (H & S Police?), so if you get a chance, go and see it. Took a load of photos, here's just one... PS, it didn't actually drop anything!

I hear today that the Vulcan is stuck somewhere with a brake problem........

It appears a Vulcan will be at RNAS Culdrose Air Day on Wednesday. Fingers crossed.

Hmm...I thought the "antiques roadshow" referred to the Centurion AVREs of the Armoured Engineer Regiment??

Just finished the book by Rowland White, a brilliant read, not sure what I'm going to read now that will be as interesting.

Interesting little note here....... a turbocharged 2 1/4 Land Rover petrol engine had much the same power as a V8 of the period, but was a lot lighter. Added to an overdrive unit, I hear of speeds of 90 in overdrive third, and 103 in overdrive top. The mind boggles! Allards fitted the turbo, Unipart provided the OD. Not all LRs were so equipped I don't think. Hopefully the book will get published and everyone will buy a copy, so I'm not going to say too much more here!

Modifications do not appear to include anything to do with brakes! Turbos, twin carbs, roll bars, 7.50 tyres etc, but normal braking.

The text in pic 3 is from a book, written, but not yet published.

Someone on another forum wanted to see a few pictures, Couldn't be bothered to go through the whole photobucket experience, so I'm putting a few here! Three are the real thing, one is mine!

I drove one of those Bedford RLs while at FVRDE, lovely little truck. l also had cause to drive a Commer (with a long nose), ghastly thing, when there were no Chieftains to career around in!

Hmm...I thought I glanced a Foden badge, it was a new unit so probably not. Yesterday on the way home I overtook a magnificent army Foden towing a trailer with a CVRT aboard. No idea where I would put one even if I could afford it!!

What I should have said was....I thought Foden trucks were not now being used by the Army.

Driving along the M4 on Monday of this week, I noted three new Iveco trucks, and what appeared to be a new Foden recovery truck. It was a quick glance, but it did look like the Foden badge on the front. Any ideas on this?

I understand a bit of thought went into the choice of names for the two carriers. Who in government will be man or woman enough to scrap a ship called The Queen Elizabeth?

Saw both Dauntless and Daring last week in Portsmouth, I'm sure it was mentioned that Dauntless is now a commissioned ship. Several sad looking ships there, HMS Endurance particularly. "Its fate still undecided" our guide said.