ArtistsRifles

Go on - rub it in!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cry:

Looking like we're OK on the funding front so the loan app gets submited next week. Then it depends on how fast the finance company works!!! Hoping to be the owner by end of May!!

Anyone here into Militant Recovery vehicles from the 60's/70's or know some one that is??? Reason for asking is I'm told part of the kit on the Militant was a set of special adapters for the middle wheel stations on a Stalwart that allowed them to be towed rather than needing a flatbed of some sort. As you can imagine one of the nightmare scenarios for the prospective Stalwart owner is that of having to be recovered as they cannot normally be towed for anything other than "short distances" without serious work in dismantling the rear wheel stations (see below). So - if the Militant recoverys did have this kit then either getting a set of drawings or possibly borrowing it and getting it copied plus the usage instructions could be a life-saver!!!! These are the comments from Richard, the guru on Stalwarts here in the uk:

OK - make that 5 out of 5 :cry: - we'll be returning from France on the 4th

Not having much luck so far - 4 strikes out of 4 so far - 1 due to Ferret failure and (inc this one) 3 due to other commitments :cry: :cry: Lets hope it's a case of better luck next time!!!!!! Please - -don't tell me there's something happening over the 26/27 May or 3/4 June - cos we're in France that week......

Oh B*gg*r it!!!!!! Yet again the wife has had other plans laid for this W/E - we're off to Norfolk for the weekend :cry: :cry: :cry: This is getting kind of monotonous :cry: :cry:

Makes you wonder how they got them to move under combat conditions, let alone fight in them!! Also engenders a whole new level of respect for those early crews!!!!!

Thanks John - that was interesting reading. I wish, many times, my old Grandad was still with us to ask about such things but he passed away some years ago having managed to survive WW1 from first shot to last in - relatively - one piece. I suppose - reverting to the tank - the best thing would be to build an early model from scratch using modern materials and use it as a trainer - but I guess the cost would be prohibitive :cry:

Must put my hands up and freely admit to the sole extent of my knowledge of the WW1 tanks being my Grandads description of them - and as he was in the R.H.A. the description wasn't very complimentary!! What are the respective crew members duties??? - and how did the army train the crews under these conditions??

Cheers Richard - suppose I should have thought of that - early 20th century metallurgy did leave a bit to be desired Shame though as they are a very important part of our history - perhaps even more so than the Tiger!!

Are Bovington that short of volunteers to man these vehicles then????? If they are then I am much suprised - if not actually shocked!!

Up on the MilWeb Vehicle Park page today: URL takes you to http://www.bluepoppy.co.uk/demos/roadsure/military_banner.html which is just an advertising banner page as far as I can see. Be interesting to find out what cover they are going to offer and how they propose recovering such things as the Alvis 6x6 family which should not be recovered on suspended tow!!!!!

Interesting topic this...... Having seen - and nearly caught by - people turning classic Saabs into things they never were I'm probably a bit biased but here goes - I agree with what others above have said - if some one wants a particular type of vehicle - say a "Pink Panther" from the Reg'ts days in Oman - and there are none available either because they've all been destroyed, are in museums or what have you then taking a similar spec vehicle and converting it is a reasonable thing to do as long as it is declared as such up front if being sold on or entered into a competion of some sort. After all - this is only what the military did themselves. However - if the vehicles do exist - as Panthers do - then converting a LWB into a replica should not be countenanced. Period. For those events which involve judging standards of vehicles I believe that replica's should start with a certain number of points deducted for the simple reason they ARE replica's - it's a hell of a lot harder to get a vehicle thats seen active service into show condition than it is to take a vehicle thats spent most of it's life either in storage or in barracks. As regards Cara and Micks Clubmobile conversion - I personally reckon this is a good thing they are doing as none exist now, apart from theirs, and to have one to show future generations what their grandparents went through is a big plus in my books - too many people are trying to "rewrite" history these days so physical evidence of the equipment and conditions in use can only ever be a good thing. Well - thats my tuppence worth - hope it hasn't upset too many people!!!

yeah, know what you mean there berni :oops: :shock: Not too sure I even want to think about the image that conjures up!!!!!

Looks great!!! Yet another one on the "I want to see" list

Wonder if you could get the Tiger 2 running again????

You'd have to censor the part about uniform to get my wife interested

Spent the weekend unwinding in West Wales - this seemed to have involved half the contents of a bottle of brandy but I can't recall exactly what/why/when or how for some inexplicable reason........ When still compos-mentis - spent the weekend trying to juggle the bank figures such that all things are Go for the 1st week in May - fingers (and everything else) are still crossed!!!!

Fear not - I get the same reply from mine!!!! Even made the same sort of offer but...... Although this might be due to the fact it can take a CONSIDERABLE amount of time for her to climb into a Stalwart!!!

Thus far the daughter has expressed interest in working on the Stalwart when we get her - together with the Oik (aka boyfriend) and some of her friends. Apparently it's so ugly it's actually "cool" whatever that means????

Gets a vote from me too!! Yet another one on the "I want to see in real life" list!!!!

Looks nice - maybe one day I'll get to see Eric I can recall spraying 4-tonners with an airgun run from the vehicles compressor - so it was done out in the MT yard with the engine running!!! On that basis - I wouldn't worry too much about the spray gun you've used!!

Hope the weather holds for the weekend and all goes well - esp. with the Ferret! Spare a thought for us as we'll be in the quagmire more commonly known as Wales

Looks even better when you see the real thing up close!! Almost tempted me back towards a Saracen!!

OOPS!!!! That looks expensive................ Reminder to self - put copy of MoD service instructions in cab of whatever vehicle comes my way and follow religously!!!