ArtistsRifles

Alas having no vehicle yet the show will be a day visit only for me this year. :cry:

If you can post wehere the pitch area is, though, it would be great to be able to wander over and put a few faces to the names!!!

Don't know if one one else here has seen it yet - but the latest edition of "Practical Classics" has two articles in it - one of which is of more relevance than the other here.

First off the Gov't want to change the MOT rules such that classic and historical vehicles come under the heading of "Customised" - this,they say, will have a big financial impact on those who own such vehicles and that do need an MOT.

Of more import is the plans for road pricing - these have not been dropped despite the media reports and are continuing to progress with rates of up to £1.50/mile being quoted for peak rate travel. Motoring organizations inc. the FBHVC are pressing for a "revenue neutral" introduction - i.e. the dropping of all road and fuel tax whist the owner has to pay a one-off for the black box. ALL vehicles, irrespective of category and use, will have to have the box fitted (how it's going to work on a 24v, 6v or +ve earth system when it's only being designed for 12v -ve earth is going to be interesting too..) and, again the organizations are pressing for some give-away for vehicles that are currently tax exempt.

Needless to say Messrs Blair, Brown and their related cronies are none to keen on any of these proposals......

Don't know if Classic Military Vehicles or any other related publication has picked up on this yet - but Practical Classics is urging readers to start hammering their MP's now to ensure the organizations proposals aren't swept under the carpet.

That article is about 5 years old! Now the subject of a Hugh governmental argument, so the guy put it, or threatened to put it, back!

 

I have somebody in the family speaks Russian.

Why a huge governmental argumen?? Other than the black crosses on it??

I also speak some Russian - but if Ford's couldn't get me out to St Petersburg what chance does any one else have

Last time I did this - a goodly few years ago now - was to lay the wires in situ by following the wiring diagram. Label each end of every wire with it's destination.

Once all the wires were laid in place and held in place by evenly spaced loops of tape the loom was bound as per the original

Thanks Clive - I think I know what you mean now... I had a LWB series 2 Safari MOT'd at a class 7 station a few years ago and they couldn't fit it on their brake testing m.c because of the 4WD 7 Free Wheel hubs so they used on of these meters.

It's memorable because the tester used the seat belts but the young indian lad in the passenger seat didn't - when the tester hit the brakes, the Landie stopped and the lad didn't but knocked himself senseless on the dash.

Landie passed the MOT OK - which was just as well as we took the lad to the local A&E!!!

As and when I eventually get my Stolly it will have to be stored on the same farm site we store our caravan on. No power there, only a water tap so any maintenance is going to mean bringing it home......

Should make me popular wth the neighbours - esp. when/if the infamous Stolly backfire occures.. :twisted:

Why would they do that???????

ome questions regarding markings/stencils;

 

1. Did all vehicles have standard markings.

 

2. I have seen some with markings on the petrol tank, bonnet and loads more without, is this a personal preference?

 

3. Again, I have seen on the tail gate 'left hand drive, no hand signals' but not on many vehicles.

 

4. What do the numbers mean that run on both sides of the bonnet.

 

5. What are the numbers on the bumper?

 

6. I have also seen people 'name' their vehicles, was this practiced during the WW2.....

 

7. How were British vehicles marked.

 

8 .Do we still mark our modern vehicles in the same manner.

 

9. What do the yellow disk mean on the front of vehicles.....

Dredging back memories to the seventies and my time:

#1 & #2 - Were not in use then.

#3 - US vehicles over here did, thats all I can remember.

#4 and #5 - same as #1 and #2

#6 - Depended on unit tolerance - the Mk 1 Militants I drove were always christened "Skewball" after a race horse - and you need to have driven a Mk1 to appreciate the irony 8)

#7 - TA vehicles were still Bronze Green with TAC signs on the, I think, N/S and regiment crest on the O/S thus a vehicle from 151 Regt RCT(VR) would have a TAC sign of a square spilt diagonally blue on top with yellow at bottom and a white bar over the top of the square and a regt crest of a black square with a red tower on it. Regular vehicles were painted in the drab green/black cammo pattern. Only exceptions to this were the "unholy Trinity"(as it was then known) of 21, 22 and 23 - all bronze green and all unmarked.

#8 - not really

#9 - These were bridging plates and should carry a black number on them indicating the bridging requirement of the vehicle - for example the cargo versions of the Stalwart, FV620 and FV622 had a bridging class of 14 whilst the ammo limber and REME variants - FV623 and FV624 - with the Hiab cranes had a bridging class of 18.

Interesting!!!!

How much are these devices and where would they be accquired from???

Thanks!

The Saracen, I think, is a command vehicle with the raised roof - hence no turret.

Rumour control at work has it that this series is no longer actually filmed in a "for-real scrap yard" anymore due to the health and safety wet nurses, but in what is basically a seeded prop store. Also that the stuff on the workshops side of the bridge is untouchable (i.e. the Saracen and RL)

I know - hence me being here (and elsewhere) now - a year before even looking to purchase!!!

I aim to be at least conversant with the major issues and have a smattering of ideas about the "minor" ones when going to look at prospective purchases 8)

The warning example is appreciated though!!!!!!

Thanks all

Must admit to having been tempted along the way by a Saracen or a Panther as that would fit in the garage - but the other half doesn't like the military in general and DEFINITELY doesn't like weaponry so we've compromised on the Stalwart. Bit of nifty "footwork" on my part I have to admit - pointed out all the models for sale in BP livery and said it wasn't just the army that used them - but as a historical vehicle it would have to retain it's military livery - she fell for it

Hi folks - my name is Neil and. currently I'm in the employ of the Ford Motor Co as a Systems Analyst. This, however is scheduled to change,probably in Q4 2006 as all our work is being transferred to Germany. As I'll be 50 then I'll qualify for SER and plan to use a portion of the severance pay to get myself a Stalwart. Original love was a DUKW - even went so far as to bid on one in an auction down under recently but the price went beyond the affordable after shipping had been factored in

So - plan B it is and the Stalwart has the bonus of being from my era of service!!

Right now I'm seeking knowledge so I don't have to go in to the purchase blind - did this once before and swore never again!!!