ArtistsRifles

Thanks Richard! :cheesy: Not having a C license I don't look too closely at the M series Bedfords. I do remember the MK's (and TK's) we had up at DoY - slow plodders compared to the RL's we left behind in 215 RCT but with a more comfortable cab.... :cheesy:

Visually - didn't the MJ have the load rack over the cab roof whereas the MK still had the cupola in the roof??

I love it - but its for sale due to lack of work for 6+ years now... Turbo RL model - 410 bhp!!

We had the Landie geared up and ready to go - then on Sat morning I got a phone call from the guy who does the servicing work on the Bentley - he had a free slot in his schedule to look at the rear suspension, could I bring it down on Sunday morning.. Bang went the trip to Duxford...

Sadly true :cry: Although if they were legal then I'd prefer the BTR-80 with it's single engine config. The twin Gaz engines in the -60 and -70 are old truck designs and are working almost at their limits so breakdowns are a fact of life rather than a rarity

The queue of would be owners and restorers would probably tail back from Liverpool to London!

Maybe the forthcoming 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 may be reflected in the asking price?? It's a lovely looking vehicle though and even without the forthcoming events looks to be worth the asking price. :-)

I was thinking more Tonka Toy!!

I am amazed at how straight the prop blades are!! Fantastic photo!!!

Spent Friday and Sat nights in a Czech arctic sleeping bag wrapped up in two Soviet wool blankets - and I was frozen!! Could have done with the woodburner and flue that they used with the tent design....

Oooh err - mine never came with one of those fitted!! :wow: :wow:

Thanks for this one Ian - I have a problem right now with that rear door closing and was dreading the thought it was due to the bank impact. However looking at your photo I can see the impact was on the sprocket guard and track. I need to have a look else where for the reason why the entire door seems to have moved in towards the centreline by 4 or 5 mm.

Might go myself then - depending on weather and finding out what the problem is with one of the OT's rear doors....

No offence taken Lee It takes me time to get out of the hatch normally - if you had seen the life jacket I was wearing you would have to double the time it normally takes me!!! Never having taken the old girl in the water before neither I nor the two guys crewing knew what to expect either on land beforehand or in the water. Both guys were, however, experienced in crewing the vehicle on land. Unfortunately when faced with the prospect of going down fast the mind tends to concentrate on that fact to the exclusion of all else if the two involved are closest to the bit of the vehicle that appears to be sinking.. We learnt a lot of lessons from this that will be put into place if we ever got a chance to try again - and I would love to have another go! For starters we will not take to the water without a minimum of 3 crew on board - me, a commander and at least one man in the back all hooked into the intercom. Preferably one either side so 4 would be the ideal. We want to get hold of the type of life jacket issued to Stolly crews as this only adds minimally to the body profile - important when having to get through a circular hatch fast. Additionally the type we were issued had the unwanted side effect of pushing the crew helmet up off my head whenever I tried to turn my head. We would want to know the condition of the bottom of whatever we are going to try to swim in - we did not find out the lake bed was heavily silted up till after we got ashore again.... Tow cables will be obtained and shackled to the eyes fore and aft and ranged ready for use if necessary - we were actually told that for the first time in we would be hooked on via safety cables to a recovery vehicle - sadly this did not happen. I cannot comment on what happened on the bank as - quite literally - I did not see it. The marshalling I did see as we came out was effective as the crowds were kept well away from the tow cables and then the OT as she finally got traction and climbed out under her own power. I know nothing about the organising of shows so cannot and will not say anything there either save that it was a fun weekend and every one, exhibitors and public alike, seemed to be enjoying themselves. All the events were discussed with Tim during the show and I am sure he and his crew will have their own list of things to do differently next time - possibly this year was the first they had tried to swim heavy tracked armour????

Is it £18.50 entry if bringing a vehicle??

That was mud - well - silt - coming off the tracks - I checked the resilient pads after and they had no more damage to them than before. It was physically impossible to turn the vehicle around in the silt. As soon as on track braked the other just lost what little grip it had. Hitting the bank came as a surprise as (a) I though we were much further out and (b) it doesn't seem it in the video but the tracks bit at the last moment and went from almost zero traction to full instantly. It was an experience - an interesting one - and lessons were learnt for next time. For the record we did want a third man in the back hooked into the intercom but there were not enough life jackets so we went in with just two of us. Won't do that again - it will be at least 3 or not at all. We will also have towing hawsers rigged on the front shackles so that if needed the recovery hawser can be quickly connected.

I had a great time over the weekend - even including sitting in a lake for well over an hour Got there late on Friday due to an accident on the A14 delaying the transport picking up the OT but nothing serious and soon had camp set up with the aid of Nick and Paul from Trappers. - Just opposite Dave and Greg from the W&P team so ensuring a lively weekend!! Lee's posted the caravan crushing on the Sat so no need to revisit that, Nick took his one through the caravan on Sunday so we shared the load. Some nice vehicles - and people - in attendance and the photo's are here: http://s34.photobucket.com/user/ArtistsRifles/slideshow/Wicksteed%20at%20War%202013 The lake incident was interesting to say the least - just my luck to be the first one in and find out how deep the silt was on the lake bottom!! We rumbled out and off the ramp and all seemed OK then maybe a vehicles length further on the nose dipped sharply on the drivers side and water started climbing up the front deck fast. I'll happily admit I hit the panic button and whipped it into reverse thinking that a drive shaft seal had failed. Needless to say a moments thought would have gone along the lines - boots are still dry so not a leak then - maybe the lake bottom is shelving and we are finally floating" - but hindsight is always 20/20! I think the sudden change in direction cost us the grip in the silt and the tracks started slipping - I know I could feel them clunking through my feet. The chap from Red Alliance in the commanders seat was experienced as vehicle commander - on dry land -but neither of us had any experience in water so has no idea what to expect, aquatic ops in a BMP class aren't a thing easily researched either. Anyway's, with thoughts of having to to possibly bail out filling our minds neither of us thought to look backward to see if we had lost lock on the slipway - which we obviously had! As we approached he bank the track suddenly gripped and at the RPM we were running at to make headway through the slit we suddenly shot back and hit the bank. Luckily no one was hurt and minimal damage was caused to the bank walls (apparently they are all being ripped out over the winter to create wetlands). However we got stuck and had to be pushed off and then no amount of trying would let us turn to face the ramp to exit the water. And so began the recovery operation to pull the front around enough for us to crawl out. If they are on the forum I'd say again a big thank you to the guys with the Scammell wrecker who carried out the operation. Saturday night saw us in the ballroom sampling the many original ales on sale and making the most of our entrants discount! The band and singers were excellent during the evening, some of the best I've seen and heard. Sunday - apart from one incident - was a quiet day spent wandering around chatting and photographing again, the highlight being the passes by the Lancaster!!! Always such a treat to see and hear that flying overhead The incident occurred in the afternoon - the crows had all gone down to the arena leaving the upper vehicle rank quiet and I was leant against the side of the OT talking to Thomas and James who were sat on top when I heard a "thunk" from within the hull followed by the vehicle rolling backwards - luckily 9 or so people behind saw it move too and leant into it to slow it whilst I scooted around the front to jump up thinking the handbrake cable had gone. I was shocked to hear one of the two guys on top suddenly call out "whatever you just did - do it the other way" - we'd had a kid enter in through an open back door, crawl over the ammo racks and commanders seat into the drivers and release the handbrake because he thought it would be fun. This kid promptly scooted backwards to try getting out the way he came in allowing Thomas to jump in and apply the handbrake again. The kid vanished into the crowd - no sign of any parents anywhere. The lesson learnt there is in future I'll ensure wheel chocks are used and the vehicle is always locked - literally - down. Prior to this I've always been happy to let people and their children climb in providing they ask and a crew member is present. Won't be risking that any more. Had to go and treat myself to an excellent curry from the Ghurka Kitchen to recuperate afterwards!! But this was the only downer in an otherwise excellent weekend and I look forwards to going again. Tim and the crew put on an excellent show and to them, too, I would say a big thank you for such a fun weekend!!

The situation is probably exacerbated by the current issues with departmental funding. Each one is fighting to get the maximum from an ever shrinking public kitty so there is no incentive for them to co-operate. HMRC are - in my experience - usually reasonably helpful when it comes to issues both that are within their remit or that lie with other areas. I had a package come in from the US that got intercepted and hit with a VAT and import fees bill. Parcel Force didn't want to know despite issuing the demand letter on a wrong value but HMRC sorted out the correct value by ringing the parcel Force dept and getting them to physically read the label then they rang the UK border Agency who apparently calculate the various fees. before finally getting parcel Force to issue the correct demand letter. I was impressed by the lengths the people there went to to get the issue resolved. DVLA and VOSA on the other hand - well, lets just say my experiences with both are the stuff of legends - or Hammer Horror Films....

If they let tracked armour take part there will be two OT's there Rick should you fancy a ride in something different! :cool2:

That's what you get for missing the payments Jack!! :cool2: :cool2:

Ah - you mean like Baldrick in the BlackAdder 2 episode "Money"!! :cool2: :cool2: