Rlangham

Looking forward to seeing it. Didn't know that, i've found out all sorts about this place's history, including that after WWI, Claude Grahame White who set up his factory here, made quite a bit of a business converting Rolls Royce armoured cars back into luxury cars. Talking to the chap dressed as an RFC pilot on Sunday, it turns out there's more of the WWI era factory buildings on the police college site, so i'll have to have a wander up the road with my camera, and try and not get arrested for acting suspiciously!

Here's a couple of shots I took today after visiting the BCLM of the beautiful Clyno motorcycle combo at the National Motorcycle Museum near Birmingham. Anyone know if there's any other survivors?

Here's some more photos of the RAFM example from Friday, as it had been moved as the SE5A fighter has been moved to the main hall, presumably something to do with the 90th Anniversary of the RAF

Interestingly, the modern display board on the Crossley has an older style one next to it now, which correctly states it was a 15cwt tender, whereas the modern one states it as 34cwt several times, for some unknown reason

One of my favourite exhibits at the RAF Museum is this Crossley light tender, built on the chassis of the Crossley 20/25 chassis which was also used as a staff car (see the thread on the Shuttleworth Collection for a photo of one). The first one was delivered to the Royal Flying Corps in 1913 and by the end of the war there were 6000 in service. By 1922 there was still 328 in service, and as well as serving in the UK and Western Front, they were also used in India and Mesopotamia (Iraq). After the war many were sold off, and the nickname of the 'Flying Squad' in the Police force comes from the fact that the London Metropolitan Police force formed the Mobile Patrol Experiment in 1919, it was equipped with two Crossley Tenders from the Royal Flying Corps

Took these a while ago as it's another WAAC motorcycle for a friend who's going to get a WAAC uniform to drool over, this is a Phelon & Moore 3.5hp at the RAF Museum, next to their Triumph Model H. The Phelon & Moore 3.5hp entered production in 1914 and was chosen as the standard motorcycle for the Royal Flying Corps. At the end of the war, the RAF had 3380 Phelon & Moore motorcycles on charge but by 1920 had just under 500 left.

WAAC on a Phelon & Moore fitted with a sidecar - anyone know what the cap and trousers are?

There's the Tuckett brothers in the UK who seem to be the main source for Model T's over here, their website is http://www.tuckettbrothers.co.uk (interesting that the 1919 tourer for sale has bullet holes!).

At the IWM photo archives on Wednesday I found plenty of photos of the patrol car version of the model T as shown in the Australian War Memorial photos, including a shot showing the rear bed of a spare model T body, which would be crucial in making a replica. There was also a photo of a patrol car at Arras, first proof i've seen that this version was used on the western front

Also, on a visit to the RAF Museum on Friday, the model T had been moved, still in an awkward place for photos though unfortunately!

I posted the photos of the RAFM's model T on a Ford model T messageboard, and it was absolutely torn to pieces! Turns out the RAFM have made a bad job of it, as although the chassis is original, most of the parts (including the cowl/windshield area) are from late 1920's era model Ts, which puts the accuracy of the bodywork style in doubt too

Last of the photos of the RAFM vehicles now (seeming as i've now done all four of them!), is this very nice Ford Model T tender. It's the 1917-1923 version of the Model T, and Model Ts were used in many forms during the war, as armoured cars, patrol cars fitted with Lewis and Vickers machine guns, staff cars, water carriers, ambulances, even starters for aircraft engines (as you can see in the Shuttleworth thread), pretty much any use you can think for it, the Model T was used for it. Unfortunately this has been pretty poorly positioned so it's hard to get photos of it, but I believe it may be moved outside for an event this year so i'll get better photographs of it then and update this thread

By the end of the war there were 18,984 Ford Model T's in service with the British forces alone, in the RAF they were mainly used as passenger cars, ambulances, fire tenders or light tenders as shown. They remained in service up until 1927, which incidentally is when production of the Ford Model T stopped.

Not much is known about this one, except that it was shipped over as a working chassis (ie radiator, cowling, engine, wheels but no bodywork) in 1917 as a part of an American built batch (even though they was a large production line in Manchester since 1911) to France prior to the US entry into the war. Apart from this, nothing is known of the history of it ie which bodywork it wore, so the cab and rear cargo bed of it has been replicated. The registration number is based on an example that served with the Royal Flying Corps in Scotland during WWI

Here's some of the detailed photos I took of the 1917 Triumph Model H motorcycle in the RAF Museum, Hendon. This was one of the most popular motorcycles of the First World War, and was nicknamed the 'Trusty'. I took them for someone restoring a 1914 Triumph Model H, the website for the restoration is http://www.triumphmodelh.com/

Interesting, thanks for that - i'd always wondered how the Campaign Against Aviation stood on the matter of searchlights. Does anyone have any photos of WWI searchlights? Can't imagine they'd have differed that much

I think i'm turning into a WW1 postcard collector too - bought a WW1 Zeppelin postcard off ebay the other day, purchased a 'stereoview' postcard of a Whippet today and always on the lookout for more. Most people here probably know my current house - ex-RAF Hendon Aerodrome Hotel/Officers Mess, built in 1917 and now rather shoddy student accomodation, and it's always interesting to see the place on an old aerial view of RAFM Hendon, or better yet, on this video of a DH Moth, right at the start!

Hmmm, just imagine a Ford model T smelling like chips... my idea of heaven!

When things die down a bit, will the pre-WW2 section be re-instated? I still have most of the threads I put up (the photo ones anyway), so I can easily cut and paste them into the reinstated section. Glad to see the site back up

Thanks Tony, will have to add this one to my birthday list. I believe Andy Robertshaw organises several WWI events which i'll be at this year, so perhaps i'll get to meet him myself

Haha, great stuff - certainly rather 'racy' for Edwardian tastes i'd have said

Nothing comes between me and the DH9A!

WWII photos up next

The scene this morning

Typhoon with Royal Air Force Servicing Commando display

Here's my photos of the WWI aircraft and displays from the 90th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force event. Had a fair amount of public, I was out of the way a bit behind the Lancaster, with the SE5A fighter. I was the only person doing WWI on the saturday, however today I was joined by a member of staff doing an excellent Royal Flying Corps impression, so I changed from being a private of the Leicestershire Regiment to doing RFC ground crew (just short sleeve order and took my cap badge off). Had a lot of interesting discussions with people and had a good time, although my feet are covered in blisters tonight!

WRAF (still with RFC shoulder titles) and RAF officer on a Phelon and Moore motorcycle and sidecar combination

Nice coloured photo of airmen with 'maternity' jackets

WWI DH9A bomber with inter-war crew

Me as RFC ground crew with SE5A

Be2

SE5A pilot well equipped for the extreme weather this morning

My display on the Saturday

Pegasus SD with markings of 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment

At the RAF Museum's 90th Anniversary event this weekend, I got some photos of me in my WWI kit posing in the snow, hope they're of interest

Wow, thanks for the listing Steve, interesting to see what's out there - are there many restored British vehicles in France/Belgium that get out and about much? I'm off to Belgium in April for a large WWI living history event, be interesting to see if anything turns up to that. Don't know if it counts as it has a 13 pounder AA gun on the back, but there's also the Thornycroft J type at Duxford

I'm sure you've all seen the fantastic drama/comedy 'Shameless' on channel 4. On one episode, there are some drug dealers with a Willys/Ford/Hotchkiss Jeep, albeit heavily modified with big tyres, roll cage and what I think is a supercharger. Has anyone seen this episode, or seen a jeep that fits the description? Would be interested in seeing photos of it. Hardly conspicuous for a drug dealer to be driving around in!

Cheers, Rob

Medium A 'Whippet' WWI tank

AEC Y type 3 ton lorry

FWD lorry

Rolls Royce 1915 British Army pattern armoured car (would love to tell girls i've got a Rolls Royce then pull up in one of those!)

Clyno motorcycle and sidecar with Vickers MG

Triumph Model H motorcycle

Pierce-Arrow armoured lorry with 2 pdr pom pom AA gun in the back

Crossley 15 cwt tender

Then for post-WW2 stuff i'd have to go for Universal Carrier, and a Willys MB for fun

Oh, and a box of photos showing the Leicestershire Regiment in WWI would be handy as well!

Thanks for the update, all I can do is echo what the others have said, you've made something as utalitarian (did I spell that right?) as engine parts look beautiful, I bet i'm not the only one here to see it finished - nice to see the FWD in the background too

I'll be there, getting measured up for my WWI service dress tunic, trousers and shirt as well as picking up a few other WWI bits and bobs (including an SMLE) for my WWI impression

Anyone currently watching Midsomer Murders with the WWI re-enactment? Interesting to see the Great War Display Team

http://www.greatwardisplayteam.co.uk/

and an ambulance, looks like the Ford Model T of the Birmingham Pals

I've seen the NMM Clyno with my own eyes, it's beautiful! Would love one myself