johnwardle

Just got back from Cornwall MVTs excellent Mount Edgcumbe at War show, although the show closed early due to today's terrible weather, this show was one of the best shows that we have attended. The organising committee were very friendly and so were all the other exhibitors, the location had superb views over Plymouth sound and road runs around the Rame peninsula were held twice a day. Catering and entertainment was provided by the 1940s Roadshow who provided excellent meals at very reasonable prices. Some unusual vehicles including a Praga, a Hanomag, and the best in show winner, a superb ex Dutch army Magirus Deutz fire engine. All this and free admission to the public. The 5 hour drive from Wiltshire was well worth it, we will definitely be there again next year. Well done Lawson and team.

Good news, the Isle of Wight Military History Museum had its grand re opening ceremony today!!! Best wishes to Stan and the team, I hope they make a success of it.

You don't need a remote starter cable, I just open the door with the cab tilted push the throttle pedal down with my left hand and turn the key with my right hand. No easy start needed.

Firstly, there is no fuel cut off solenoid, the fuel cut off is cable operated, is the stop cable pushed in fully? Secondly if you have bled the fuel system have you loosened the injector piped to purge the air from them? Just loosen the pipes at the injectors, turn it over on the key until diesel spurts out them re tighten the injector pipes then it should start.

If you don't use it commercially it should be tacho exempt, my Leyland Daf is registered as a Motor Caravan and is tacho exempt, check the VOSA website, there is lots of information about exemptions on there. Leyland Daf 4 tonners are also speed limiter exempt as you have a hell of a job getting them to go over 56 mph.

I was offered a Lee Enfield 303 converted to 410 shotgun last year for £50, but as I don't have a F.A.C. I had to turn it down. The LSAT I heard was that he had handed it in to the police for disposal.

This has got me shaking, we have an application in for a BBMF flypast at the Lacock at War show on August 16th & 17th it would be amazing to have 2 Lancasters we have everything crossed.

Perfect I want it.

In view of current weather conditions, has anyone got a SBS Jeep?

That would be perfect, it has that well used look, do you think he would be interested?

It is still slinging it down here no too far from Wells, and there is almost a week to go, if anyone has a suitable Jeep it may be an idea to fit a snorkel.

Wells is currently above water, although it would be an unusual desert with grey skies and persistent rain!

I have been contacted by a television film company that is making a film for National Geographic about the raid on Sidi Haneish airfield. They are looking to hire a LRDG or SAS Jeep for 2 days on Tuesday 11th & Wednesday 12th of February. The filming will take place in Wells in Somerset. They are planning to film the Jeep static in a sand pit, so a non runner would be fine. I know this is very short notice, but if anyone can help please P.M. Me and I will send the contact details.

I've just got back from Stoneleigh, what a waste of time. The traders list on the website was a lot bigger than the trader list in the programme. The website also listed various displays that weren't there, I have just noticed that the dioramas listed are for 2013!! I was particularly looking forward to seeing the WW1 Jeep that mentioned on the home page of the website, I only travelled 2 hours each way, a lot of people travelled a lot further to be disappointed. With all the wrong information on the website, surely it was false advertising.

Absolutely brilliant, have you seen the Top Secret Drum Corps of Basel?

This looks very similar to one that I had, it was a Direct Line Sight for a 25 pounder. It is now on a mates 25 pounder.

It goes through a 'large class IV' same as a Transit van, the only problem you may have is finding a testing station that is big enough to take it. I use the local HGV testing station, Rygor Commercials, who are used to all sorts of camper conversions.

Check on the VOSA website for the appropriate forms, but ensure that in body type you put 'Motor Caravan' if you have down rated the truck to 7.5 tonnes this will put the truck in the Large Class IV M.O.T. Category.

While I am laid up with Flu I was looking on ebay for WW1 items and found item No. 309734408334 which is a badge commemorating 100 years since the start of WW1. Why does it show a figure in 1937 pattern battledress? For such an important anniversary a little bit of research shouldn't be that difficult. On a different subject, I collect Zippo lighters with a military theme, on the Zippo.com (U.S.) website in the 'heroes' section there is a design which is officially licensed by the product department of the U.S. Air Force, and sports the U.S. Air Force logo. I was rather surprised at the aircraft featured on the design, 2 Spitfires in the air and a Lancaster on the ground, now I know that Spitfires were used by the U.S., but the Lancaster shown has no mid upper turret and large cutaway underneath suggesting a 617 squadron plane, am I missing something or was the dambusters raid done by the U.S. Air Force?

We'll according to my mate Stan who lives on the Isle of Wight, and among other things runs the I.O.W branch of the Royal British Legion Riders, he starts a new job as manager of the I.O.W Military History Museum in January, and in his own words is looking forward to playing with 'Big boys toys'.

Good news!!! The Isle of Wight Military Museum is re opening! An acquaintance of mine starts as manager there in January, and his wife will be running a 1940s themed cafe. I will be over there the first bank holiday in May, although Stan won't be at the museum, but running the bike rally we'll be at.

Thanks for the information on the Rolls Royce armoured cars David, Terry O'Neill, who is chairman of Lacock parish council showed me this photo at this years West Wilts MVT Lacock at War show. The photo was taken from the entrance to the Red Lion pub car park, which coincidentally is also the public entrance to the Lacock at War show. It's a pity we will never be able to re-enact this photo. I will pass on the information to Terry who will be very interested in your findings.

Yes they were, the Swiss army even delivered some! Not all were post war G13s, the one in my mates yard was built in 1944, but re-engined with a Saurer diesel. They are a pig to drive, the vision blocks are about the same size as the end of a swan vesta matchbox.

I saw the Shermans (actually they were Canadian Grizzlies) in the welding jig part way through the welding process, what a piece of engineering that jig was. The first time I visited this museum it wasn't built! In fact Dave Arnold, who started the museum was rigging the crane to lift the steelwork for the buildings. Dave took time off and gave me a guided tour of the vehicles there, as far as I am aware he owned the Antar, all the Conquerors, the Cenurion ARV, Saracen, Humber Pig, T54, M47, 3 Comets and a load of other vehicles further down the yard, he even had a collection of old construction equipment. Very sad to see it closed.