Chris Warne

Truly sad news about Marc. I didn't know him, but I recognise his picture so our paths must have crossed at some time. Sincere condolences to his family.

Robert even has the repro dataplate he made for my 45 MB still shown as a stamping example. The plate he made was IDENTICAL to the original I had, but new. He also has a pic of my MB in the Stencils section. Robert has put alot of time & effort into re-creating the different letter styles that were used at the factory for the unbroken (hand-painted) Blue Drab hood numbers. Scroll down to Willys MB, 2 pics bottom left corner. I've since obtained an original Blue Drab sample which is almost perfect - the blue I used on the MB was from a pantomne reference and is a little too blue. http://rdrnl.home.xs4all.nl/4UWPStencils.html

one possible option you have, although I'm not condoning this, is to try and determine the approximate month/year of your MB - ACM tub number, chassis details (late/early) etc... Once you have decided when it was probably built, or at least an estimate that could fit with the vehicle details, then I'd get a repro chassis tag from Robert De Ruyter (who makes the absolute best repros) and he will engrave it with the chassis number you want. Once rivetted (Robert supplies the correct Drive Rivets) onto the chassis, that becomes your chassis number for registration purposes. I'm not suggesting for a minute that Robert is in the business of trying to fool anyone with his repro chasis tags - he will supply what you require in good faith, on the basis that the information you supply is correct and you're entitled to use it. I have a second late Willys 'JEEP' chassis tag from my 45MB I sold a few years back, and I use this as a keyring. On of my friends recently finished restoring a 44 GPW and when he came to register it (US import) the chassis number he found stamped into the metal was GPW1234567 (can't recall the number) and this matched the rest of the vehicle. The DVLA came back and said that chassis number was already registered to a Ford GPW Jeep, so it seems someone had previously 'chosen' that number for a different vehicle - what a coincidence! The DVLA treated the GPW as 'without chassis number' and he had to have the MVT make an inspection to confirm age related plate eligibility. In the end, he had to rivet a plate on the chassis which had a 21 (or 16?) digit chassis number the DVLA provided to him. In summary, it's possible to get age related without a chassis number, but it might be easier to choose an unused number that's approximately correct, and just put that on your chassis before you try to register it. If you goto G503.com and search the serial numbers, you'll find something that's close for your MB's features/age. I forgot to add, in my experience (3 imports registered in the past 5 years) the DVLA are only interested in there being a permanently fixed (stamped or rivetted) unique chassis identity number on the vehicle. If it has one, and MVT or IMPS have verified that number as 'such and such a year', then you're good to go.

I suspect the P-51's would have been dry by then - the rain set in at NW around 3pm! :-( I was hoping to meet Maurice on Sunday, as I've spoken/emailed with him a fair amount over him bringing Janie and Marinelle to the Essex MVT event at Damyns, but was told that his daughter had just had her first child the day before, so he was taking a few days off and didn't come to NW. Understandably, becoming a grandfather is much more important.

Not a show report as such, but an event we've been to as a family over the past 3 years and I took my Dodge along and parked it up with the ever-growing number of MV's that attend this event. This year it was held in June (instead of September) and was themed as a tribute to the American Eagles who flew with the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Although not an airshow per se, the number of aircraft movements gave for plenty of aerial action. Highlight of the day were Maurice Hammonds P-51's arriving, and subsequent access to walk around/between them. A few pictures of Janie and Marinelle.....and my Dodge.

Rear diff will need the pinion (correct word??) depth set using the correct gauge if I recall. Tony Sudds did mine when he rebuilt it, so maybe worth getting in touch with Cliff Harris (Universal Jeep parts) as he may have the correct tool to do this. Not seen any pictures that would tell us if it's a Hotch, Notch or a Willys - most obvious differences are the heavier gauge metal of the frame/chassis, the reinforcement 'inserts' in the front frame horns (just forward of the grille) and the small cut-out in the seam/lip top centre of the dash. No cut-out = not WW2 tub, unless it's been 'notchkissed' by someone! Engine bay doesn't look Hotchkiss, but if it's been converted back to 6v......

and for the blue drab hood numbers, this was the regulation colour applied at the factory when the vehicle was accepted by the military. Specifically for jeeps, every vehicle left the Ford & Willys factoris with Blue Drab hood (USA) numbers, except for the last few months of production of the MB at the Willys factory, where they did change to using white paint (USA 2072xxxx approx) Most period pictures show white numbers as these vehicles had been repainted since being accepted by the military. It's important to remember that lustreless Olive Drab paint (OD) was only expected to keep it's flat finish for 2 years or so and I recall someone on the G503.com forum posting a copy of a regulation on re-painting vehicles every 2 years or so. Anyway, hope that explains the 'blue' hood numbers. Here's a picture of my June 45 Willys MB hood, having used paint stripper to uncover the original USA number - in Blue Drab. As I worked through the layers, I first found the same number in white where the jeep had been repainted at some time. If you want to learn the best way to try and uncover original numbers/markings, there's an excellent topic here: http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=112487

....and in case you hadn't checked the http://www.militaryandflyingmachines.org.uk/ website, Europe's only active B-17 Flying Fortress, Sally B, is confirmed for both days. We hope to have some additional news concerning the air display, specifically Sally B and Maurice Hammonds pair of P-51's, but until it's a definate 'go', I can't say a word. Suffice to say, if it comes together, then it will be unique on the European airshow circuit, and adds yet another reason to attend one of, if not the best, MV, Living History, Re-enactor, Air Display and family friendly shows in the South East.

If I recall, the only place I could locate the inner screen rubber surround was "Chevys of the 40's" in the US. Rex didn't have any, or know where to get them. I believe the rubber surround is the same for the late 30's civilian Chevy/GMC trucks, but call these guys up - they'll know exactly what you need. I think price was good too - $40 or similar. http://www.chevsofthe40s.com/

Sold my 353 cargo last autumn, but had it and my Dodge WC51 on the same policy and it only cost an additional £60 or so to cover it. I'd already paid around £105 for the Dodge, so I'd say that would have been the rough price if I'd just had the GMC on its own. I insure with Roadsure (Premier Choice now?) and always agree the vehicles value. In addition, for the heavier stuff (such as my Halftrack) I could get roadside recovery and transportation to a location of my choice for £54 on top - cheaper than RAC for your car! Can't say I've ever had any problems with Roadsure, easy to deal with, easy to contact, but never had to make a claim so can't comment on that aspect.

I thought I'd add some comments I heard from many participants at last years event, in case anyone with an MV was undecided about whether to attend this year.... All from memory, so not exact quotes: "how War & Peace used to be" "despite the meterioric growth of the show, it's kept a tight leash on staying military - no wicker furniture stalls!" "a must attend event for any mv, re-enactor or living history enthusiast" "the air show displays were better than any I've seen at the Duxford shows in the past 10 years" - this is due to the small size of Damyns Hall Aerodrome, requiring the pilots to fly a much tighter display circuit. FWIW, I first attended in 2008 (the Saturday night storm year!) and last year, and in just 4 years this event has become a mandatory event for us each year. It has something for everyone, at a superb venue, supremely well organised and apart from the days of Don Bullock at Sally B's controls, I saw a 'different' Sally B to the usual displays you get at Duxford. I'm confident the Essex MVT will keep this show 'real' for many years to come, although I'm in no doubt it will continue to grow year on year. Roll on the 6th & 7th August!

That would be superb Tony, as long as you don't mind bringing them along? :-):-):-) I'll drop you a PM with my contact details....

For the Air Display part, both of Maurice Hammonds P-51 Mustangs are booked to appear on both days of the show. That's going to be something special! We'll be doing our 9th USAAF Aviation mechanics display, setting up on the Friday, with around 9 vehicles making up the 'diaorama', aswell as the Nissen hut, etc...... All we need is some dry weather - fingers crossed.

Congrats, looks a tidy Jimmy, and it has the often missing starting handle bracket on the bumper! I recall Rex wanted to borrow mine so he could pattern it. Looks like the fuel tank is for a shop van version, and the spare wheel carrier is a little low (or maybe just not in the 'up' position)? You'll have a nice 353 A2 with a little tidying up. Homer moment! Note to self: read all the posts before chiming in!

It's a shame, but the DX show has declined in recent years - less vehicles, more red tape/restrictions (dreaded H&S), but we usually have about 10-15 of us in convoy from Stansted, and it's a nice drive though the backlanes, so I'll be there on the 19th.

as the final post on this thread.... shot down to Dallas Autos yesterday to collect my Coker Tire 'Firestone' repros and they are even better than I remembered from buying these for my MB. Added to that Steve showed me around the Dallas stores, which I'd never looked at despite attending a number of their Dig Outs, and James gave a quick lesson on Dodge wheel breakdown and tyre removal! (customer turned up with a punctured Dodge wheel) Have to make comment on how helpful Steve and James are at Dallas, always friendly, knowledgable and ever willing to advise and help, but then I imagine I'm not saying anything that isn't already common knowledge! :-)

Might have been the cheap M5 Stuart that generated alot of traffic to the site?

I've not tried it myself, but recall a friend used OD coloured canvas re-proofer that he got, I think, from RR Services. If the canvas has variations in it's colour (faded areas) then it won't fix that, but it will make it greener, and re-proof it.

I take it 9th AAF (391st BG/573BS) marked WC51 would be ok? Sounds like a very tempting event to come to. I've just confirmed both of Maurice's P-51s for both days at the Essex MVT annual event at Damyns Hall, which will be a highlight of the weekend for me, aswell as Sally B or course!

Thanks for the input Andy, having looked into this some more, it seems that gennys have a floating earth, and the option to mimic 'household mains electrics' by connecting the Neutral and Earth pins (on the socket or an extension lead for example) isn;t recommedned, unless you earth the genny frame and use an RCD on the output socket. I've spoken to a couple of other companies who sell the more expensive gennys and they said there shouldn't be any issue on a floating earth genny with any device type (earthed/solid state or otherwise), so I think the SIP team may have advised 'how it is' with their gennys and I'll need to run a 100w lightbulb or similar to get the juice flowing!! I don't think it's going to be a problem at shows, as I'll be running a 3 component sound system (midi sized hifi if you like) aswell as a 60w light, and that lot will draw about 400w in total. Everything else we use is powered by gas, paraffin or uranium.

Good idea Tony - that was on my list to try. SIP tech support gave me a clear explanation for this when I called them. Cheaper gennys are not voltage regulated, so the voltage supplied can go up/down with fluctuations in load/engine speed. Without a voltage regulator, the generator cannot determine the current/power required by a solid state device (non active earth connection) and therefore doesn't supply anything. By plugging the halogen lamp in, this draws enough current for the generator to determine the requirement and so electricity 'flows'. When I plugged the boombox in afterwards, all I was doing was 'stealing' some of the power the genny was providing for the halogen lamp. SIP tech support were very helpful, and said they don't know of any plug in voltage regulators out there. They suggested I should aim to use at least one appliance that has an earth circuit wired up to 'turn on' the electric, and then use the 4 gang to power anything else I want to use - earthed or solid state. One point they did make is to use a spike/surge protected power strip if using any stereo/sensitive devices as these could be damaged. They added that you usually only get regulated supply on the moore expensive generators - such as the Hondas etc... If I find an easy, safe, way to 'fix' this requirement, I'll let you know. Thanks for the help on this topic.

doesn't it mean 'Extra Growly Turbo'??:cool2:

well, I plugged a 4 gang into the AC outlet, connected a 500w halogen lamp to it (this lamp has an earth 'circuit') and the light lit up as expected. I then plugged a no-earth (solid state) portable 'boom box' into one of the other sockets and it also turned on. I then unplugged the halogen lamp and within 1 second the boombox went off aswell. Seems I need to have at least 1 'earthed' device connected to the genny if I want any solid state items running off it. It does limit what you can run off one of these things. :-( does anyone knw of a 'dummy' device that can be plugged in to simulate an active earthed device, so I can plug in and use only what I actually want to use.

cheers, I'll give it a try.

Thanks for the replies and offers everyone. I decided to go with the Firestones, and got the only 5 that James @ Dallas has just brought over from the states. From all the enquiries I've made with the usual dealers in Europe, these were the only 9.00x16 firestones coming into Europe before the Autumn, so didn't want to miss out.