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utt61

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Posts posted by utt61

    Could I legally pull a 20ft military living trailer behind an Austin k9?

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    Clause 30 merely states that a pre-1960 motor vehicle is one of the classes of vehicle exempted from plating and testing - so long as it is used unladen, as is a pre-1960 trailer - again so long as it is used unladen.

     

    It is reasonable therefore to assume that a post 1960 trailer (above a certain size - I'm not sure what the size cut-off is here?) would need to be plated and tested - whether used laden or unladen. I believe this is the case.

     

    So - if towing a pre-1960 unladen trailer with a pre-1960 motor vehicle is permitted (as I believe it is), why can't you tow a post 1960 unladen trailer with the same vehicle so long as the trailer itself is tested?

     

    It's a difficult one to find an answer to, but very relevant to the original question! :nut:

     

    The note on the V112G is stating that the following can be exempted:-

     

    a) a pre-1960 vehicle used unladen and not drawing a laden trailer, and

     

    b) a pre-1960 trailer used unladen

     

    The two are seperate items. There is no reason why a pre-1960 vehicle cannot tow an unladen post-1960 trailer but in this case the trailer must be plated and tested.

     

    There is no reason why a plated and tested post-1960 vehicle cannot tow an unladen pre-1960 trailer without the need for the trailer to be plated and tested. In this case the towing vehicle need not be unladen (since it is plated and tested) but the trailer must be unladen to qualify for the exemption from plating and testing.

    Lucas headlight question

    in British Vehicles

    Posted

    Knowing the huge diversity and depth of knowledge amongst the members of this forum, I wonder if any can help with a question re. Lucas lights...

     

    My ex-ROF Bridgewater 1961 Iron Fairy "Six" mobile crane was, according to the manufacturer's build sheet, originally fitted with two headlights, two jib lights, and one reversing light, all of which were "Lucas GLV.1145 Bulb Fitted 12V 36SE/36 watt". The original lights have long since been replaced by more modern (and plastic) replacements, and I would like to locate if possible some genuine (or replica) original type in anticipation of the day when I restore the crane.

     

    The trouble I am having is that I cannot anywhere find any reference to a Lucas GLV.1145 light unit. Google throws up a mention of a Lucas type 1145 sidelight, which is quite different.

     

    The IF lights are single filament units which bear a considerable similarity to "Butler" type lights, i.e., they are self contained pedestal type lights. Annoyingly I keep forgetting to measure the diameter, but I think it is either 5" or 6" (so rather smaller than a normal headlight). Some vintage tractors seem to have similar units as ploughing or implement lights.

     

    My question is does anyone have any information about these lights that might help me find a reasonably accurate replica, or know where I might find some originals?

     

    Many thanks in advance for any suggestions!

    Railway guns?

    in Research Centre

    Posted

    One of the five BL18 howitzers - serial number L1 - survived the post-war scrap drive and lived on at Shoeburyness, later moving firstly to Woolwich and then, in 2008, to Larkhill. This howitzer differed from "Boche Buster" in as much as it was only ever fitted on a proofing sleigh, rather than an RTM or Railway Truck Mounting (the proofing sleigh has very limited elevation compared to the RTM).

     

    Earlier this year L1 and its sleigh were loaned to the Dutch Railway Museum at Utrecht for a period of 6 months, and both were cosmetically restored at Larkhill prior to the move. The task of dismantling the howitzer and moving it by road to Utrecht was the subject of an episode in the Channel 5 series "Monster Moves", broadcast last Friday evening. The episode is available online (http://www.channel5.com/shows/monster-moves/episodes/gigantic-gun-monster-moves) until 26/10/2013.

     

    The howitzer has now returned to the UK and is on display at the Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson outside Portsmouth.

    What licence for a CCKW?

    in I may be stupid, but......

    Posted

    When we had the inspector from the DLVA come to look at the GTB bomb & M5 trailer .I ask can I carry bombs on the trailer.The answer was no . But he said he would go back to the office and look at the regulations . He rang me back two weeks latter .And said .If you use dummy bombs they must be fixed to the trailer (bolted or welded ) Also equipment that is listed in the TM can also be cared (it all then becomes a display truck & trailer ) T CORBIN

     

    Correct, since if they're not removable they're part of the vehicle and not a load. I suppose that it does then constitute a modification so your insurance comapny should be notified!

     

    (I would stress that they're not real bombs when telling the insurance comapny too!)

    What licence for a CCKW?

    in I may be stupid, but......

    Posted · Edited by utt61

    .... and the real world one.

     

    In the real world nobody is going to complain if you are carrying spare wheel(s) jack, petrol, oil, and water - including jerrycans, stuff like that.

     

    You will probably get away with this provided that the quantities are reasonable. One jerrycan probably OK, 20, no chance!

     

    You'd have a pretty defensible case if you were carrying a 'load' that was mocked up strictly for show and did not constitute a real load for the vehicle - for example if your GMC was full of empty wooden crates, or maybe that 'jeep-in-a-crate' box that the 514th were craning into and out of the GMC and Chev at the recent do using that nice big Brockway Crane.

     

    Not a chance! You don't have an earthly of getting away with this.

     

    Camping equipment is a load, the only stuff which is allowed is the tools, equipment, etc which is reasonably needed to ensure that the journey can be completed successfully. In the eyes of the law, a packet of sandwiches is legally a load, since you can stop and buy/eat it during the journey and don't need to carry it.

     

    I'd have to point out the huge grey areas though - suppose you put your jeep in the back of your GMC to take it to a show ? Perfectly reasonable thing to do, well within the limitations of the vehicle, but definite grey area. You could argue that in that case the 'load' itself was a historic vehicle so it shouldn't be a problem.

     

    Not a grey area at all - illegal. You will not get away with this.

     

    Actual commercial use of a WW2 vehicle, needing full compliance, taxes, insurances, licenses, and the like, must be a nightmare. I can only think of tour DUKWs and goodness knows how much paper they need to operate.

     

    Commercial use probably not a problem at all, but you'll need the right licence, insurance, O Licence, and maintenance regimes. Some modifications may also be required. You won't be able to tax it as "historic" if you use it laden for commercial purposes.

     

    The answer to the OP's question is yes, you can drive it on a "B" licence provided that it is genuinely unladen. To tow an unladen trailer I believe you'll need B+E (unless the trailer meets the exemptions that allow it under a "B" licence, which is unlikely). If you carry your sandwiches with you, ie it's not unladen, you'll need a minimum of C1 (or C1+E with trailer). C1 is sufficient since the MAM is under 7.5 tonnes.

    Gdsf

    in The meetings log and photobook

    Posted

    ... whilst in the commercials the number of entries was cut by over 150 vehicles, and we seemed to be pushed right out the way in the farthest corner, thank goodness for bicycles, it was 1.2 miles to the far side of the play pen from commercial camping!! ...

     

     

    It took me quite a while even to find the vintage commercial vehicles! I did get the impression that the number of commercials was much smaller this year, so your comment is interesting. I only saw 1 Unipower, for example.

     

    One of the regular traders did comment to me that many of the long-standing established stall-holders are no longer attending due to the very high prices charged for a stall, and the consequent need for very significant sales to break even, and this does seem to be born out by trends over recent years. On the other hand, the volume of "junk" stands is on the increase, with the amount of rubbish for sale rocketing! I suppose that there must be people who do buy some of it! The trader who commented about the cost of attendance did also say that much of the unsold "junk" is simply left behind for the organisers to throw away, but I don't know how true this is.

     

    I thought the MV section was very good this year and very well organised, with some cracking vehicles and great displays.

    Recovery and Towing

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    ... AEC double decker bus recovery

    [video=youtube;ox-57JMI2eM]

     

    Great film, very evocative!

     

    Impressive traffic queue behind the recovery vehicle and casualty when the journey home started, also I have to wonder also why the banksman towards the end is wearing gumboots and a raincoat on a sunny day.

    landrover wolf

    in Legislation, Licenses & Registration

    Posted

    Thanks.

    Mine is taxed as private HGV and registered as a motor caravan.

    M

     

    Interesting. How come it's taxed as Private HGV?

     

    Doesn't it have to have a 'revenue weight' in excess of 3500kg for this to be the case? If so, the driver would also need C or C1 cats on his/her licence.

    Railway guns?

    in Research Centre

    Posted · Edited by utt61
    Correction to Ipad's infuriating auto-mispelling of words it doesn't recognise.

    The book I mentioned above, as far as I know the only book sofar written on the subject of rail guns, is "RAIL GUN" by John Batchelor and Ian Hogg, published in 1973 by John Batchelor Limited and distributed by Model & Allied Publications Limited. It covers American, French, British and German rail guns, and, if you can ignore the inexplicable blue print is not bad. It seems hard to find now, and I suspect wasn't taken as seriously as it deserved due to the bizarre blueness!

     

    Hogg's "Allied Artillery of World War Two" has a rather inadequate chapter on railguns and coastal artillery.

     

    Squadron/Signal Publications' "Armor No 15 German Railroad Guns in action" is well illustrated but (obviously) only covers German guns.

    Railway guns?

    in Research Centre

    Posted

    There were two famous railway guns, 14 inch on the east coast during ww2 Winne and Pooh.

     

    Winnie and Pooh were not railguns, though they were rail-served. The same goes for the other batteries in the Wanstone Down area, namely Clem, Jane, and the ultimately unsuccessful experimental hypervelocity (i.e., supercharged) Bruce.

     

    There were four true railguns at large in Kent in the early days of the war, namely the 13.1/2" Piecemaker (often mis-spelled Peacemaker), Gladiator, and Sceneshifter, and the 18" howitzer Boche Buster. One BL18" tube has survived and until recently was at Larkhill, it is at present on loan to the Dutch National Rail Musuem. As far as I am aware no decision has yet been made where it will be located upon its return.

     

    There is more information on the Breakdown Crane Association's forum, http://www.bdca.org.uk/forumtwo/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=117&p=436 , and I quote part of one of my own posts one that site:-

     

    The story of the coastal defence batteries around Dover is fascianting and worthy of a book in its own right. The first guns constructed were intended as cross-channel guns and used spare 14" calibre “King George V” class battleship guns, modified for use as coastal artillery pieces. Manned upon completion by men of the Royal Marines Heavy Siege Battalion, these guns were named “Winnie” (after the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill) and “Pooh” (after Winnie-the-Pooh!). These were joined shortly afterwards by the Coastal Defence batteries at Wanstone Down, which used even larger bore 15” battleship guns. All of these guns had barrels so heavy that it needed all three cranes lifting together to lift one. The Wanstone batteries were later augmented with the experimental (and ultimately unsuccessful) hypervelocity gun “Bruce”, which was designed to be able to fire at targets well inside occupied France, but in the event proved less than ideal – the rate of wear in the barrel was such that a barrel would be worn out after only 35 rounds had been fired!

     

    Not long after Wanstone Battery had been completed, the four surviving WWI railway gun mounts, rebarrelled with contemporary ordnance, were also moved to the area. These guns were named “Boche Buster”, “Scene Shifter”, “Piecemaker” and “Gladiator”, and in truth played little strategic role since theit limited range meant that they could not fire across the Channel. The were used to harass German shipping in the Channel, and would have been significant had the Germans actually invaded. “Boche Buster” was upgraded to carry an 18” howitzer and became the largest bore railway gun that Britain ever constructed.

     

    As far as books, diagrams, and literature on the railguns is concerned there is sadly very little. I do have a fairly old (and rather disappointing) book entitled IIRC "Rail Gun", which is about the only book on the subject I know of. It is quite scarce and i cannot offhand recall the author etc (if I remember I will look this evening). For reasons I have never understood it is printed entirely in blue (illustrations as well) thus rendering it less than satisfactory!

     

    There is also a Squadron publication about the German K5(E) rail gun, currently listed on Amazon.

     

    One of the German model railway manufacturers (Trix or Marklin perhaps, I forget) used to make an HO scale model of one of the German guns.

    Odd land rover transfer box

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    As stated above, it is an aftermarket conversion to the high/low/4wd selector to make it more like the type fitted to vehicles such as the Suzuki SJ410. The main aim was in fact to allow 4WD to be disengaged in high range on the move, something which cannot be done with the standard LR configuration. It is not a Land-Rover produced conversion, it could even be home made.

     

    The box in the photos is also fitted with a Fairy overdrive unit in the top PTO position.

    Scammell Accident

    in Transporters & Wreckers (All Nations)

    Posted

    A tragic incident, and my thoughts go out to the victims.

     

    More than ever this sort of thing highlights the fact that the roads today are dangerous places filled with barely competent people, and in order to be safe we have to drive in a very defensive manner, especially in vehicles which are slower, less conspicuous, or different to the run of the mill.

     

    Nowadays if driving at a speed slower than might be expected, or if slowing or stopped in traffic, I am always glued to the rear view mirrors and ready to avoid the moron behind (it's quite a joke with my family, but one day it may keep me and them alive).

     

    Those of us who drive unusual vehicles have to anticipate and allow for other drivers' mistakes and stupidity.

     

    Very, very sad!

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