ChasSomT.

I've just re-taxed 'our' 439, which was on SORN at the local Post Office. Took in the V5C and Insurance Certificate, filled in a V112, (Not V112G-Goods) Taxation Class is 'H V', Historic Vehicle - No problem.

Cheese 'Possessed' was the projectile of choice in front of 76mm blank - Severe b*ll*cking when someone was 'Slightly injured' when the distorted can ricocheted off the Saracen it was aimed at! Not me, I must say, but I had been itching to 'Have a go' from my 'Sallycan'!

Robin, our 439 must have been filled with the nose in the air. When I checked it on level ground they were filled to well over the plugholes! (The plugs were sealed with some jointing compound, whitish stuff, as well as the copper washer.) I had to use 6' of scaffold pole on the allen key to undo them. So there doesn't seem to be any danger of 'over-pressuring' due to overfilling.

Ah, .30 Browning. Shot out barrels, 'Cone of fire' started at the muzzle! Get the 'Headspace and timing' wrong, and did you get the **** ripped out of you when you fired it on the range! Old 10p and 2p coins as 'Go and No-go' gauge. :angel: Those were the days!:cheesy: 'Chas.'

My mistake! I would still Love one tho. The ones I drove were good old B80s! Thanks for the quick reply. 'Chas.'

Very nice Montie, they look good in White! Can you tell if they are 'Dieselized', like yours - it Is isn't it? An '88'? I SO want one! Dreams :blush: Thanks for posting the pics. 'Chas.'

R Cubed, why the sudden interest in Merlin/Meteor engines? Have you recently got one? Do tell! Spill the beans 'Old Chap' If you have got one, what are you going to do with it?

Brilliant! Mr. Barrell's reputation climbs another 'notch'. The depth of knowledge on here never ceases to amaze. The power of the internet. Wonderful. Night!

Booze talking here, but . . . . . . . Jeeze, the detail that peeps on here know! Well done lads.

VERY nice! My first vehicle when I joined the RY. I want one, don't suppose I will ever get the 1:1 one, yours looks ever so detailed, Well Done! 'Chas.'

I second what Alien said. I was in the R.Y. (T.A.) and when we had Saracen ACVs they were quite often backed up to each other, with those penthouse extensions of yours overlapping. (Your pictures, and Alien's remenisces really jog my memory - thanks lads!) 'Chas.'

Alien, I was in the RY (TA recce) for the same period as your service. Ferrets and Saladins at the beginning, CVR when Saracen was withdrawn. We never saw smoke (or No.36) grenades until either Crusader or Lionheart, then we were issued with at least one 'salvo' (8) per Fox. We never had opportunity to use them, so going through a National Forest our Dashing Troop Leader couldn't resist firing his off! Luckily no walkers nearby! As I remember at least two fired, but didn't 'smoke' - I volunteered to stay behind for a while in case they went off. Talking of H + S, we took most of the grenades back (either ferry or container) I had a nice little line in 'Testing rounds' - drilling out the filling, firing the ejection charge and connecting a small (Glass-lensed) Army tail light - just the right size - to the top. Our RH PSIs took some back to BOAR for their Chiefies. H + S? What was I thinking of? Ignorance is bliss sometimes, IF you get away with it!

Interesting, any idea why the Sabres were withdrawn?

Thanks Mash, Very quick:) 'Chas.'

Bearing Opsec in mind, recently crossing Salisbury Plain I saw a few Rarden armed CVR(T) and I wondered what they were. Do 'we' have any Scimitars left, or are they all Sabres?

Fugly, do you mean a .22 'shellcase'? I seem to remember using a sleeved down bolt action rifle on a 'compensator bracket' on top of the turret when practicing on the FMR (Firing Miniature Range?) It is 36 years ago now tho, but it Might explain the .22 case.

"Note how there are lots of numbers and calculations which dont actually prove a thing. What annoys me the most is that everytime they predict the end of the world and it does not actually end they either deny that the world has not ended or say that God is testing us. I guess if they keep predicting the end of the world on a regular basis then one day they will actually get it right. I personally feel though that if they do predict it and it does not actually happen then they should be shot. It will certainly cut down on this sort of scaremongering of the dim witted. " Like that well known religious 'Cult', certain the world would end on a certain date 5 or 6 years ago - their new 'Church' building wasn't due to open until 3 months AFTER that date! Laugh, I couldn't stop when they knocked on my door and tried to get me to sign up about 6 weeks before their CERTAIN date. No answer when asked 'Why bother with their new building?:-D'

If they make them for 'the military' why don't they, or anyone else, make a simple 24V pulse charger, or is there a basic reason why these batteries must be charged individually? Chas.

Brilliant pictures! You are obviously doing a thorough job of the old girl, well done. All that sunshine makes me very envious, too.:-(

Another batch of lots from the latest Withams auction fails to meet it's reserve!:-)

Ref. Tyre pump woa2 said '....and my local petrol station has replaced its free tyre pump with one you need 20p for.' That's INFLATION for you!

Very interesting,thank you. Does this mean that there are four forward gears, or four gear ranges, as previously? Chas.

With reference to other threads, I just love the fact it's got a full set of lights (including reflectors)!:-):-)

Intriguing, as ever. Can you tell us why there is both a front and rear timing belt, please? Sorry to be a numpty, if you have mentioned it before.:embarrassed:

What system do you have on Russian trucks? Do tell! Chas.