trustmeimamechanic

Thank you both,

So it appears all is not lost and we may be able to find some info based on the chassis number....

We are nearing the end of restoring an International M5a1 that served well into the 70's it seems ending it's days as a tin roofed REME version .

During the course of restoring it we have found it was given a pretty hard time and also has thrown up a few interesting questions as to it's history as it was seemingly demobbed and then re enlisted into service . Sadly the all important British army ID plate is missing so we will never be able to trace any history as I believe the chassis number is never recorded in army records .

Any pictures of REME halftracks post war would be appreciated and in particular of the one that was at Headcorn years ago... also any of them in wartime service ....it would be nice to base the vehicle on a picture of one in WW2 service....

Given the REME history it would be good to keep some connection with ones used in that way

We have contacted the REME museum but their records are sparse it seems 

Thanks

Thank you both for your reply's .

Another question is would nyloc nuts have been in use in 1943 ?  I would have thought not on Halftracks , looking for correct 3/8 UNF lock nuts for the armour bolts.

We are restoring an IHC Half Track so it has to be British but what colour Olive drab should it be ? 

Same as the US vehicles ?

I'm always surprised by how many variations there seem to be for a  single colour , some are greener some are yellower.... I'm just confused .

Any advice re colour and supplier welcome 

Thanks 

Graham

Good evening Gents ,

I am restoring an IH Halftrack and have a few questions that I will post here but also thought this could be a thread that other IHC owners could use to post questions and answers .

Everyone I have spoken too and with has been very helpful and friendly so thanks for all your help so far.......

Question .......what colour is correct for a wartime British Army Halftrack ?  Much like everyone with US vehicles it seems that there are many shades and opinions and "Olive Drab" can vary by several shades .  My M5A1 is ex REME and was it seems was totally rebuilt in around 1964 so any evidence I can find is lost and painted Bronze Green or coated with Red Oxide even right up under the dash .

Question.........what are the correct lock nuts for the armour bolts etc ?  3/8 UNF I know .....part is listed as H1-07-25853 Nut Safety 3/8-24 N.F.3   but Nylocks were I would have thought post war ?

Currently collecting parts and waiting for better weather for sandblasting and painting ;-)

Gents ,

Not sure of this is of interest to anyone but I am having some downpipes made for the RED450 fitted to IHC Halftracks .

I have been unable to find NOS .

These will look as original and not be "cut and shut" sections . They will have a welded joint but it will be invisible and just below the mainfold flange.

If you would like or need one then post here or by PM .......provisional price is £120- £130 per pipe .

It make's no difference to unit cost if I have 1 or 10 made as they are hand built . 

Crikey John she cleaned up well , 

That was fun saturday ;-)

Thank you for the comments and advice .

Don't want to make kit look worn out , just worn ;-) .

I've pretty much achieved that with my HBT tankers overalls as they are now liberally coated in oil , mud and diesel from laying under tanks at Mons and A&E .

Jacqui's buckle boots just look way too new and thought I would seek advice here rather than go it alone and "age" them and then get my wife's displeasure ...... 

Had a search and couldn't find any thread on this subject .

I'm not a re enactor but do feel as a vehicle owner and also often riding /driving other peoples vehicles it is only fair to try and look the part for those who like to take photo's etc.

Question is how do people age their new kit ? In our case often purchased from SOF. and looking way too new and shiny .

For example my long suffering wife has a pair of new buckle boots that look too bright and new in their almost yellow suede . Some say to dubbin them but do you just put clear dubbin on to the rough out leather or what do you do ?

Often running the vehicle is enough of a drain on the owners pocket so original uniform is both out their price range and often in my case size range ;-) ...were they really all midgets ;-)

Just thought I can't be alone in wanting to make stuff look worn and used without having to sleep in a ditch for several weeks .

Idea's ....tips  and thoughts welcome .

Have you tried Ivo at BAIV ? 

They have a Leopard and good contacts

Hi Simon ,

PM sent ....thank you .

I've got half track gauges,I've also got an old canvas top a French one I believe.

Regards Simon wilkinson.

Thank you very much Simon,

Currently have very limited mobile signal , I will PM you when I get home tonight .

Best

Graham

Restoring an M5A1 Halftrack .

We probably need loads more parts but started with the dash ....:-D

We need a fuel gauge and an engine temp gauge .

Also possibly an old canvas that's serviceable and a fuel tank .

Wish the pound was better against the Euro and Dollar :-D

I think it may be whats left of a canvas pop type stud to hold on canvas upper doors.

I'm currently doing similar with an IHC M5A1 ....untouched since service with the REME .

Many mods and differences from wartime spec .....I think it had a full rebuild around the early 60's , certainly the engine was rebuilt in 64 by the British Army

You could use the UV type dye we put in Aircon systems as a leak detection aid .

http://hawkertyphoon.com/napier-sabre-engine-secured/

 

Aiming to have it flying by 2024.

While I wish them all the best with the project it must be remembered that the RAF saw fit to stop flying Typhoons pretty soon after VE day , while the risks were worth taking in wartime the Typhoon was not regarded as safe for peacetime flying

Pierre Clostermann touches on this in his book The Big Show and even his beloved Tempest with the Sabre was not immune

As an aside even in the depths of WW2 locals were very vocal about the noise of the Sabre engines when Tempest or Typhoons were based nearby .....probably the loudest engine of WW2

Hi also looking for the same.....plus any other IH Halftrack parts.

Thanks

They all look real apart from one thing.... the tyres , why no sag in the tyre walls ?

Not picking holes in what are fantastic kits , just saying that for me any of the pics could be the real thing until you look at the tyres

My father remembers as a boy having German and Italian POW's working on the farm my great grandfather had at the time, they were it seems not guarded and would make wooden toys etc for dad and his brothers and sisters.

After the war more than a few never went home and stayed on here . I knew one 25 odd years ago who still had a farm near Edenbridge, he was a nice old chap and infact I used to bale his silage for him.

A single .50 fired from a jeep is not the most accurate of weapons , the recoil tends to push the jeep over on its springs so doubling the affect of the recoil that makes most machine guns creep upwards when fired.

Some pics of early jeeps so a kind of prop fitted to the side of the jeep to lessen this affect.

My jeep ( M38A1 ) was fitted with a .50 in Dutch service ... speaking to cloggies that used them they all said that after much use the floors on the jeeps would crack from the affects of the recoil and also it was only realy good for keeping enemy heads down as the jeep rocked about so much when the .50 was fired.

The affect on the centre of gravity is noticable with one .50 when driving the jeep

Imagine all the above doubled with twin .50s ...... perhaps a good set up for bling or "mines bigger than yours" but not realy an advantage in service , even today Wimiks and Hummers still only tend to have a single .50 mounted

I'm looking forwards to time spent sitting round talking with mates , a few beers round the fire of an evening ,the usual nonsense we get upto every year including some fantastic food cooked in camp .... what ever the weather that won't change , bring on the mud ..... if going to bed in a gale inside a tent with a steady rain blowing between myself and the Mrs was nothing more than funny at A&E then W&P holds no fears for me....... I can't wait...... may not sleep in the hammock this year though.

I remember when W&P looked like this ------

Any chance of a repeat Mr Helliops ?

Just let me paint it ..... mine always looks "aged" when i spray something...

No comment - :cool2: , we did try teleporting it....... as you can see we may have used the words " Beam it up Scotty "...