No Signals

I would imagine the explanation for this is that the MVT can only publish material / information provided to them.

 

I belong to a local group and know that on the odd occasion the deadline for submission of Area Reports has been missed.

 

Would it be reasonable to conclude that any bias you may have noticed will be towards the groups who submit regular and timely material for the magazine?

I agree there could be something in this. I don't know John Carrolls schedule/diary but, from what I read, he does seem to put in quite a few miles around the country and seemingly reports on what he sees. I'm guessing he is doing a voluntary job in what he does? There can only be so many things you can reasonably expect a volunteer to do or visit and it seems to me a reasonable expectation to get a plug in/ a report in on your own event if you want those things to happen. Not taking sides here, it sounds a shame that a good show didn't get reported on, but did anyone involved with, or at, the event write a report?

While we are covering the odds, someone is sure to point out that the No 7 set COULD be mounted on a Studebaker US6 or even an International, but given the numbers in service in the Uk at the time it is 90% + likely to be the humble GMC CCKW

Interesting you should mention Studebakers as I have a photo from another part of this operation that shows a 'stock' Studebaker in use. (No number 7 set etc.). Thanks again, much appreciated.

Thanks Gordon. I could not get my head around what was in the picture. I now see that what I was thinking was the back end of another vehicle was just the Ben Hur behind the heavy wrecker. Found some more pics online. Thanks a lot.

I'm not up on US Stuff but I know there will be guys on here who will be able to I.D. the main bomb carrier truck on this pic. Sorry about the quality but it is as good as it is going to get from a poor quality original. Taken some time in '43 at a UK repair facility associated with a bomb store. I recognise the hoist for what it is but what is the 'host' vehicle please? Any idea what that is behind it as well? Thanks.

If you PM me I will say one guy to keep clear of in the NE.:cool2:

The problem we have with research and those good folk at RAF M Hendon will often be frustrated by the fact that the core info on many of these subjects will not be in the museum but will either be with the Ar Historical Branch MoD or more likely destroyed in a routine and regular document cull many years ago at unit, station, group and command level....... So we may never know the complete picture on the adoption of such markings, camo schemes etc etc as the initiating correspondence may be long gone and in the museums such as Hendon those good folk can only go by what they have in their archive.

TED

Very true. A contact in the RAF told me of only a few years ago he and a colleague were tasked with sorting the removal of a huge archive of WW2 period, and after, photos into a new filing system commonly known as 'Skip Mk1'. Where they went after that he didn't know for certain, but it was either incineration or landfill. Such a shame and so short sighted as I am sure there would be museums or other organisations who would have found room for some of them at least.

Here is one of theirs I found via their online search facility

10th Highland Light Infantry advancing inland some time after D-Day. Nice to see an aeroscreen there.

I use Castrol GP50 in my M20, it is good tried and tested stuff for in air cooled engines of this type. Morris lubricants are good but on long term usage I prefer Castrol in my old bikes. Don't put anything with Hypoid or EP in your gearbox, just the same 'straight' oil. I use the same in the primary chaincase except I mix it 50/50 with some 'liquid' grease, it seems less inclined to leak out. I do know of riders who do the same for in the gearbox without problems - but never just straight liquid grease as there is a feeling that it doesn't necessarily penetrate all of the innermost nooks and crannies. Some bike gearboxes were designed for a grease filling but not this one.The thicker oil, and mix, can make for a slower change on the box to start with but once fully warmed up is much better. Don't use any multigrades and definitely don't use anything like GTX which is definitely for water cooled cars and so on, but I'm sure you've gleaned this anyway. Best of luck.

Regarding brake shoes, do you have the parts/stock numbers for them? I ask as I was rummaging around a yard a couple of weeks ago and there were a number of primary standard packages which had Bedford brake shoes in them. Clutch plates as well. It likely could well be that they are for the later 60's/70's models, but if you can come up with a number I will go back when I am next in the area and check them out for you if you want. Genuine spares have got to be worth having if they are there eh? No idea what the owner will want for them.

Sorry about that, I will try again.

I don't think I've seen this posted on here before, apologies if it has.

Going from the little bit visible it might have a military origin, so - what is it?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]83093[/ATTACH]

I came across these wheels/hubs a while back and have now finally 're-found' the photos. They are too far from my home base for me to consider recovering them, if indeed they are still there (but I think this is likely). So if anyone with a WOT in the Cambrideshire area(ish) wants to follow up on them, if you PM me I will give someone the details of where they can be found. I'm not going to put the location online as I don't think the 'owner' would appreciate a load of visitors turning up on spec. I would prefer they went to someone restoring a vehicle and in need of them.

I'd agree with Ivor on Humbrol enamels (gloss or matt), but I have also successfully used artists acrylics. At your local art supplies you will find various shades of both the red and blue on the racks in quite small tubes. These also will dry to a matt finish which might suit your needs better.

Thanks for that Antar. But that does seem to make it that I am needing info about a different item. ISTR I've seen something on some jeeps a bit longer than a fire extinguisher - but looking very similar. A long cylinder rather than the short squat M11 one. Obviously I got it wrong what it was. I believe they sometimes had them fitted to Dodges etc as well as jeeps? For some reason I thought I had heard them referred to as decontamination units but I am happy to be corrected.

EDIT Forget the above as I've now found what I was after. Whatever it is I've got it isn't one of them, the search continues!

Can anyone post me a photo of a US vehicle decontamination canister/cylinder please? Dimensions length and diameter would be good. Detail of whatever type of fixture/ opening/ whatever. Process of elimination to try and identify a cylinder that has come my way that may be something on these lines. Even a pointer to a website where the info is would be ok. Any assistance greatly appreciated, thanks.

I remember this situation being discussed some years ago on a thread on here. Degsy is correct in his statements about pre 1960 and 'unladen'. The issue becomes complicated by various individuals interpretation of 'unladen', and my take on that is that you will only find out the full interpretation, of that, if you have an accident that involves the police and your insurance company.

The police will have their interpretation of 'unladen' and so will the insurance companies (Bless 'em)

A friend of mine tried to clarify the insurance aspect some years back, for his own peace of mind, and his company took the line that only the standard issued toolkit etc (CES), or its modern equivalent, was allowable 'in the back' - anything else was a load - 'laden' and would invalidate his insurance! They were quite clear that included his camping gear!! Quite happy to accept this may not be the case for all companies, or indeed that company, whoever it was, may have changed their stance.

I accept there are a lot of people driving such vehicles around, fully laden and they are excellent drivers and cause no accidents. I did the same myself, lots of us do. It is 'Daz' in his hot hatch driving in to someone that will be the problem :-D

It would be worth giving Frank Brown an email enquiry at 'pegasus-drive@sky.com' . He does some top quality stuff, and I hear he makes British vehicle tilts with the right material and he has done MW's in the past.

was this common

Only on the front of this magazine

Having said that there are other pictures of the same, or similar, arrangements but I believe common consensus is that they were test prototypes and none ever reached front line service. .... Stands back and waits for evidence to the contrary to flood in.

Had a great Sunday in Saddleworth, good turn out with John Myers' heavy haulers in attendance. The convoy was fun as usual. The only thing that spoiled it was the very modern American police cars with blues and twos and sirens wailing. I hope this is sorted next year. I hope I can figure out how to post some pictures.....

That crap started last year, which is why I, and a number of others, didn't go this year (and maybe will be joined by some more ?) unless the format is sorted back to a military show. It used to be good convoy, now it is a clowns parade.

Virtually any field modification you can think of making to a jeep has probably been done at some stage or other. Hardtops along with wider wings are not that uncommon.

 

I can't see the photo but there's a thread about 49 Division jeeps on MLU, including a picture of hard top jeep that I posted a few weeks ago. Is it one and the same? Do encourage the person on WW2 talk to join in.

 

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=20378

Interestingly it seems to be the same jeep, but it isn't the same photo. Not being on MLU, couldn't get signed up for some reason, I can't enlarge it but there can't be that many like it :-) 'Fraid no census number visible though. :-(

This photo is posted on WW2 talk, you may need to sign up/sign in to see it? To me the vehicle seems to have some kind of substantial hard top on it. I've not seen one before but no doubt others on here know exactly what it is. So... any answers fellas?

49th Div RA anti tank personnel.

http://ww2talk.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=109328

Thanks for the input fellas. I didn't appreciate there was quite so much interest in old photos. The price started off at £50 so I don't see it coming down any more, the dealer said they had paid £25. But it looks as if I wont lose if I bought it at that price. Agreed it is sad to break up an album but, who knows, it may sell on again as an item.

I have not been one for considering buying old photo albums before so have no experience or idea as to whether they have a monetary value, but my guess is that some of you on here will have. I've seen an album on a local flea market that dates, at my guess, from between wars years 20/30's. It has lots of photos of blokes in uniform and quite a few with vehicles in them. At a quick glance most of them seemed to be somewhere in a desert type location. (Pretty sure it is not TE Lawrence's private snapshots :-\ ) The stall holder wants £30 for the album. I'm not particularly interested in it for a monetary value, I just want to take a longer look at the photos, but don't fancy being left with something I can't sell on and get my outlay back because I paid too much. Anyone have any idea what a typical old album of snaps fetches? Well outside my experience.

I’d driven past this spot up on the local moors for more years than I can remember before learning last year of its existence. The trees being good effective modern camoufalge! Anyhow I had a spare sunny afternoon today and went up to take a few photos and do a few measurements.

By repute it is a tank wash from WW2 and the references I have seen, up to date, state of it being used by British Army Shermans. But other tanks may have been in use on the range as well.

All sizes will be given in Imperial - as that is what it would have been made in. The overall length is about 74 feet and the width is 11 feet.

Obviously it tapers with its depth, with the width at the cross members being 7 feet 10 inches (94 inches).

Construction is of concrete (a report I read elsewhere incorrectly states the lining is wood!) with paving type slabs over a concrete foundation for the sides with strengthening ribs at reasonably regular spacing at around 3 feet 4 inches (40 inches).

A central brick spine wall runs along the full length with the cross members built in to it. The cross-members are rebar reinforced concrete. The cross members are spaced as per the side supports at around 80 inches. (They vary at 78, 79 and 80, with no particular pattern). The upper surfaces of the cross-members are at about 29/30 inches below the outer top surface of the wash. The cross members show no sign of being load bearing for the tanks. Nor does the central spine wall show any signs of contact from vehicles.

There are two large drainpipes that exit the tank, one at one end and the other nearby at one side. There may be some kind of sluice at the far exit ends of these but this was not checked at this visit.

The spoil from digging the pit appears to have been used at either end to make a banking for helping ‘steering’ the vehicles in and out, but there may be another use for these piles?

For me the interesting and puzzling feature is the series of concrete ‘beams’ that extend in a regular spaced pattern down one side. Apart from one initial short beam of 5 feet the others are of two lengths of 10 feet and 9 feet 2 inches, although some slight variation both ways exists on both sizes. Possibly they were all intended to be 10-foot lengths but the casting of them was done a bit hit and miss. They are spaced at 88 and 96-inch distance, with slight variations. We are talking a tank wash here, not CNC engineering! Two ‘beams’ have had slight breaks to them and neither shows any evidence of containing rebar. These features appear to be attached to the floor but I did not attempt to move them. If they are not fixed then I am very surprised that no one has pushed them in to the pit before now, or done other damage to/with them. Or re-arranged the careful spacing, hence my feeling they are fixed.

I have no experience of tank washes so can someone who has tell me the likely use of these?

My take on how it was used is that the vehicles were driven on to some form of steel girder arrangement over the pit and water either from the pit, or bowsers, was hosed over the tracks with the peat falling in to the pit. Either the drains are just an overflow or when the water reached that height they emptied down in to the ditches. Or the drains were sealed and the water reused until it was too thick to use again and then they were opened and the pit flushed. However if someone has a more accurate knowledge of its workings then I am keen to hear. Quite how the side beams fit in I don’t know., possibly something to do with locating whatever it was the tanks actually drove on to. There is no impact or abrasion evidence on the remaining internal features of vehicles ‘dropping’ in to the pit.

Wally will know, no doubt he will be along!