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Got it in one!

Thanks for the input Richard, Chris etc, much appreciated. Just a personal thing this but stuff like this always amuses me. As someone who tends to deal in shades of grey I never have been able to always guess which shade equates to which colour. Happy New Year guys!

I understand about the oil filter and carb not being the original fitment types but may it have been possible that these types were fitted at a later date whilst in service, or is it the case that in anyones experience units such as these were never seen within military use? It is just that nothing else I have come across with the vehicle really suggests any kind of work being done to it post-service and so I would be surprised if it is the case that you guys with the experience of these things are adamant that this set up is definitely not of service (RAF) origin. Interesting either way.

Hmm - got me there again Richard, I've seen 'Eau de Nil' referred to before but I dont know what actual colour it is. I can confirm that the engine to my eyes doesnt appear to be either Sky Blue nor Black. Being totally colour blind doesnt help I admit but I can say that the engine isn't the yellow/clay? type colour I've seen on what I took to be a ground up resto, if that is what Eau de Nil is. Pic attached but it isnt the best quality and the engine is still in its very grubby state in this shot. Afraid I dont a have a 'clean' one yet! My guess based on what else I have learned about this vehicle is that the engine has been in the truck since its Service life. That is not to claim though that the current engine was fitted in 1950. The engine no. is OY 1151R from memory, the log book number being a much higher OY no..

While working on my Bedford, under the gunge I've found a small plate recording the engine being reconditioned by Vauxhall Motors in '2. 50', which I take as Feb 1950. Not having Service experience I've no knowledge of what might have been standard practise but I'm surprised this wasn't done by the forces own workshops. Were there certain jobs done at certain times 'in house' but during other periods it was considered cheaper/more expediant / whatever to get a factory job done? Also found under the gunge that the engine number is not what is on the logbook so I must get that seen to as soon as everything opens back up!

Got the head off to do a 'once over' and see that as well as the 'Y' tolerance mark the piston tops have a 'X' as well. This is not orientated any particular direction, i.e. it doesn't appear to be designating 'front' / whatever. Doesnt follow any obvious layout pattern from one piston to the next. No reference to X's in any of my manuals. What is it indicating? Cheers.

Ok then, so how about we knock up a couple of dozen accurate replica Blue Steel stand off weapons and leave them lying around. How long before they become covered?

As I said in my first post latex and plaster are both viable options if you are not going to be doing huge numbers. In case the point hasnt been clear enough the outer surface of the original which you are going to be making your master mould from needs to be as perfect as possible. All small irregularities will show up on the copies and in some cases combined will hinder/stop the copy from releasing from the mould. IMHO casting in the fins in the long run would be preferable than having to fab up and attach them. Just one process to do and they are finished.

A lot would depend upon how complex a shape the final items were. I would class (my visualisation of) mortar rounds as a 'second stage' item. First stage being something completely symmetrical such as an artillery round. The fins would be the (quite literally) 'sticking point'. The item has be capable of being released from the mould and so tapers would have to be built in to the mould to allow for this. Using an original round to make the mould would require some adding of material to the fins to give them this slope if it were not there already. Modelling wax could be used for this. There are a whole load of grp product suppliers so check your Yellow Pages or do a Google search for ones in your area. As well as supplying suitable matting, resins, release agent, instruction sheets etc etc for the master mould they will also be able to supply an inert filler powder for mixing with the filler resin to do just the job you want. Personally I dont like working with GRP as I always found I got it everywhere and it irritates like mad (memories of making umpteen canoes over the years). An alternative to GRP for the master would be to use latex or plaster but neither of these would have long term durability if you were thinking of doing a lot of them. If only doing a small batch then I would look in to those options. The process of moulding is not difficult or complex, just messy. You are correct in thinking that you have to get the master mould right but despite them being a projectile it is not rocket science:)

My first thought also would have been to try clean petrol and if at all possible a stiff paint brush on it. Not quite the same league, but a tank I had to clean had been 'sealed' and that was coming off due to fuel additive having been added. Couldnt get a brush in to it but a length of garden hose with some rag tied tight to the end eventually cleaned it all off in all the far flung corners. After softening it up, it came off in flakes which I then had to 'gather' with a different bit of rag which had some sticky grease on it. Took a day but worked perfectly! If petrol doesnt dissolve it then test drip alternatives such as paint thinners or acetone on to it and see which strikes the best. Mopping off with a brush or rag is always going to be more efficient than sloshing the stuff around.

Ok I like a good novel so maybe there is a complete made up story to fit with this pic. We have a couple of G.I.’s taking a drink with the locals. A very obvious sign hanging on the wall tells everyone that the pub is in the Reading area. However one of the locals has come straight to the pub from work and he is 'still in his pit muck’ and he has managed to find his way in to the picture. However to a casual glance it could be that he is just ‘in the shade’ but a more careful scrutiny shows he does in fact appear to be a coal miner. Now even Johnny Foreigner knows that there aren’t any pits in the Reading area, but the canny Kraut Intelligence Analyst knows that there are miners in Kent and that there is an American Army group lead by Gen. Patton himself lurking in that area. So therefore the sign on the wall is a fake and is just put there to mislead our gallant Aryan race as to the real whereabouts of the photo location. In actual fact it was all put together in Pinewood Studios or somewhere, but who is to know? OK, it is just a story. I’m much better at pictures. I’ll get my coat.

Tiny bit more of info here http://www.multimap.com/maps/?mapType=aerial&zoom=16&countryCode=GB&lat=54.9930614097076&lon=-1.40199447500265#map=54.99306,-1.40199|16|8&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:51.509:-0.1261:16||United%20Kingdom and here http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/SearchResults.aspx?a=0&type=&class1=None&period=None&county=None&place=south%20shields&yearfrom=ALL&yearto=ALL&recordsperpage=5&source=text&sort=1&nmr=&defra=&p=11 On Google Earth someone has posted a pic of it at the site. Known, I believe, as 'Trow Rock' gun. Just one of many bits of coastal defence in that area of the mouth of the Tyne. I'm pleased to see they are talking about preserving or even restoring it. As even in fairly recent times there was no hesitation to remove the various batteries in the area. The only time I've been to it my camera was playing up and so I dont have any pics. The BBC snippet pretty much sums it up though. One variation of the 'disappearing carriage' fortification gun. The Congrieve tends to be more widely known. Saw a pic of a muzzle loading one in an American fort in absolutely stunning condition. Dammed if I could find the website again!

Anyone know any more about where the photos of the inflatables in post #45 were taken?

Bereft of the knowledge gained from service to HM I think I am beginning to get a better idea of what qualifies as what! Below is what I initially assumed was the correct configuration for an MWR, I see now that it is not. Even though in places it is referred to as such. Cheers guys, if you dont ask you dont find out! Ignorance is not always bliss

OK, so however unlikely it may seem at first sight, do you think there may have been two different standard bodies made? Post 9 ,shot 2 with the (Motley?) bren shows I would say the wheel arch cutting through the third plank from the top, post 53, 3rd shot though less distinct shows the same? It may be that these have wider planks but are the same actual final height? The 'memmingways' vehicle you refer to has the following chalked on the door, which I guess may be something to do with an auction number, so maybe someone with an old catalogue might be able to 'finger' it. MWD 2 6.6.14 P 69.5/R Regarding last in service, I have spoken to an ex RAF guy who is adamant he used (more than ?) one at Brize Norton in the late 60's and early '70s. This(these) were all yellow C vehicles.

Having been put right in another thread about radio bodies, do you agree that this vehicle also started life as one? The loadspace planking appears 'taller' by at least one strip than most?

Any idea what Yank units were stationed up that neck of the woods, and whereabouts within marching distance? I dont know much about major US troop concentrations but I did think they would have been nearer to the battle training grounds in the SW. Happy to stand being informed/corrected. Looking at the background field boundaries they do seem to be well built up around hedge lines. I would suggest this might be more of a South West characteristic than the generally pure stone of the Northern fells. But the lack of high tall roadside banks so beloved of Cornwall/Devon maybe does point more to a more 'in between' area. So maybe the edge of Exmoor?

Is there anything about the kit and (lack of) badges which might suggest a Unit? Might this might give a clue? The quite high hills, trees with a wind bend, suggest more 'moor' than 'rolling', so maybe edge of Dartmoor ish? White (?) painted buildings are maybe more of the South West counties also?

I might only be Salvador Dali - but I know what I like!! Tate Modern - eat your heart out. Anyone got a large howitzer spare which they would loan for conversion? Could be a challenge for next years Turner Prize!

Tags on other pics relate to areas as diverse as Torquay, Hambledon, Stratford o Avon, Moreton Le Marsh and London. So I guess the photographer, as they day, 'got around'!

Is it just poor definition on my monitor/the pic or does anyone else think the radiator bulkhead on the last pic in post #14 looks very square on the corners? Not at all like the later models which the rest of the vehicle suggests to me? A rebuild of an early one?

A few more from on the web. I believe c/r is the IWM but will ammend if informed otherwise.

Wonder if it was the same one? http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10223996

Lets try this - http://www.panoramio.com/user/1670659 that should link in to the album, the pic in question is the seventh one on page one - http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10224391 maybe the link will work this time.