tim gray

I can quite believe that. Back with the Mob i was at Waterbeach teaching ADR and basic plant to the TA. We developed an area for plant training, where during normal training it was not unusual to dig up complete engines that had ben dumped after the war. Unfortunatley they were all absolutly rank piles of corrosion as the ground thier is rather soggy. Another airfield ws being landscaped to make it somewhat more lumpy for the infantry to play in. This required quite a bit of material so a lake was decided on, round and round the scrapers went and as a result an awfull lot of 50 cal ammo crates had the tops snipped off ! Eod had a pleasant time tidying it all up. The old fable of the redundant rail tunnels being filled up with war surplus and sealed has always intriged me???? Regards Tim

As stated above i would gather that a half track, where the track section has zero input to the steering effort would not require an H licence. It merely has rear tracks rather then wheels. They are bound however to be those that consider it a tracklaying vehicle( no escape on thaat one!)

Having done pennance in the clothing store whilst serving the querry as to specific part numbers for Gurkhas would only apply if the item was a specific issue item to them as in the slouch hat/ kukri and scabbard The "scale" of issue to them is different and often larger in QTY than UK troops but the actuall items are identical less of course the size as they tend to be more compact chaps. The right hand column of the clothing cosa,s are interesting as they are not only decriptive but also indicate genrally the specific entitlement. Some entitlements can be changed as a result of specific operations or other requirements but they are generally specific to that time and when officially over the soldier may have them for use and on his 1157 but when worn out hes got no chance of replacing them. "Cap Kilmarnock" for instance is for bandsmen in general, with some ceromonial uses. This is explained in the r/h column, inclusive of what coloured wooly boble goes on the top. Fully concure that NSN,S can change as a result of a change in the contract, the item may not have changed in a visual sense but changes thier have been. For instance changes to the weave or weft of the fabric, stiches per inch, double or single stiched seams ???? Lots of things that your average squady would not even notice except of course when he is issued "combats fall apart" Regards Tim

Interesting comments vis a vis the copper gauze as i thought this was a signals thing. Re the internals, i would imagine that they have internal roll down curtains, the PU tilt has lots of windows all of which have roll down or across curtains, across as in the roof panels. Certainly one of your photo,s has no indication of the window yet you would expect to see something, ergo roll down cover. regards tim

MMMM....Bob can you check that grid ref for me ?

Are those clips not similar to those found on the 6 Pdr as well, it may not be correct, but i was informed that they were thier to facilitate slinging the gun for off loading from ships etc. Simmilar to the bedfords and the like having an extended hubcap with an outer disc to loop around. Confirmation would be nice. Regards Tim

Re the above, you can also substitute the lined combat trousers for jungle trousers, same cam pattern and they also dried very much quicker( as per LWT Trousers) Duty rumour is that is why the soldier 95 kit erred toward lightwieght and layering, when the powers that be carried out checks in the field they found loads of blokes wearing thier junglies, whilst buying themselves the norwegian shirts and jumpers to layer up. I saw quite an interesting survey once from the QM genral detailing loads of private stuff the guys were buying and comparing it to the issue kit with pro,s and cons annotated and wether or not it should be purchased and issued to the field army. Top of the list was the crap green mug and 58 webb mug versus the 90p thermal mug with lid, and the alloy copy of the 58 mug.........issue kit was on a loser straight off. Regards Tim

Must have realy dropped the one in front as the roof plate looks like it has come adrift, probably fell over when looking back at the one behind. :-)

Not wishing to split hairs or anything, but to be done for manufacturing parts would the materials not have to match the original specified for the original part? Re the bren barrel ive seen turned steel (solid), cast ally, wood (as mentioned), resin cast with a metal bar in it, also rubber type of stuff. All except the rubber one used original carry handle assy. Thier are still issues with the above as a replica is being created. Regards Tim

Helicopters when taking off have the option of virtically or rolling take off if possible with availaiable space and obviously wheeled types. When going from hover to forward motion a period of transition takes place when the aircraft moves forward of the cushion of air beneath. This transition means a loss of altitude that you can obviously compensate for with power ( if you have it) The other problems with choppers is temperature of air and humidity, alters the air density, atlers the lift capacity ( a problem encountered mainly i believe at altidude and hot humid climates as the yanks found in Vietnam) As its an old aircraft with limited power and the beltring weather was nicely hot quite possibly a combination of power , temp, and the dust would have clobbered him. As stated previously, the report if published will comment on all of the factors associated with the event, inclusive of flying hours, maintanance, weather et al Regards Tim

Absolutley, the SLR or AK would be considered an assault rifle, wheras the same fitted with heavy barrel and Bi-Pod are considered support weapons as would a bren or MG34. And that is actually regardless of how concealable. It starts to get very grey and wooly when you come up against items like the Galil (spelling?) It is considered an assault rifle but has a bipod anyway. Complicated to say the least and applies in equal premis across most of the UK firearms regulations as it is a sea of ammendments that may or may not be retrospective. TIM

Hi guys , Interesting to see the ferrets are green, i was out thier with 62 Cyp Support Sqdn RE. All of the ones i saw were white, no pics unfortunatly. What i will say is it is nice to see some of the blokes who drove them around on the forum as it gives me an oportunity to let my feelings be known having sweated my arse off in cutting and repairing the tracks on the UN Line to come out in the morning and find the ferrets had ripped it to bits again before we had a chance to finish it! " Ba****ds!!!!!!!!" Regards Tim The digger driver

No Probs at all ABN, Will try to find where all my pics have legged it , have various of bits of plant etc from different locations and timescales. Mollies, 72/51 terex, D6D, graders et al. Last place i know off that was still running a muirhill was in south georgia. Had a hell of a time when i lost hydraulics, broke down right on the end of the jetty. Turned out that it actually had an adaptor piece in the drive from the transmission to the hyd pump. Not mentioned in the manuals and not shown in the ISPL. That was a fun teletype conversation with the falkland island fitters, trying to get across what i wanted them to send down to me. IIRC it was eventually drained of all fuel and oils, loaded onto the navy ship and hoisted into the south atlantic halfway to the falklands. Some poor bloke in a mini sub will be scratching his head one day. Regards Tim

Spent years using these puppies and unfortunatley no balance weights etc, even the normal ones were quite exciting at times dependant upon ground being covered 9 para modified thiers for air movment in various ways by A, removing the cab entirely and wrapping the remainder in swaths of heavy plastic and black masking tape, or another version i saw had its head cut off with a stile saw( the guy did at least find a bit of rubber trim to dress the top edge) They were actually quite good and a very strong machine, the replacement we found to become rather bent when trying to dig stuff in. It would have benifitted from some snap fit connectors for changing ancils on the front end ( blanking plugs always go adrift from your tool kit) 336 lbs ft for the wheel nut torque, funny how the useless stuff sticks in yer head! I shall now drift off into memory lane and dribble in a corner Regards Tim

As far as i recall the Vickers K Go was developed on the back of an Air ministry specification, as above mounted on scarf rings etc, some minor applications in turrets. The rate of fire was very high for its day so a bren drum would just be too slow to feed correctly even if the feed lips were set correctly. Interesting point on the SAS use. The old Tamaya model had two studs acting as rests on the dash of the jeep. If you look closley at the photographs taken in north africa the studs are actually two pistol grips fitted to the weapon with trigger adaptations. Makes sense when you consider the hight of the guns in the forward mount and the original spade grips, makes it very awkward on the arm position. This is not something i have seen replicated on any of the jeeps i have seen around. The K Go was also fitted with a butt and bipod arangement and issued to the Royal Marines for the Normandy invasion. Now that must have been one hell of a beast to drag around....i bet they were dumped fairly rapidly and changed for brens. Other than that i have only seen them on the remote mount on the top of the scout cars.

36 Engr Regt is still based at maidstone. Invicta Park Bks. My old stomping ground for many a year. Pale blue square has been engineers for a long time. Cant help you with the base workshops that may have rebuilt your vehicle. Regards Tim

Hi thier Happily when i left the mob i managed to scrounge up a tin of weapon oil, as stated in above post a light oil, 3in1 for instance is perfectly acceptable. Remember to apply it the wood work as well, regardless of type, as prolonged exposure to central heating will dry out the timber and encourage it to crack/split. You can always wipe off any surplus. Should the exterior start to develop fingerprinting as above, soft cloth and light oil will remove as long as it is done in reasonable time. Left for a period of time (indefinable as curcumstances vary) it will leave a permanant marking on the finish. Regards and have fun in front of the TV TIM

Last post seemed to work so will post the rest, opened fine on my machine as long as you have a PDF reader, If any of you splendidly capable IT users out thier can convert to a JPEG image fill your boots as it may provide access to a wider audience. Regards Tim Screw Threads 7 and 8.PDF Screw Threads 5 and 6.PDF Screw Threads 3 and 4.PDF Screw Threads 9.PDF

I will try to post the first PDF as a test to see how it comes up, multiple PDF,s as the kit at work will only do a certain size, it used to be able to do JPEGS which would have been better for us but the IT guru,s decided to lock every thing up :-( Screw Threads 1and 2.PDF

Re various thread forms etc, If anyone is interested PM me and i can send a schedule of threads and tap sizes for a range of types that the school uses to teach the fitters etc . They are in PDF format so if someone can advise if the forum can support and show a pdf file i will upload them and you can down load at your leasure, may be usfull for those who are new into the vehicle scene etc. Regards Tim

You could try builders merchants and check out the newer types of roofing felt, they are bituminous and also have a reinforcing within the fabric. You can also get it without the chippings on them:D Or alternativly have a look at the rolls of damproofing membrane, same effect. Regards tim

Hi Ferret fixer Yes i have to confess it was a very good day, i asked very nicely if i could take the 2 Pdr home as i wanted to strap it to the back of a 15 Cwt moggie. PL replied that it was highly unlikley :embarrassed: Personnally i did not think it was too much to ask Would look rather fetching as a temp display in the garden. Regards Tim

Been collecting for a while and if you can pick up an old spec bren with removeable barrel for 200 nicker i want to know where you got it from!!! As per prior post the very early ones that do that carry a premium unless you manage the part ex with a friend of a friend scenario. Same applies to the 34, and 42,s. £200 will see you with a very decent MK2, or possibly a decent MK1* Be warned that the brens appear to be drying up somewhat and a lot of bitsa's are now lurking around. The best condition ones are the australian manufactured ones as they were mostley all factory refurbed prior to storage then release. If you do go for a mk1 variant make sure to get the camel hump style of butt as its a classic look for a bren, lots are fited with the MK2 butt. Not totally incorrect but not as nice. Assorted brens at warminster small arms school below, from top MK1, MK2, MK3, L4 variants x 2.

Hi Alex Sorry about the brand of tyre but i cant rember, chinese manufacturer and the PU is away getting canvased up. Wheel rims are 16 inch landy rims but they have been modified to fit and i am a bit iffy about them ( they have horrible diamond cut outs in them anyway and the valve has to be on the inside of the rim to fit) I have four replacements to fit that are 16 inch but they have got 7.5x16 non directional military rubber on them now. Not strictly cosher for a PU but my wartime 9x13,s are to far gone to drive on ( common problem i suspect) Curcumference of the new ones is the same as the original so no problem with the speedo. I can post pic of new wheels if you want but dont ask me what they fitted originally as i dont have a clue Regards Tim

Hi thier, Iv No = Issue voucher number Iv Date= self explanitory UIN = Unit Ident No ( all units have a unique ID for accounting purposes, and that is acounting for every thing) Rec No = the reciept voucher No sent by the unit when kit arrives. Hope this helps a little, to fully understand the units you need a full list of UIN No, ........good luck with that one Regards Tim