Pete Ashby

I went along, introduced myself to area secretary and then sat in silence for about 2 hours as everybody ignored me. No one said a bl**dy word and I decided never to go again.

There's beginning to be a reoccurring theme here.

Looks like we have a poor record on the hospitality front, I'm not surprised but am a little saddened and just a bit ashamed.

Should the MVT central council issue something in the way of a new members charter to Area Secs, these sort of things make me cringe but perhaps there is a need for it ??

Pete :-(

As soon as money becomes an issue there are always problems. I don't know why clubs should have so much money anyway. Look at the problems money has had with clubs and shows in this country already!

 

Chris

 

I vote with you Chris, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing

Pete

Clive you make some time honoured observations, you know how long I've been around in the movement and it was ever the same, a small number of faces doing the work nearly thirty years ago. I have to hold my hand up and say that I have not attended a Berks and Oxon meeting for many years now despite being the driving force behind establishing it back in 1977/78 and running the area as Area Sec for three years.

It would be easy to wax lyrical about the good old days and how it's not the same anymore but I don't think it’s of interest to younger collectors or indeed relevant to any of us now.

So why is it that you perceive a bit of a downer? Is it real or imagined, interesting point and one that has been debated in the workshop on more than one occasion over the last couple of years.

I'll give you a personal perspective which is the only one I'm qualified to hold in the hope it stimulates debate.

Thirty years ago I earned a fraction of what I do now, but worked far fewer hours and was thirty years younger, there’s a common theme there which I hear in other circles, more money and less time to spend it also means that I get tired and over emotional quicker now than I did.

You and I both know running an area is dam hard work and requires real input from the Area Sec and usually his other half to make it work well. The thought of that additional pain on top of the 12 stressful hour days that makes up the day job is not appealing to me.

This sounds like real old fart stuff but I’m warming to the theme now so humour me a bit longer. I am convinced that I have less free time now even though my kids are both grown and left home. As a result the free time I that I do get I use to chill out with my projects and chew the fat with a few mates who don't feel the need to make demands on my life or my ravaged nerves.

Isolationist and elitist I hear you cry…………. or just plain up himself,…….. well yes I agree with you and don't think it's good for the hobby and it certainly does not encourage younger people to get involved but it does seem to be the way of it and it keeps me from turning into an axe murder so it has some personal merit

There was a time when five or six trucks from the area would travel together to shows as far apart as the south coat and well up into the midlands we'd be away nearly every weekend from April to the end of September doing up to 2000 miles a year, needless to say not too many of us do it now. We can neither afford the time or the fuel and at best we can mange two or three shows a year together by juggling dates and appointments when we just may all be in the same country at the same time let alone in the same field.

Is there a glimmer of the truth here, perhaps the world and the way we all live our lives changed?.

It is true that the MV scene is not attracting the numbers of enthusiastic young people it once did. If this is so then why?, is it now considered not cool to be seen in a big green truck?.......... Was it ever?.

Has the meaning and draw of trucks associated with both WW11 and the post war period paled or are they considered just old and quaint and not too cool to be seen around. Is the modern generation so wedded to it’s Ipods and DVD games that the thought of getting out and actually getting your hands dirty and committing to the two or three years of restoration not fitting with the ‘have it now credit no limit’ image of self that I see beamed out of every advertising hording or media source…………don’t know but I’m suspicious.

In fact as I type this I see that I’ve become one of those grumpy old B#### who thinks of the good old days and is suspicious of anything new Bah.

So Clive in conclusion,

there may well be a small down turn but over all I think things are just different, times are different, perhaps the way the hobby is presented needs to reflect that and I think forums like this one and others on the web catering for MV collectors are reflecting that change very positively and for the good.

The bottom line is do we still enjoy our trucks and restoring ? the answer has to be overwhelming yes……………… so no problem….. over to you.

Pete

:cofee:

I've no experience of these vehicles, but I've come across one in a scrap yard. It seems reasonably complete but obviously has been outside a long time. The owner says he is 'going to do it up', but then again his father has been going to do that for the last sixty years and he isn't going to be any different. What is the top I should offer, given that there is the chance that everything will need working on? I think the sight of pound notes might work. Any input appreciated.

 

£500 would be a steal and as someone else has said a £1000 would be about right for a project that may take 2 to 3 years to complete. MW's may not be pretty but then they are not as ugly as an Ant.

Parts for all the Bedford range are easy to come by and the wood work and tin work is fairly straightforward with a few basic skills you can turn out a good result. It will be a good project and worthwhile to do............. go for it. :goodidea:

Pete

Steve made the canvass for all the Oxford CMP group trucks.

His work is first class and attention to detail second to none

Pete

Nasty, lets hope our local friendly local terrorists don't read the same report !. :-(

As an aside it's bad news for a whole rang of reasons to grind "soft" metals like aluminium brass and copper, the inhalation of the dust is really bad news, aluminium will give you a very nasty silicosis and copper will poison you.

As if that's not bad enough you run the risk of the grinding disk exploding if and when you use it on steel as a result of particles of the soft meal becoming embedded in the wheel. This produces localised heating and expansion as a result of friction when grinding steel or cast iron.

Wheels at work used to have a big sign saying NO NON FERROUS METALS TO BE GROUND.

Pete

Hi Rob

not many of these around at all perhaps not more than 3 or four in Europe, ironically there seem to be more in Australia ! .

There used to be a radio shack version around the shows in the early 1990's but I haven't seen it for years so may have been sold abroad.

What are they like to drive? it's just about the only British 15cwt I haven't driven at some time or other but I expect it will be like all British and Canadian 15cwt's of the period plodding and a very hard ride with the possible exception of the Bedford MW and Wot 2 both of which have a bit more go.

If your looking for a Totie magnet don't bother it's as ugly as sin, if you want something really rare and well worth restoring go for it, just a shame the workshop is full or I'd be intrested.

Spares will be difficult but the internet makes this sort of project much more feasible these days and I could put you in touch with people who may be able to help you.

My advice for what it's worth is go for it but expect a long restoration however you'll have a truck that's 100% worth the effort.

regards

Pete

Hi Jack

it's me too...............this is the message

Illegal variable _files or _env or _get or _post or _cookie or _server or _session or globals passed to script.

Regards

Pete

PS Richard, not just you old mate :-(

 

Kev (now a member here, at a last) was kind enough to introduce me to the great nephew of Major John Howard last month :schocked:.

 

 

I had the honour of sitting next to Major Howard at a Berks and Oxon MVT dinner on one occasion and also to listen to him giving a lecture at Pegasus bridge on a Normandy Tour in the 80's.

A real gentleman in every sense of the word. He left a lasting impression on me of what our officer class was really like in WW11. We owe him and all of them a huge debt for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Pete

Hello Young Man :-)

welcome back about time you put your mind to trucks again !!,

it's a right B****r I've just sold a Zenith kit for a scout car back to Florida of all places, it sat under my bench for the best part of twenty years looking for a home :roll: such is life.

As to additives the OCMP use the standard stuff sold from all auto retail outlets either the Redex or the Castrol version we use the amounts it recommends on the can have now done collectively somewhere around 6k miles without a burned valve. Works for Stove Bolt six's and V8's so should work for that Yankee flat head six of of yours.

good to see you back in the frame Neil :wink:

Best regards

Pete

AND what about the sealed knot society, these people take their re-enactment very seriously, do people get upset about them I wonder :?

 

Point well made Mark

I think the answer is no, so if that's true why?, do people feel a little uneasy about the Ermin Street Guard for example. A British Celt of the period would most certainly have had an opinion. So why is OK and considered perfectly acceptable, entertaining and educational if admittedly a little fringe to depict one phase of history and a bit touchy feely to depict WW11 is this the same issue with WW1 I wonder?

Pete

Sorry Mate

never mind it may be getting closer to you in the new year :wink:

Pete

POP Old chap,

using photobucket seems to put the image into the thread at the right size first go. Mind you there's some strange stuff on that site :-o

Pete

Well done Richard lets see if it works,

this should be a picture of my D15

[attachment deleted by admin]

Another classic example this time on a Bedford QLR

This is an IWM photo but I'm afraid I don't have the reference number

Pete

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n73/peteashby/bedford.jpg[/img]

Not only is it a CMP it's also a Chev,

I do believe your beginning to weaken Mcspool............you know it makes sense :tup:

Pete

Guys,

 

On the same subject, what is the best paint/coating to use to apply the mickey mouse camo to the canvas of a truck.

 

cheers

 

Mike

 

Mike

Good question the WD found out quickly that painting canvas was not a good idea when using enamel paints of the period. ACI 1559 of 23 August 1941 notes...............

'It has been ascertained that paint spraying, Khaki Green N03 and paint spraying Dark Tarmac No4 has an injurious effect on canvas covers and hods of vehicles, and the use of these paints for disruptive painting of vehicle covers and hoods will be discontinued forwith'.............

It then goes on to say that......... 'only Paint camouflage bituminous emulsion is to be used'........ not very useful for you I'm afraid. The problem was that the spirit base of the enamel paint attacked the canvas and the varnish in the paint hardened the threads of the canvass making it brittle causing premature holing and failure of the cover at seams.

I assume the bituminous emulsion was more flexible and was thinned using water.

So what could you use now ?? I have always used a matt synthetic paint thinned down with a standard thinners, it will make the canvas 'hard' if you put it on too thick so either turn the gun down to get a hard edge and spray it on or use a brush but keep it thin.

Pete

Hello i Need the British Camoflage Scheme (Micy Mouse) Typ

 

Hello Marco

not too clear what you are asking for here............... do you mean the pattern, the colour or the period it was applied ?

Pete

So I started looking on the net for a paint quick drying additive and found "Terebine". If you add a small amount to the (synthetic) paint it speeds up the drying time and makes the paint go harder.

 

That's interesting, have you found that the accelerator alters the shade of the paint ?

Pete

So the question is what oil do you put in yours?

 

the best money can buy in all honesty is really is a very false economy to use cheap oil.

Having said that I don't think it should lead to a smoking exhaust, that is more indicative of worn rings and or valve guides

During the road run there were four fords to negate. The water i think was about 18 to 24 inches deep and quite exciting to drive through. What did suprise me was the length of time it took for the brakes to recover. For about 5 miles i had no brakes whatsoever and then for the next 10 the Jeep would randomly and severely pull to the left or the right as i gently touched the brakes. Has had anybody had this sort of problem.

 

Tim (too)

 

 

Yep standard problem when fording with drum brakes, the best way to tackle this is to exit the wade in low gear and let the truck come to a halt on dry ground, stand for a minute to let the water drain from the drums then select first gear and very slowly move off while applying full foot brake keep this up for a hundred yards or so until you feel the brakes bitting, the heat generated drys off the linings which are porous and the drums. As you found out you still need to drive with caution for the next few miles until everything settles down.

 

Pete

Just on my second book by him.

 

I found him a fascinating author..........

 

Agreed

did you know that Leo Kessler was one of his several writting pseudonyms ?

the others being Duncan Harding and John Kerrigan

Pete

Hi Jack

yes author of

Massacre at Malmedy,Death of a Division, 48 hours to Hammelburg and Werewolf all published in the late 1970's

Why?

Pete

From my perspective there is a very real difference between Living History and Re-enactment but I don't do either so I'd like to hear from someone who does..............

 

over to you Chaps

 

Pete

 

Is there anybody out there who would like to join the debate ?

Pete :tup:

 

Another point,is there actually a difference between "reenacting" and "living history"? to me reenacting would refer to reconstructing a specific event such as a battle,and living history would refer to portraying how the kit/equipment was worn/used without actually charging around,gun in hand,or am I missing something?

Matt.

 

From my perspective there is a very real difference between Living History and Re-enactment but I don't do either so I'd like to hear from someone who does..............

over to you Chaps

Pete

When they introduced themselves, I was a bit concerned about what their reaction would be, but they told me how much they appreciated the effort that we'd gone to and how pleased they were to see us. It’s a scenario that’s been repeated many times over the years and I’ve never had a bad reaction.

 

In fact, while taking part in the Arnhem march we've had groups of veterans standing to attention and saluting us as we marched past. We tried to explain that we were there to remember them and it should be the other way round but they would have nothing of it. “You’re helping keep the memory alive, thank you” was one of the replies I remember as I was shaken warmly by the hand. I think that’s what we’re all trying to do, just in different ways.

 

Lest we forget…

 

 

 

 

 

You make some intresting points here and I agree whole heartedly with your last point, there has to be some collective memory and that needs to be communicated. By accepting this point there also comes with it a responsibility to do the memory justice in all respects otherwise it becomes a demeaning parody. A number of living history groups I believe understand this and maintain the balance, but it is a very narrow line to tread.

There are small factions within both MV owners and Living History groups who take part because it permits them to dislay some form of ultra ego to a wider public.

Fortunately experience shows that this type tends to move on to the next ego rush in a short space of time, however they can leave behind them considerable ca lateral damage to both image and credibility that have taken in many cases years to build.

Pete