Sean N

:wow: - though it probably saved it from the WW2 scrap drive... The IWM collections note about it also refers to it as Mk IV no. 245

I don't think there's an official source you can consult easily to find how many vehicles of a particular type are registered. Sites such as 'How Many Left' are the nearest you'll get, but very limited production or rare vehicles are often not listed, or listed as 'Missing Type'. How Many Left doesn't list Mungas, or even any Auto Union or DKW vehicles, and I cba to wade through the many pages of Audis in the hope of finding some! Putting registrations of known Mungas into DVLA's vehicle enquiry page using DKW, Auto Union, Audi or Missing as a make just brings up 'vehicle details could not be found'. A quick flick through the Munga Talk topic seems to show about 10 - 15 UK vehicles known to or owned by HMVF members.

On Film 4 9pm tonight. No doubt it'll be on repeatedly over the next few weeks. Have to say I can't get too excited about minor anachronisms like a Mk2 Pig in '71. Having been involved in trying to get vehicles for film & TV and knowing what a nightmare it can be, and given that 99% of viewers would not distinguish between Pigs and Saracens, let alone different marks of Pig, I can understand why producers would be glad of what they can get that was somewhere handy. Film makers have perpetrated far worse outrages over the years...

Hollebone it is.

Just been shown some photos of what looks to be a very tidy Ferret - but then they all look good in photos. DBG, looks at least repainted if not restored. De-act guns. For sale at about £8k - £9k, open to offers, Dorset. Can find out more if anyone's interested.

Line up photo looks like K9, Pioneer, Hippo, not sure, then a whole load of Bedford RLs. Second photo the Scammell is on an EWK Gillois ferrying rig

Silly question, maybe, but these are definitely from BIS and link back to the real BIS SPIRE website, I assume? A sudden flurry of emails like this often smacks of phishing scams...

Lettering on the ship and the library number on the photo are both the wrong way round, which is a bit of a giveaway. Hans' version looks a lot better - now all you have to do is get the IWM to reverse their watermark!

Alec, I have a couple of Edbro mechanical PTOs that came from a recovery company that were running Bedfords. It is for the SAE 6 bolt fixing but neither look quite right on the gear; one has a straight cut gear, while the other the gear looks too coarse pitch: The straight cut one is marked PTO.602.15 922015 while the other is just marked 18 x 84 S, I assume a reference to the ratio. If they are any help let me know

I'll try to get photos tomorrow.

I've seen it called 'Pierced' or 'Perforated' but not pressed. NOS, your picture is not showing though it does link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marston_Mat Terry, some years ago I was offered a large quantity of PSP. I had a fair idea people used it in ones and twos e.g. as sand channel, so I made enquiries. It turned out that it was in demand at the time and sold for considerably more (10 - 20 times?) its value in scrap. That might well still be the case. As scrap it'd probably go as light iron, so just a few tens of pounds a tonne these days. It makes a lot of difference whether it's straight, as obviously after years of use it tends to get bowed, rusty and the edges get bent so it won't interlock. All the ones I've ever seen, irrespective of manufacturing date, have always had the holes punched right through.

I've been able to dig all this out now. I have all the interior fittings bar one desk and the radios themselves, plus a number of components and loose fittings, plus bags of stakes and cabling that came with the vehicle. Interior fittings: All radio mounting brackets and pins etc., shelves for above the windows either side, table for OSR with box under, base for NSR desk with heater, fold down seats and cushions, interior lights, notice boards, 240V distribution board for OSR, breaker etc. board for NSR, complete interior wiring loom, various connectors, fasteners, clips etc. Components and loose fittings: Marconi power transformer, Marconi HF transformer, telephone handset in case, morse key, large ceramic aerial mount, bags of cable etc.

Chris, you have a PM.

Yes, that's fine. Many older British (and German, and other) vehicles have riveted chassis plates without stamped numbers.

John, CBF have it, see http://storage.cbf.uk.com/pdf/STEELSECTION299.pdf

I'm not sure about etched and enamelled or embossed, the drawing says sheet brass pressing, so I'd guess they were just stamped out from a sheet. I have an identical badge, from brass, that came from an O870, clearly made in a single press operation. I'd guess the 'slight dish to facilitate manufacture' would be to aid release from the press tool. As Richard says, 23 Aug '74 is probably a copy issue date, last amendment looks like the addition of sheet steel as an alternative material on 11.10.43 presumably due to MoS supply concerns? 'Background to be sunk' I would guess is indicated because there is no cross section so without that instruction it would not be clear, rather than to show a second operation.

Radek, from the photo that looks as though the original colour for that engine was deep bronze green or mid bronze green. The MOWOG green Ian refers to is mid bronze green.

Ingenious. Wonder how well cooked the potato was when they reached their destination. ISTR the approved REME recovery manual method for condenser replacement was two baked bean cans (or equivalent) with a piece of paper between.

Cross-posted here: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?51521-TWO-got-killed-by-firing-an-WWII-tank

John, I appreciate you have facilities and help there, but the work you have accomplished on such a mammoth and complex vehicle in such a short space of time is extraordinary (and makes me feel as though I'm very much slacking!). What is happening after Bordon, I'm out of touch - everything going to Lyneham?

Chance anyone with knowledge / parts lists could confirm some fitments for me? RE3043 / FV141449 Valve, exhaust - I have this as Rolls-Royce B40/B60/B80 and 4.25 litre civilian Rolls-Royce engine (1946 - 1955) EB3853 / FV141322 Valve, inlet - I have this as Rolls-Royce B40/B60/B80 and 4.25 litre civilian Rolls-Royce engine (1946 - 1955) Rover 246346 Piston - I have this as Rover 60 and Landrover Series 1 2 litre petrol BUT there seem to be a lot of different pistons for these engines and some confusion over fitment - I have it variously listed as 1952 - 1955, 1954 - 1955, and 1954 - 1959. Not sure whether this reflects parts list publication dates or genuine confusion. Anyone confirm, particularly for the latter? Thanks.

The article is very specific in saying it was a 1945 vehicle refurbished in 2005, which sounds too specific to be just newspaper speculation.

Radek, first three photos look like mid bronze green (also known as BMC green). Fourth photo looks like eau-de-nil. Fifth photo, it's a bit dark to tell in that engine bay! Could be black?

I don't recall having seen a russet brown engine, but my experience is by no means definitive. I do think eau-de-nil went on a lot later than is generally said, just based on what I've seen - pretty much every '50s vehicle I can think of having seen, including those that were still being cast in the '90s, had eau-de-nil engines (except those which still had OEM engines), whereas sky blue seemed to be much more '60s on - I associate it with Landrover and tank engines, for some reason. I would not like to swear to wartime engine colour but black seems likely, I don't know why.