andym

Chas -

I've found a copy of "Firearms Law - Guidance to the Police" published by the Stationery Office in 2002. In Chapter 3, Definitions of Prohibited Weapons, it says:

signalling apparatus (section 5(1)(ae));

I think therefore that the 5(1)(ae) is a reference to the Firearms Act itself.

Andy

I've only got the Shielder manual, but that says gearbox warm, engine stopped, wait a few minutes for the oil to settle.

Andy

As a relative newbie could I please add my thanks too?

Andy

It will be very interesting to see if this is really a DVLA/VOSA policy change or just someone's local opinion.

Andy

However Olympic managed to survive a catistrophic collision that should have caused her to be scrapped- the ship had in effect broken its back and was tail wagging on its slow return journey to Belfast. Olympic continued to serve until 1934.

She also struck and sank U103 in WW1 and earned the nickname "Old Reliable" for her commercial service after the war. It was the third ship, Britannic, that struck a mine (or possibly a torpedo) in 1916.

I think the current theory about "defective materials" is focused on the rivets, not the plates themselves. There's a belief that the collision with the iceberg caused to rivet heads to fail and spring the seams.

For those who want to make up their own mind about what happened, I'd recommend http://www.titanicinquiry.org/ as a good read, but it will take you a while!

Andy

We will never know but as said above we can only guess on the peoples mindsets or thoughts prior to and at the time as regardless of their possible failing no-one wanted an accident to occur.

Agreed. Titanic was built not only to be the largest and most luxurious ship afloat, but also the safest, even if nowadays we may question some of the design decisions.

One of the problems with applying hindsight is that people's actions may seem odd or even downright dangerous to us now, but we don't have their mindset. Careering at twenty-plus knots through a known area of ice may seem suicidal, but it was common practice. Titanic carried the number of lifeboats required by the Board of Trade at the time as they were only intended to act as ferries to another vessel.

A lot of myth has become "fact" due to repetition. As an example, Titanic wasn't at maximum speed when she hit the iceberg as has often been stated. Her maximum speed isn't known as she'd never had all the boilers lit; that trial was due to take place the next day. Accounts from passengers and crew at the two enquiries differ, as you'd expect, and over the years writers have chosen which ones to repeat and which to ignore in order to "prove" their version of what happened. Perhaps as the centenary approaches it's time for a thorough, unbiased reappraisal of the witness statements?

And as for Belfast celebrating the centenary? Why? Money! :cool2:

Andy

Having had a chance to get home and read the manuals, Richard is correct, the socket provides up to 12kVA at 208V 400Hz from the front alternator after swapping the No. 1 plug in the distribution link box.

The link box cable was removed by General Instruction No. 5 for Reason Code 1 - to improve safety. The stated intention was that the power tool transformer, other associated cabling and the output socket would removed at the next base overhaul. That's odd, because I think that every FV430 I've seen has the output socket still in place to the right of the rear door. I don't know if I've still got the link box cable or transformer in my FV432, I'll have to look next time I visit.

The Operating Information for Radio Relay Installation in FV439 says that mains connection to the RRI(T) is through the import mains socket (power tool socket) located at the rear RH side of the door. So if you've got an RRI(T) FV439 your power tool socket may not be quite what it seems!

Andy

I just wonder if it is another revision of history based on nothing as this was released to coincide with her book release which is fiction from memory

The versions of "the truth" about the sinking seem to be multiplying as we approach the centenary ...

Andy

So nothings new then. Except now it would be called an Anti Matriel rifle.

I was just going to say it looks like an early Barrett!

Andy

I'm away from home so can't check the manuals, but I'm pretty sure it was an AC supply of some sort from a transformer off the rear alternator. They were taken out as a modification quite early on, probably because they weren't very safe! The modification removed the transformer but left the wiring and socket in place. Some early FV439s with AC generators (Onans?) used the socket as an external 240V connection with an RCD panel near the BV plug bracket on the right hand side of the door frame.

Andy

Why would I want to read UK regulations in Malaysia?

Good point - I'll pay more attention next time! :embarrassed:

Andy

Another incident was when we got extentions done at the welding school the contractor was welding some bits with no mask. I got a bit worried about this as we are meant to be the welding people so I got him a mask and he refused to use it. I can'y understand why they are not completely blind as I hate it when I get an inadverdant arc flash.

 

I will see if my welder today will wear his mask as I bought him an auto one

Methinks that reading the Health and Safety at Work Act might be useful, especially understanding the obligations of employer and employee. And I think we've wandered off-topic somewhat!

Andy

For reference it works fine for me not only with Firefox 3.5 at home but also the ancient IE6 at work.

Andy

what was the postage?

£2.50! :-D

Andy

Don't forget fleabay as a source of tools. I've just picked a set of six new combination Hilka spanners for £1.30!

Andy

I'm also confused about the comments regarding people coming over to "drive it" if the interior is gutted? I'm assuming it's no longer mobile?

Andy

Only remaining thing I'm not sure about is a question on the last page: "Is the vehicle exempt from Type Approval? If yes, give reason why."

 

I assume it is, and its an age related thing? Google doesn't bring back any useful info.

I didn't fill in the V5C for mine, but I'd have thought "Historic Vehicle" would be a good start?

Andy

... a yellow submarine on a garage in Devon (if it is still there?) ...

Eh? Tell me more!

Andy

Looking good, Iain!

Andy

There's been some discussion here on the "Hawker" batteries on several occasions, so here's some information I've gathered that people may find useful. If you think I'm teaching Granny to suck eggs this probably isn't for you!

These batteries are usually known as the "Hawker" in the UK after their manufacturer, Hawker Enersys, and as "Armasafe" in the US after the trade name used by the Enersys parent company. They exist in two main forms, a vented type (UK6TNMF, 6140-99-219-2903) or a sealed type (12FV120, 6140-99-690-6632). The latter is the same as the US variant, 6140-01-485-1472. Other than the vent, all the batteries are identical and use an AGM (Advanced Glass Mat) design with the electrolyte held like a sponge. They won't spill or leak if cracked and stand a good chance of working with a round through them.

Compared to the more common flooded lead-acid 6TN batteries, the Hawkers have approximately double the Cold Cranking Amps (1225A), a higher capacity (110Ah) and a much longer shelf life - up to five years. They require no maintenance other than keeping them charged, and unlike conventional lead-acids can be successfully recovered from very low states of charge if neglected. However, they're also a lot more expensive than conventional lead-acids!

There's quite a lot of information on the Internet about care of these batteries, mainly from the US - try Googling "Armasafe" if you want to know more. However, it's worthwhile repeating that although they are "maintenance-free", these batteries do need some TLC to keep them in good condition.

It is important to check their OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) every now and then. OCV is a much better indicator of state of charge for an AGM battery than a conventional lead-acid, and the Hawker is fully charged at 12.9V and half-charged at 12.2V. If the OCV falls below 12.6V then the battery should be charged asap. Even without external current drains such as the Firewire system on FV430s and other AFVs, batteries will self-discharge over time so it's important to keep an eye on the OCV of batteries in vehicles that are only used intermittently. Note also that a conventional lead-acid battery self-discharges at around 5% per month (the Hawker is around 1%, another advantage!) and in both cases the rate doubles with every 10 degree C rise in temperature.

The Hawker likes to be charged from a constant voltage source of 14.25V, which is why on an FV430 the charging voltage is set at 28.50V +/- 0.5V which I assume is the same for other vehicles. Off the vehicle a conventional mains charger can be used provided that it doesn't exceed 15V when charging, otherwise you're likely to damage the battery. By far the best option is to use a modern pulse charger such as those manufactured by Pulsetech in the US. Both the DOD and MOD use their "World Charger" and I bought the smaller "Xtreme Charge" from the UK importer. This is a very clever piece of kit that not only charges batteries intelligently according to their state but can also recover dead ones due to its pulsing action.

I've got four "new" Hawker batteries in my FV432 which were at 12.5V when I bought them and the Xtreme Charge quickly brought them up to 100% with no problems. More interestingly, I had a rather sad looking Hawker that came with the vehicle and had an OCV of just over 8V. I put it on the charger and left it for four days, by which time it was back up to 100% - not bad for a "dead" battery, demonstrating the useful combination of a modern battery and appropriate charger. A conventional lead-acid battery in that state would almost certainly be scrap.

I hope that information is useful to others, I'd better finish by saying that I've no connection with Hawker or PulseTech other than being a very satisfied customer!

Andy

Did anyone else have one of those "Sekiden" pistols that fired bronze-coloured plastic balls via a strong spring? Sort of a fore-runner to today's airsoft weapons as they had a completely unrealistic magazine size, forty or fifty rounds. And of course we just wandered round the street playing with them and no-one batted an eyelid ...

Andy

As it looks so close to a CVRT one, I'd say it's got to be Alvis, maybe Stormer?

Yes indeed, it's for a Stormer. "Bracket, Mounting, AS36026".

Mine says:

Make: GKN FV432

Body type: Special Purpose

Taxation class: Historic

Cylinder capacity: 6500cc

Type of Fuel: Heavy Oil

Number of seats including driver: 10

Wheelplan: Crawler

VIN/Chassis/Frame number: 08EA21

Engine Number: Not Known

Colour: Green

All other fields are blank.

I hope that helps!

Andy

From EMER E108 (Technical Handbook, Field Standard for FV432, FV433 and FV434):

Number of track links: 90 new, 86 all adjustment used up.

Maximum speed in 6th gear: 32mph (FV432) 29mph (FV433 and FV434).

There's no suggestion that the FV433 has a different gearbox, but its engine is a K60 Mk4G rather than the Mk4F of the FV432.

Andy

I believe that all FV430s have 90 links in a new track. Even with a different length of track on the road, an FV433 could still have the same length of track overall depending on the angles round the sprockets and idlers. I also think that the FV433 and FV434 share the same lower final drive ratio.

Andy