andym

Is it just me, or are the photos not working? Andy

It's a source of some amusement to the other services why the Army insist on turning up to office meetings in full DPM. It doesn't work very well as camouflage at Abbey Wood or Main Building! :-) Andy

Is that actually an issue? I don't know about the Army, but the RN have had crew and V neck wooly pullies - I've got both types. Andy

That's very interesting, I'd always assumed that the Abbot ordnance was of similar construction to the Light Gun, but obviously not! Andy

Indigestion tablet, perhaps? :-) Andy

Those coloured drawings are wonderful - thank you! Andy

Thanks Richard, I should have known it wouldn't be that simple! Andy

I may be interested in anything beginning with 9ACR or LV6MT4 as they're FV432 or Abbot respectively. K60 engine parts seem to start with LV10. Andy

Noting the assembled watchers, cue the Monty Python "It's a piston engine" sketch ... Andy

None of that new-fangled stuff, they've got a front zip! Andy

I scored a brand new set of AFV overalls, still sealed in their packet, for £12 on eBay last week! Andy

Is the Function switch set to "*" by any chance? The squelch is disabled if so. Andy

Is it just me, or does that explanation seem a little trite? "FNFJW - Final Note [confirming] Found Jerry's Whereabouts"? Andy

I think you're probably right: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7509948442_16c0cc1e7c_o.jpg Andy

Empress of Australia, perhaps? Andy

Glad it wasn't just me who didn't understand the question! :-) Andy

That depends when the next committee meeting is ... :-) Andy

Does this look suspiciously familiar? It's even got fold-out shields! :-) http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/,37,/45842/Saxon.htm Andy

Agreed - thanks Rob. All I can say is that they've been very helpful so far. Andy

According to an email received earlier today, that's apparently what HMS Belfast do. They use yacht starting gun cartridges. I've also heard back from Fort Nelson, who load their own and are happy to let me come and have a chat. Andy

Probably from crates dug up in Birmingham, Neasden or Burma ... :-) Andy

Perhaps it might help if I explain my thought process? Having cleared the first hurdle of the FAC itself and leaving aside the issue of sourcing the parts to build a live gun, I need to work out the best solution for the charges. The most obvious is the use of pukka L46A1 blanks, but they will undoubtedly be very expensive and probably complete overkill. I don't want to shatter windows or burst eardrums just for effects at a show. The next approach, which is what I suggested as part of the FAC application, is to reload used cases with black powder. Another solution would be to find a suitable electrically triggered pyrotechnic and build it into a modified case. So at the moment I'm investigating to see what other people do in similar circumstances, hence my question here. Other sources of information are Edinburgh Castle (the 1 o'clock gun is a 105mm Light Gun) and re-enactors such as the group who fire the 4 inch guns on HMS Belfast. And of course, closest to me are the group who fire artillery at Fort Nelson. Does that make sense? Andy

With most email programs, if you hover the mouse over the link before clicking it, you will see what that link is. If it isn't what you're expecting and/or not the same as what the email suggests, don't click it! Andy

I hadn't seen that BR before - wonderful! I actually fired a 4.5" Mk.6 back in the late 1970's at HMS Cambridge. Andy

HMS Belfast's 6 inch breech: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Loading_6_inch_gun_HMS_Belfast_Geograph_1695654_587c3213.jpg Andy