Scarab

Just got back from a great day. Was very muddy this morning but got better. Car park was very sloppy. Jaguar XJ in front of me got stuck trying to get out and the idiot driver just kept his boot down and showered a family in mud. My pictures are a bit dark compared to some here due to the morning rain so I'll avoid posting them all and go through them and just get the ones up of anything not previously posted.

Well I just spent the last hour reading this thread from start to finish as I haven't picked it up before and to read that news at the end is absolutely heart wrenching and the most unexpected ending! His enthusiasm and enjoyment for the hobby must really be a terrible loss for all who knew him.

Hope the campsite and everyone survived without too much discomfort. Shall be setting off soon with camera charged and wallet full of my allocated spending money for more rusty bits to fill corners of the garage with.

Can't wait to see the finished product!

Just over 1,000 miles on the clock too, bet they were a tad miffed!

:wow:About as close as I'd want to get to one of those as well! :-X

Shame if it rains on Saturday, it's the only day I can make it down. However I do rather like the idea of having the stalls to wander round without masses of people, many a bargain to be had in the rain!

Know what, an M-29 Weasel it could well be, I think you've got it. But it looked VERY old and very, very Battered, every panel was bent in like someone had gone at it with a small wrecking ball. Are there many weasels left? This is the closest thing to the config I saw:

Thanks for the reply Johnny, Probably similar in size but the thing I saw had a little more to it on the upper works. Also the track was this shape... obviously without the handles.

This guy has never, ever, failed to find me anything obscure that I have needed. Fast Fixings 292 Seaside Eastbourne East Sussex BN22 7RE 01323 722220 It once took him 2 weeks to source some very strange OEM chinese bolts for me for a project at work. But he got them in the end and charged literally a couple of quid for all that work and a box of bolts. Haven't been in there for a couple of years now but it might be worth a try? Alex

Here's a strange one. I was driving along the A22 the other day near Uckfield and in a lay-by on the back of a trailer being pulled by a Landcruiser was what I would swear blind was a Humber Hexonaut, only with tracks. I was in a rush and slowed down a bit to have a look but traffic was heavy and so probably only had it in vision for 10 seconds or so. Being a bit of a fan of Humber I looked up the Hexonaut when I got home and while not 100% identical (no windscreen and a bit battered looking) it was a pretty close match for a tracked Hexonaut, even down to the positioning of the exhaust system. It didn't look like a new reproduction as it certainly had some years on it, and it looked like it was painted Bronze Green with stencil markings faded in a few places. Anyone got a more enlightened idea on what it was I saw? Alex

The one that was on the Roundabout at Shoreham by Sea has now been removed and the roundabout now has a advert for a local car garage on it. The "Official" reason for it being withdrawn by the council given was it was causing too many accidents from people looking at it rather than at the road. I have no idea where its gone now.

Brilliant to see something like this saved. Hope to see it restored in the years to come. Very exciting. Alex

Didn't one of these go on eBay back in January for about 4k? sold as unregistered, still with the plastic on the seats.

The family and I have had cause to use the RAC probably 6 or so times in the past 5 years, they have always been there within 45 minutes, if a fix has been possible at the roadside then they've done it (although they aren't cheap on roadside parts, £50 for a £19 ignition coil) or recovery to wherever in the country no problem. I have the full cover for my family, 4 drivers (with cover for when we're passengers) and whatever vehicle, excluding commercials but including classics, all for £140 (ish) a year. Only went with the RAC as I'd had problems with the AA, but to be honest I reckon they are all the same anyway and it just depends on the mood of the guy who turns up on the day!

Reminds me of buying in China, which I've spent many years doing, but I still failed trying to get a German tracked toy from the Ukraine a couple of years ago!

And get some pictures! Sounds like a truly remarkable lady.

Thanks guys, I was intending to join the club but hadn't got round to it yet, will get onto that this week now I know the manuals are on there! Better than just getting some possibly incomplete ones from eBay, I've had trouble with those before. Alex

Hi all, I've got a service manual for the Austin Champ which i got at a show a while back but quite frankly it's seen better days and isn't really up to sustained heavy leafing through for much longer. I was wondering if the champ manual(s) are available in electronic format from anywhere so i could just chuck it on the iPad and refer to it when needed without worrying about it falling apart. Thanks in advance, Alex

I can't go myself but I assume this is the event I saw a HUGE convoy of Land Rovers (of all types) must have been at least 25 vehicles in the main convoy and more in dribs and drabs following. A few trucks carrying some tracked pieces and a few other oddities. They were all heading along the M4 yesterday about 15:00, then on the way back at about 21:00 I saw some more, should be a pretty good event from what I saw, if anyone has any pictures I'd love to see them! Alex

Hi all, Had this debate recently with some friends down the pub and no real conclusion was drawn. What's the best way to store recovered parts? Let's say I get a "parts" vehicle and strip it down putting the bits i need on vehicle number one. What is it best to do with the ones that aren't immediately needed? Clean them up and put them neatly on the shelf? Clean them up, pack it in grease and wrap it in brown paper and put it in an airtight box? Leave it in the dirt it comes off in? Thoughts appreciated. Alex

Ok this might just be a pipe dream but bear with me. One of my business interests does some work in the corporate hospitality/event management fields. Not something that particularly takes up any of my time, nor something I delve too far into. However, always looking for any excuse to get out of a boring meeting and doing something far more fun I had an idea the other day. Are there any MV's out there which incorporate generators as a part of the vehicle (I.E Not towed, preferably not removable) and preferably could either double up as a reasonable load carrier, or have some seating to offer a bit of respite while some aspiring middle managers try and make friends by building rafts. It'd only need to power some floodlights and a PA system as well as perhaps a fridge and some other light bits. I think we use a 6.5kVA at the moment but there's a lot of spare capacity there at the smaller events. But If I could get the fuel and some maintenance bills on the books, as well as getting paid a couple of days a month to sit tinkering with a toy, instead of in some air conditioned prison. Then I might very well be inclined to base the next purchase (ok....after the Champ) on something that could be used for work as well as play. Thanks in advance Alex P.S I've already checked with the insurance company and they'd be fine with it - result!

I'd vote for Anchor Wax. Used worldwide (I've seen it used in Bangladesh) and if you get it from a farm/agricultural supplier it is FAR cheaper than anywhere else too, so its worth searching out a local outlet if one is available in your neck of the woods. If you have too much to brush on then you can spray it - just. It's a bit thick but if you get a deck/garden sprayer, rather than a standard sprayer it will work fine. I have a friend who swears by chainsaw oil and I have used it on my boat's previously, but I'd probably go for Anchor Wax next time I need something like this. Alex

Thanks for that gents, just got myself the 10pc Irwin set off that popular auction site, for £25.99 delivered. Not bad value I don't think. Will have to see how I get on fabricating a replacement bolt once it's out! Thank you once more. Alex

Hi all, I'm looking for a Champ at the moment, after recent advice on here I've now done my research and got my heart set on one. Obviously only 3 "official" Winches were ever made for the Champ and non put into production. But I was wondering if anyone had recreated one, or installed another winch. Did it work well, did it use the PTO and how might I best go about it? Any and all help appreciated. Alex