Scarab

Thanks guys, I would have posted a pic but it's deep in the bowels of a boat, the wrong side of a bulkhead and I can only just get my arm in, let alone a camera! So where's the best place to get me a set of these magic tools then? With several restoration projects due to be purchased in the next few months, I had better get myself a set eh? :-D Alex

Hi All, Not limited to MV's but certainly can be a problem. I have a bolt which is entirely rounded off through some hamfisted garage mechanic trying too hard. It's a rather awkward one to get hold of a replacement for, being tapered and a strange length, there only being once source for the kits and it must be bought as part of a set, which is £68. Rather a large sum just for one bolt. What's the best way to get it out? The part it screws into is mounted with a similarly rare rubber boot round it, which is impossible to remove in tact while the bolt is in there. So I've been loathe to apply heat so far. It's not a large one, at only 12mm so hard to get a lot of force on, in a rather confined space. What do the learned members here suggest? Alex

I love Top Gear, I don't watch it as a "Motoring Show" but purely as a bit of entertainment which might possibly be loosely based around vehicles. There's barely a show out there these days that actually delivers what its supposed to, I think Top Gears brief of 3 idiots pratting around is delivered rather well, and well worth the license fee alone.... well...that and Radio 4's Comedy Half hour!

Hello Mitch, Any details on the restoration, and pic's? Am toying with the idea with a Munga myself and would love to see what could be involved. Alex

Hello and welcome! As has been said, we need pic's! Alex

Where exactly is it and where's it going to? I might have a friend who might let me borrow his 8 wheeler + HIAB for the day. As long as we could come to some arrangement about splitting diesel costs I'd be more than happy to do the driving etc. Always happy to help out save old kit! Alex

Thought there were lots of bargains but In an attempt to spend little I took only a tiny bit of cash and my Mrs spent most of it on two incredibly expensive T-Shirts for my son. Only got a couple bits: Got a nice 37 pattern water bottle and pouch for £3 Full washroll for £6 All a few hours before closing, people so desperate to offload kit they were practically giving it away. I've also heard from a few mates who got some parts out of the skips after 5pm Looking forward to next year already

I could very well be Chris, what are they like to live with and work on? as I said I know very, very little about them. My personal strong points are in restoration and fabrication rather than complex engine related tasks. I can rebuild a body, fabricate and re-wire things, but beyond changing a head gasket/starter motor etc I'm probably more likely to ring a mechanic. More than happy, of course, to learn such new arts but I want it to be on the right vehicle.

I'm going to have to go with the controversial side on this one. The importance is always in telling the full story, if only part of the story is represented and told to younger generations then we may very well forget the reasons that conflicts are fought in the first place. As long as the emphasis is on education and remembrance then I think all sides should be shown.

Hey all, I'm thinking of getting a new toy, something to keep in the garage and work on as a pet project, nothing serious but a fun thing, and to poodle about to and from work in occasionally, was thinking possibly a champ, but know little about them. I want to keep it sub 5k and, like I said, do some work on it myself so certainly don't want anything mint condition. What would the learned members of the forum here suggest? Alex

Thanks guys, sorry for the late reply, laptop power supply blew up and then with W&P everything got a bit hectic. For work I often have to visit Eastern Europe as well as some nasty building sites in the middle of nowhere, logging sites etc so can get quite "off road" Reckon I will listen to all that's been said and look at getting a Range Rover. As has been said, a Disco I might regret but probably not the RR Thank you for all the help. Alex

Is that apart from the 1hr queues for the carpark, and then the 20 minutes queueing to buy the wristbands? Must get there earlier this year! :cool2:

Hey all, I'm after a new 4x4 for general family use, work, and lugging stuff about. I've narrowed it down to a choice of 4: 2008 Land Rover Discovery 3 HSE (28,000 miles) 2007 Range Rover Sport HSE (19,000 Miles) 2006 Range Rover Autobiography with high spec (34,000 Miles) 2009 VW Touareg Altitude (39,000 Miles) I've never had any experience of modern Land Rovers and have been told that all 3 in my options list are likely to break down every 10 feet and cost me a fortune when they do so. But I need something thats comfortable, nice to drive long distances (I do about 30,000-35,000 miles a year) and can get me out of mud and snow. Which I come into contact with quite often due to work. What are peoples opinions? running costs aren't a consideration as the majority of it wont come out of my own pocket. What would be your choice? I'm leaning towards the Disco 3, but the Sport is a much nicer place to be inside and I'm told by the salesman (same guy for all the LR's) that a Sport is just as capable off road as the Disco as its entirely the same apart from the Rack and Body. But then If I'm getting a Sport why not just get the "proper" Range Rover. The Touareg is in there because its newer, still in warranty etc but I don't know how good it would be when the going got tough. Any and all input appreciated!

I passed no less than 6 convoys yesterday while out on the roads, and probably 11-12 individual vehicles all heading in the direction of Beltring. 4 Jeeps and 1 Freelander pulling a Jeep ( I think) broken down in about a 25 mile section of the M27/A27 and a couple on the M3. Can't get there myself till Friday but really looking forward to it!

Certainly it'd be viewed as an investment. I absolutely love the look of that Dingo. I'm hoping that tomorrow at Airbourne and next week at Military Mayhem may just help me make my mind up and hopefully get a chance to speak to some current owners of the kind of thing I'm after. Thanks guys, all the advice has been great. Alex

Its a pretty big garage, its actually a 6 car design so about 20 feet "Deep" 47 feet "wide" and 11 feet high. Whatever I get might need to go in sideways but a bit of parallel parking never hurt anyone eh? Thanks for the suggestions so far guys, I'm doing my research! any and all suggestions considered. For the record if its bigger than a car then I think tracked is how I'd like to go. The one thing I forgot to mention is NOTHING American, please! Commonwealth or Axis

Right, I'm moving into a new house in a couple of months with a nice big set of garages, all fitted with heating and dehumidifier just installed, and a dedicated workshop attached. The good lady has given me permission to have one "toy" in there for good behaviour. I'd love something from the WWII period, and would dearly love it to be an axis vehicle or something used in India/Burma/North Africa by the allies. I've got C+E, as well as H on my license and got decent experience of restoring and fabricating - as well as a willingness to learn. My budget is £70k over the first 12 months, If I spend it all straight away then the first year will have to be pretty tight on the purse strings, I'm sure you get the idea. So what do we think my options are? All help appreciated!

Cracking site, thanks!

Hi guys! I'm Alex and I'm the newbie here. Spent many years being interested in Military Vehicles but never owned one of my own. I've got a bit of experience in restoration, mainly Classic British Speedboats and Cold War era aircraft through many years helping out as part of the restoration team at a local museum. I have limited experience of smaller tracked vehicles as well. Now I'm on the search for a Sd.Kfz 251 as I've finally got the space and proper environment, time and money to restore one properly. I'd like an original if possible, however I know there are some good Czech conversions around. Looking forward to getting to know everyone on here and meeting you at events, and if anyone can help me find what I'm after I'd be very grateful! Alex