Adrian Barrell

when I say '' earlier in the thread'', I mean in the thread under 'tracked vehicles', of course....... :oops:

Hi Me(you)......

Thanks for the kind words. Check out the link I posted earlier in the thread about my Sherman. It came from an artillery range, having been a target for over 40 years. As to how I got it, well, it was a case of being in the right place at the right time. At the time, 1991, you could buy a range wreck Sherman for £1000. Most people thought they were unrestorable but I felt I could do it. The decision was easier knowing I could do all the work myself, with 4000 hours going in to the project, there was no way I could pay anyone to do it for me.

Adrian

Jack,

there is a short photo record at http://www.geocities.com/sherman_sn5271/

courtesy of Hanno Spoelstra.

It only seems to let you look at a few pages at a time though.......

I have a fuller photo record but it's in an album (a real one)!

Adrian

1953 M75 APC

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1939 cat D4 dozer

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M5 High speed tractor.

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Arrghh! Finished.

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try again....As found

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As requested, some pics of my vehilcles. Thought I'd post them here rather than continuing in the welcome page.

My 1942 M4A4 Sherman. Before, after and the engine just prior to fitting.

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Adrian, glad to see you here, however I don't suppose you would remember me, I met you once at W&P having been told to find you by your Father, who I knew from Fram.

 

I was at 'Stennets' the other day and realised what they had 'lying' around and I reckon you are the man, if anyone can, to persuade them to take something down next year

 

Hope to see you there again

 

Cheers

 

Tugger, thanks for the welcome, I'm sure I would remember you if I saw you! I know what you mean about Stennetts, they do have some nice kit that never goes anywhere. Fred was the first, albeit unintentionally, he useda T16 carrier for ploughing after the war! Don't think it was very succesfull though!

I had a spare disc wheel from them the other year though, if anybody needs one.

Adrian

Hi Adrian, at Beltring 05 we took a load of pictures of your sherman and questioned you for ages about it for a little project we were getting started on. Great photo albums you had. You should post some more pictures. I especially liked the engines. By the way did I see you at Chatham dockyard a few months ago? Was going to say hello but you'd gone when I got round the stalls.

 

Paul, yes I remember, how is the project going? I think it will be more work than restoring the 1:1 version. Was not at Chatham recently, probably earlier in the year though, time flies you know!

Adrian

Don't suppose you'd like to swap rides for one in a Stalwart when she's swimming?? :roll: :-)

 

Neil,

why not! I've driven Stalwart off road a little but never been in one on the water. My only amphib driving was in a DUKW. I'm up for it.

Adrian

Jack,

nice try :-D

They are not too noisy, though the M75 is very loud inside......

They are quite tiring though and you do get very dusty! Maintenance varies a lot from different types, Sherman is very reliable and so is not too onerous.

Fuel consumption depends on type of driving. On a good run, I get maybe 1/2 mile to the gallon, cross country...... I did a film job over two days and used £175 worth of petrol.

Thirsty stuff!

Adrian

That's the one. Take one cent ARV, cut it down in height, fit extra idlers in front, extend and raise the tracks, remove one wheel each side and cut doorways in the hull sides, make a whole new outer hull, sponsons with traversing 6 pdrs etc etc It soon adds up!

Adrian

Jack,

that depends on the Sherman! Obviously, there is a variety of engines but also single and double pull brakes and boosted clutches. Mine has the multibank engine which is very tourqey (is that a word?), double pull brakes and a spring boosted clutch. I have driven:- Sexton, M7, M4A1 with the radial engine, M4A2 with the twin GM diesels, both early and late models and M50 Super Sherman.

Though I'm biased, the M4A4 is easily the nicest to drive, Sexton probably the worst. It's a combination of seating position, controls, engine power and such things as the condition of the suspension. It's quite common for sherman type suspension to be seized and it does make it a little harder to steer.

Having said all that, they are quite roomy, and well laid out inside. They feel a bit lumbering, though when up to speed they do come alive somewhat.

Always happy to give a ride Enigma! Might even let you drive it....

second attempt....

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Hope these come out....here is my M75 and my Sherman, I'll scan some prints in tomorrow of other things.

Adrian

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That's the one! I subsequently modded it to look a little more WW1 for a BBC production last year, as seen at Beltring.

I normally do go to Beltring, though this year was the first I have missed for years.

My sherman was there last year.

Regards,

Adrian

........going to have to tell us more now!

 

Hmm,

that particular job was League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I had made the pseudo WW1 tank used in the opening sequence and was in Prague for the shoot. It all ended badly with a collapsed set and me in hospital with a broken arm! Mind you, the nurses were gorgeous... :wink:

Adrian

Hi Mark,

don't think I do but I have only worked on the fringes of the industry, it's not really my thing. After a few 16 hr shifts in Prague over night at -10 degrees, it loses any glamour it may have had!

Jack,

as you can see, my main interest is in tracked and armoured vehicles. Thing is, I have only been able to afford wrecks! The Sherman took me over 4000 hrs......

As to the HMVF, I have to confess I have only just found it. :oops:

Regards,

Adrian

Hi all,

seems strange starting this as a new member but i am certainly new to this site.

I have been collecting MVs since 1983. I started with a Dodge WC52 and have owned two GMC 353s, Diamond T 969, two Diamond T 980s, M151A1 Mutt, M5 High speed tractor, M75 APC, M4A4 Sherman, Cromwell tank, two Caterpillar D4s, Can-Am Bombardier, Indian 741B, M10 tank destroyer and a White Scout Car.

Also various trailers and associated kit.

Currently I have the M4A4 Sherman, M5 Tractor, M75 APC, Cat D4 dozer and the Can-Am all fully restored, the White M3A1 under restoration and the Cromwell waiting its turn! At least i can't be accused of wartime snobbery...... :wink:

The day job is running my small engineering company, very handy for me to restore tanks with! We do undertake some tank work commercially, mainly the heavy fabrication and repairs. I also do some film work either with my vehicles or more usually driving other tanks or making things for special effects use. The latest being eight fuel tanker bodies for the new Bond film.

Thanks for the welcome.

Adrian Barrell