Zero-Five-Two

Never tried a 71, but have to agree about the 51. If you bashed a dent in the top of the silencer it was excellent for frying eggs in, but apart from that there wasn't that much going for them

That would be Willich. Nice place. I just missed you, I was there '82 - '85. Was 52 at RAF Wildparts or Bruggen?

Think you've done a fine job there, get the green paint on and they will look fine. Well done 👍

Small update, as not a lot happened recently, time of year and all that, and been busy with a couple of other projects on the side. These levers in the pump control room operate the outlet valves on each tank via a bowden cable. Tanks 1 & 2 were fine but 3,4 & 5 had damaged cables. After much combing of the 'net I found a motorcycle parts manufacturer who could supply the correct size wire to fit the existing outer sheaths. Next was a fight to the death to remove the old damaged wires before fitting the new, but we managed. Each tank has a drain tap, and these were refurbished a while back and were just awaiting fitting. This is No.5 tank with it's new cable and drain tap fitted. Access here is easy!! Tanks 3 & 2 are a different story tucked up under the centre, and behind the rear wheels. Not a comfortable position to work in, but better than tank No.1 Which is right down the front, behind the jerry can holders, and over the top of the air tanks. Horrible job, but all done in the end, I've just got to climb back in there to touch up the paint at some point.

Can't help with the 1962 location, record card only starts 26 Sep 68 with issue to The School of Transport. Was there for a year then onto 251/255 Sqn 17 Oct 69 via CVD Hilton. Stayed at 255 until June 77 when it moved to The Army School of Mechanical Transport. As mentioned, her last posting was with the Army Air Corps Issued 29 May 1984. And the last entry on the card for disposal is dated 24 June 1986

You've got your hands full with those. Watch out for the heat distortion if you get them too hot

Hi Geoff, and many thanks for posting the photos. I will check the record card I have this evening to confirm, but you mention 221 Squadron. I know she was with 225 Squadron for a long time, and I think her disposal date was 1985 or 6

Just a bit before my time, Richard, I joined '76 and only remember seeing Militants with the RL type arms. I do have a copy of the EMER for the indicator mod, with wiring diagram etc, that is dated 1960 something

Epic, speechless. Where did you find these? They must've been taken early in her career, still got semophore indicators, and small mirrors

No, not heard of them. Please tell me what I've missed

Sorry to read about the Matador, but you can't save them all. Did it go to a good home?

Hi Seamus, If you decide to go down the Land Rover type lights route, I have these 2 ready made light brackets you can have, might save you a bit of fabrication.

Hi Dizzy-t Should have something of use to you, will dig them out and PM to you this evening

Drivers side looks very nice. Bit of a bum with the passengers glass, but if you hadn't done something with it, it would have annoyed you that it wasn't quite right.

Unfortunately I haven't got any more information, only what you can see in the pictures. I remember my Father telling various stories about his time in service, when I was really young, but nothing to remember any details, so sorry I can not help. It'll be a fascinating book when it is done

Many thanks for having a look. Handles are easily broken, so may well come back to you for it if we find a box with no handle

Thanks Paul, appreciate it.

Out again today. Sprat and Winkle run, Sevenoaks to Hastings. Nice gentle end of season run through the Kent countryside, finish on the seafront at Hastings, with a fish and chip lunch on the beach. Seen here in the line up with 2 Matadors that have had a second career in civilian life.

Many thanks mate, it'll get my man started.

Evening all, A friend of mine is looking for electrical parts for his Militant, as a lot of it has been robbed at some point in history. I know some of these are generic and fitted to a lot of fifties and sixties kit. Hoping someone has any of the following in the shed they wouldn't mind exchanging for financial reward Generator Control Panel No.1 Mk 2/1 Plessey plugs for Dynamo to Generator Panel connecting lead. New cable can be made up, just need the plugs to fit on each end (1 x Male and 1 x Female) Slave Socket, aka Distribution Box Mk1 No.1 Junction box - Connection holder thing Indicator Switch Box Many thanks for looking and thanks in advance for your help

Few days off work last week, so took another step nearer getting the old girl back together. Now the canvas cover keeps most of the rain out of the pump room ( still get a bit in round the doors) I managed to get the floor repairs finished and a coat of silver on top Next move start putting the gubbins back in. It's all cleaned and painted, with fresh gaskets made, fresh bolts where required and the others cleaned and threads chased, should go easy. There were a couple of hurdles but in the main it did go well too. First problem, the main pump is far too heavy to lift in by yourself, so crane required Straight in without scratching the new paint. Small issue, there is a woodruff key/wedge thing that locks the drive gear on. It is in a place of safety and security so it doesn't get lost, I just can't remember where that place is. And without it I can't fit the chain cover. Can fit the rest of the pipework. Needed a bit of juggling here and there to get bolts to line up, but in the end it went OK. Few small details to finish off like the hand throttle, and adjusting the cables that work the tank foot valves, but otherwise all in and looking quite the business. Went for a local run out on Sunday, to the Kent Heritage Transport Show at Detling. Lost count of the number of fuel tanker jokes we heard, during the day, but everybody seemed impressed with it. Had a very nice chat with a geezer who reckoned to have driven these with 17 Sqn RCT back in the 1960's. He was well pleased to have a look round it. Day out in Hastings next Sunday on the Sprat & Winkle Run. More photos to come

Completely forgot about the cupola cover, these are bread and butter stuff for RCH, they finished this one for the Tanker ages ago. Quality job, fits perfectly, but I am keeping the plastic lid on while she is parked up and saving the canvas one so it looks crisp and new when we are at shows. I should also mention their prices are well affordable, can't recommend them enough

Busy weekend for Tankering one way and the other, good results all round. First off, Must big up Richard and Charlotte from RCH canvas. After weeks of measuring making and adjusting, we finally got to the end of the canvas that joins the tank and the pump room. It has been a considerable challenge for them, complicated shape, no pattern and nothing to copy from, built completely from scratch. But they were up to it and the finished product looks pretty good. Top section rivetted on Off side And the near side. Unfortunately I ran out of rivets, so couldn't finish the job, but it all fits nicely and should keep the rain out. After that excitement, moved onto another on going saga. Trying to find the "right" shade of red paint for the drain tap tops and the fuel out valve. I've tried various shades, and didn't like any of them, either too dark or too pink or orange. Got a result earlier in the week and finally found a shade that I think looks right. Minor downside is, it is a coach enamel and takes 3 or 4 days to dry, then several weeks to harden off. Next problem, what colour primer to use, as I know this will affect the final colour. A search of the net suggests white, yellow and even blue. Best answer set up a test From left to right, white, yellow, blue, and red. Interesting result here, not much difference in the white yellow and red, but the blue gave an unexpected bonus. The only blue I had, for the test, was some gloss left over from painting the Saltire badge. Painting over gloss is never good as the new coat tends to slide off, but here it only slid off from the lettering making it look like they had been highlighted. Photo doesn't really do it justice, looks really striking in the daylight, but black lettering would be better than blue. So, clean it all the different colours off. Start with a base coat of gloss black, then red over the top hoping it will slide off in the same way. Again, photo doesn't bring the colour out right, looks pink here. This was taken a few minutes after painting and the red is already sliding off the letters quite nicely. Looks really good Fuel valve looks orange, but honestly it is the same red paint as the valve handle On the other hand, it could be pink. Either way it has got a fortnight to dry, as we are off to Yorkshire to visit the in laws. Plan A, when we get back, is full steam ahead with finishing the pump room now that the new canvas will keep the rain out. I'll let you know.

Quick restoration update as there hasn't been too much work in that department recently, all effort went on polishing and getting ready for the first show. Long time ago, back on page 16 of this blog, in fact. I took one of the tank drain valves off, to drain the remaining fuel out of the rear tank. This weekend I managed to get 3 more of them off. Still got one left but that tank still has about 200 litres of fuel still in it, so will need draining properly. They look like this. If you remember they are made by Saunders of Cwmbran, Wales. Company is still going and new diaphragms etc are still available off the shelf. Easiest way to clean them up is to dunk them in the electrolysis bucket for a couple of hours. So, strip down and line up on a bit of threaded bar to get the current through Couple of hours in the bucket Follow that up with a quick wire brush over and the main bits are ready to paint Starting with a coat of Bondaprimer. All the internals are made of brass and are surprisingly clean considering how long it has been since they were last in use. Replacement diaphragms are in hand so we'll all be sorted, shortly.

That's coming together nicely