Paul Drake

Torpedo tube?

Is it some sort of gun turret rotating mechanism?

Surely this should be controlled by the organisers of any show.

I am Bristolian, born and bred, but due to Service and work, I have lived in Norfolk, Suffolk, Scotland, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Hampshire, Germany, Wales. I currently live in Ilchester, Somerset.

The crewmen wear straps when riding in open doorways (or are supposed to!)

Very interesting thread. I have been a Westerner most of my life, passionately interested in Cowboys and the history of the USA, including the Civil War. Occasionally I will attend a Western weekend when I will dress authenticall, all my dress is reproduction, but with original materials and to old patterns. For seven years I edited the magazine of the British Westerners Association. One of my editorials concerned the fact that some Texas schools were teaching a "revised" history of the battle of the Alamo so as not to upset Mexicans. Tosh. PC maybe, but children being lied to by adults responsible for their futures is hardly the best way. I freely admit that many of the members were simply grown ups playing at cowboys, and a lot of them could not even tell you the name of Gene Autry's horse! I suspect there are many re-enactors at military shows who are just "playing soldiers". Banning SS and Japanese uniforms from shows and revising history will have ad adverse effect. Forgetting the lessons of World War One allowed World War Two to take place. If everyone turns up in British and American uniforms, won't the public wonder who you were fighting, what there dress and equipment looked like, and why were you fighting them? Unless of course you merely want to show how these soldiers lived, in which case you need to get rid of your modern cigarette packets and bottles of Fairy Liquid in your camp. I am one of those fortunate enough to have never been in actual real combat. I also have a knowledge of the conditions of war from various times, which allows me to explain to anyone asking what it might have been like. All of us have a duty to educate those who don't know. It is not right to deny history, if we do, e will not give anyone the knowledge to deal with the future. Those of you who would ban "offensive" uniforms, trying to persuade others that those bad people didn't exist may be considered just as bad as those who exhibit those uniforms and deny that Nazi Germany was a bad place, that not all of them were bad. There are more people in the world now who are too young to remember World War Two than there are those who do. They cannot have known persecution, occupation, abuse and maltreatment at the hands of an enemy. However those, who do must not be allowed to perpetuate their hatred and infuse it into the young. Are you going to ban Russian uniforms too? For over fifty years they were the enemy, capable of destroying our country in a matter of minutes. Notwithstanding those people who have suffered as a result of war, the rest of us must be tolerant. We must show history as it truly was, not how we want it to look because it's PC or nice to have it that way. True, the Germans and Japanese were brutal, but so were the Norsemen and the Romans, and Boidicae was no saint! To allow hatred to colour all our thinking will seep into children and result in future hatred. Just Look at Islamic Jihad, Northern Ireland and the British Defence League. We must also be tolerant of newcomers and not frown upon jeans and tee shirts. Not everyone can be expected to have a full kit and uniform the moment they join our interest, indeed few can afford it. If we do not allow this we will discourage newcomers and our hobby will die away. We must not allow history to be repeated. This is all my humble opinion, and someone fought and died so that I could express it, for which I am eternally thankful. No apologies to Native Americans that I still think of them as Indians. All this typing is thirsty work so am getting down off this very tall soapbox and having a cup of tea.

Going by the normal 30 year rule for official secrets, I hadn't expected it to be revealed until next year.

If you do need spares try Amayama Trading in Japan. They supplied all the parts for a total rebuild on my rear axle.

Thank you so much for that piece of information! When I first saw it on youtube, I spent hours googling all things Alvis and Thornycroft with no success, it plagued me for ages, and now I also find it was posted on here in 2008.

The Avro Lancaster low over Ilchester.

That is good, it's nice to see something different.

Welcome, I have a 1991 Mitsubishi SJ-53 version of the CJ, and as you say, it's fun, but if I'd known I'd have to wait weeks for spares, I'd never have got it. I am sure you will find out all you need to know about Jeeps on the forum.

You're not alone!

That's a very nice dissy, I have three spare of those, including one converted to electronic. One of them came from Kuala Lumpur, and another I picked up for £40 at Newbury 4x4 and Vintage. Nearly had the chaps arm off when he said how much he wanted!

An olive green Jeep on the back of a beavertail truck heading through Ilchester at about 09.00 (guess it was broken down).

Avro Vulcan XH558 leaving RNAS Yeovilton for RIAT Fairford, did a short display before disappearing. Lots of happy people on the road at the western end of the runway.

Vulcan XH558 departing Yeovilton for Fairford, giving a short display. Pics in Aviation Forum.

They didn't ask the questions I would have expected. I am already severely limited by the cost of petrol and diesel and an increase would mean I wouldn't be able to enjoy th vehicles or spread my wealth etc beacuse I would not attend shows. I have only attended half the things I went to last year. Also I do not drive in or around London, because of exclusion zones, if they were introduced anywhere else, I would not go there either. If the road tax keeps going up and other discriminatory measures are introduced for "4 wheel drive" (I only use mine in 4 wheel drive when off road) vehicles, this will also limit my activity. I will also not be able to attend events and educate those who might want to learn from me. Get off my soap box now.

Is there no longer a NAAFI club on camp that you can have access to?

One source, the MAFVA registration lists (not complete) lists vehicles with FW suffixes being C Vehs 1969/70.

Polish Herc on approach to RNAS Yeovilton.

John Richards Surplus were doing some of the 24 volt plugs RSN series for a reasonable price.

Glad all are OK.

For in service vehicles and amber lights; GUIDE TO THE COMMON TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MILITARY LOGISTIC VEHICLES AND TOWED EQUIPMENT Facilities shall be provided at the rear of vehicles to connect a detachable amber flashing convoy light. This is an extract from Def-Stan 23-6

Happy to share it with others. I was lucky to get it. I had been waiting for it to come in since Tuesday and was following progress on Facebook. It didn't actually come in until Friday due to a mechanical problem at Waddington. When I got home today from Sedgemoor Vintage Rally, I found on Facebook from other users that her display was due about six minutes later, grabbed the camera and went outside and bingo. So thanked all those on Facebook for all the up to date info.