ian201

Hi Dan, this is brilliant news. Looking forward to stopping by to have a look. I have just got my discovery back on the road so will down with my trailer to collect the Mat gearbox in January. Happy new year to you and your dad, best Regards ian

Great pictures, following with interest as I have this job to do on my 43 Mat. Would be keen to know more about the bearing scrapping process. Keep the photos coming cheers for now ian

[Getting close to finishing the refurb on this control box then a NoS one turns up still wrapped in its packaging] Also collected two new Ash cab frames with doors last week.

Hi, the dates are 24, 25 & 26th May. I will have the web site sorted. Best Regards ian

Mat loaded and heading south. More to come.

I have been restoring my Mat CAV control box and it is all metric, think they were CAV Bosh prior start of WW2. Ian

Hi, Welcome to the start of the restoration of this ex RAF Matador, the truck was purchased a few months ago and made the journey south to keep my 1943 Mat company. Both Mat's are at the start of the restoration process although I have spent the last 18 months on a hut for parts. I have now acquired rear bodies for both trucks, the 43 having the correct artillery body and the 53 having a Generator body. My focus for the next 6 months or so will be the 53 Mat mainly due to the great condition of the chassis and mechanics. Although the chassis is in great shape the cab has been stripped down and much removed, and has spent some time exposed to the weather. The vehicle has very low miles consequently all the automotive parts are much as they left the factory, original tyres fitted but all cracked. Will add photos when I have worked out how to do it on an iPad, manage attachments is not letting me add photos held on ipad ?.

Nick, great stuff keep it coming. Looking forward to the next installments. Ian

Hi Nick, it would great to see your Mat coming together on a blog. I recently collected a second Mat, both of which are at the start of the restoration process. The second Mat is in much better shape but still much work to do. I will put some photos in the next week or so. Just need to work out how to get photos loaded, any tips would be much appreciated. Ian

Hi Dan, great to see the update, I know I have see the steering box in the flesh but this looks great on the chassis. Keep up the brilliant work. See you and Joe soon to collect the gearbox. Ian

Does anyone know what the 2 fh70's went for ?. Ian

The event was one of the best yet and the weather could not have been better, the Overlord team worked Their socks off as usual. Our chosen charity this year 'Hounds for Heroes' had a great weekend and thanked all for the generosity. On behalf of the Club (Solent Overlord) I would like to thank all those who made the trip to the show, be it with your MV, trader, concession or through the public entre gate. The show is not over for the team as the show site is being stripped down and all the equipment loaded in to the containers and would you believe it's been raining all day. Once again thank you to all of you that attended the show, your support is very much appreciated. Looking forward to seeing you all next year Cheers Ian201

Show site update, the overlord team are doing a great job getting the show ground marked out. The show ground is in remarkable condition given the poor winter. Some of the O/L team are already set up and living on site and exhibitors in the holding area in the car park. All the show equipment / props and so on arrived this morning in the two iso containers. Digger on site doing its stuff in the re enactors field and the arena on Thursday. Just confirmed MMI are with us for the weekend. See you there ian201

Hi Rosie, I wonder how many HMVF forum members will be at the event ?, Think I will be there for a few days lol Ian

Hi Lee, I would recommend the Overlord show in Denmead Hampshire on the last bank holiday in May, it's a 3 day show on sat, sun & Monday (bank holiday). For details take a look at the club web site http://www.solentoverlord.co.uk Hope to see you there with the bike and jeep. Best Regards ian

Chaps, Out of interest, what is done to deactivate a tube when it has no firing pin or breach ??. Ian

Great work Dan, good to see you got the pictures / download sorted. See you Thursday. Ian

Hi Nathan, great to see you got the forms in and I think you will enjoy the event. Hope you get the Bedford finished in time, looking forward to seeing it. Best Regards ian (one of the show team)

Hi Gordon, please make contact with Trevor the vehicle booking manager and give the details of club and we will sort from there. It would be helpfull if you can give an accurate number of vehicles (ish) as it will be busy. Trevor can be found at http://www.vehicles@solentoverlord.co.uk Thanks Rosie, Best Regards Ian

Andy, it would good to have the Abbot at the show in 2014 to join the other tracks (including our Sabre) and the growing artillery. Keep in touch and I will sort your access for Friday. Ian

Andy, Not a problem, if you want to be there on the Friday that can be sorted. Do you normally take military vehicle ??. Best Regards ian

Hi Dan, I could really do with some photos of the Matador rear body cross members. I am trying to work out what order they go in due to the centre cut out being different shapes / radius. Thanks Dan talk soon. Ian

Hi Dan, great to see some new parts coming along. Did not get much of chance to look at your progress or chat the other day when I collected the matador hoops. Hope to be down again some time after Xmas. I need to spend some time with my camera and your dads Matador, need to get some detail pics. Keep up the great work ian