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Fire-resistant "CS95" Pattern Aircrew MTP, DPM and Desert Cammo Smocks................... All, except the MTP version (which also has a hood) feature velcro-fastened pocket flaps in addition to buttons..............

Glimpses only shown at the moment (labels).....now, I had always thought this stuff to be suspect..........not any more....... Labels show MoD contract numbers..............this kit (notably the smock) shows remarkable similarities to the 2nd generation PCS MTP smock.........partial mesh lining (although re-configured), underarm zips for ventilation and zip-fastened lower "hand-warmer" pockets beneath and behind the lower external pockets.............shirt features mesh-bottomed breast pockets, also the trousers.............photo also shows detail of the smock's lower pocket mesh and lining mesh........ Rumour has it that this kit was for Special Forces but I think that's bollocks..........this stuff was introduced under and as part of Operation "Tantalus" (a latter-day version of Combat Soldier 95, etc)............thus stuff was trialed and introduced on a limited scale just prior to MTP clothing being introduced for Afghan.......hence the cammo, not the design, didn't proceed further at the time............. Ebay has this stuff at a premier price labeling it as "SF", but it isn't really........I have a source whom I got mine from, new and in decent sizes too, for a very reasonable price...............

Frame number would assist..........I wrote British Forces Motorcycles so a start........

Lawrence Corner was near to Kings Cross/Euston.........an amazing place back in the early 80s.........British WW2 DR helmet liners complete and new for £2 and cammo WW2 windproof trousers for a fiver, new............by 1980 they'd sold the last of their WW2 Denisons tho for £25 a piece..........almost opposite, in the same back street, was a suplus shop that was run by two old ladies.........we always suspected relatives of Silverman's ! Sold lots of technical stuff, instruments, electric parts, etc............... As for QM at the Angel, great place........upstairs were rooms full of old tat including WW1 trench caps, helmets, etc..............Dave Humphries was there at the time but sadly went into hibernation after the old place closed for redevelopment and he sadly continued trading by ripping a few people off including me by taking money but never producing the goods.........I'm still seeking him out nearly 35 years later and I will find him.............:-D Flak was a great place, in Kensington market back in 83..............Denisons a plenty as was DPM.........sadly, closed down as some of the gear was seemingly still property of HM Forces so raided on more than one occasion............! Lol......

Taken from a 1959 WD publication............same sizing as WW2................

Rubber-covered cable fitted, not cloth-covered.............modern replica available from Ebay that doesn't rot with age............

1968 Pattern NSN's changed around 1976-77 from "8405" to "8415"..................it is thought that this followed a change to the garments' outer fabric from 100% cotton satin-backed drill to a part-synthetic fabric............trials were conducted in BAOR and NI between 1974-76 to test the newer fabric..............this was because the older 100% cotton fabric had been found to have poor shrink-resistance and was heavy in hot/summer weather..............the newer fabric was intended to improve upon shrink-resistance, wear, and weight.........plus improved camouflage print colour retention with less fading....................older stocks of garments and fabric however continued to be used up for several years after..........up to the early 80s in fact.............. Replacement for the 1968 Pattern first appeared in 1984...........no lining and velcro cuffs............I know this as I was issued with one in that year ! After using it a few times I reverted to my tried and tested 68 Pattern ensemble..........:undecided:

I have a box full of old fasteners, including LTD and the screw-in post type.................message me..........

In short, no..........for brake shoe re-ling try either Villiers Services or Martyn Bratby..........both on the web.......

Points assembly is Miller (a type FL18 I think) and hasn't been available for a long time.........I bought my last set from Ebay (search under "Miller points" in motorcycle parts........) and my set before that from Vale Onslow.......... The set is pretty much unique to the Flea although one of the packets that my points came in stated "RE125" and "Sarolea", but I'm not sure of the later model or what is was.........I can't help with points or condensor sorry....

They did look at a trial 1960 DPM hood however, but never made it into production...........this SCRDE marked item is now in the capable hands of my mate Jason (Eaglehurst)........:-D

I'll look for a gearbox sprocket and possibly a tool box clip (only one used on the WD version, two in the civvy) but it won't be until January at the earliest.......... Ron is correct re: the rear brake spring attaching to that extension of the silencer stud.............:-D

Very nice.......only made in DPM 1970-71 when the 1968 Pattern took over.........last green combat clothing made in 1970........... Only James Smith & Co and Cookson & Clegg made the DPM 1960 Pattern smock and trousers under no more than around 6 contracts...........seems that a fair few were made however on account of the number of survivors today..........no hood made for these though as too short-lived.........they continued to be issued throughout the 1970s whilst stocks remained...........here's a Cookson made example, new..........far less common than the Smith versions.........

I don't think a gearbox sprocket nor gasket set will be an issue for Hitchcock's..............if they are then I might be able to help..........

Just testing to see if you were awake Guys.......got to keep you on your toes.....! Me looking at the wrong image..... Frame 8753 fits in.........this is duplicated on the engine but is poorly stamped, looking to be (at first glance) a "3" rather than an "8"............. Contract plate should be thin steel by the way and a pressing...........1st contract only had brass and this was wrapped around the rear left-upper frame rail rather than affixed to the rear mudguard.........

If frame 4752, then this Flea has a first contract frame with a second contract engine fitted (and contract plate !).....this makes me think that the bike was rebuilt either prior to disposal by the War Department or after disposal...........If it just had the engine replaced then it would be a simple matter of a later engine in an earlier frame but because the latter also has the later contract number on the rear mudguard this makes me feel that this is a rebuild, and not too uncommon either.............. The dilemma now faced is do you build the bike as per the frame number or do you build it in accordance with the matching engine and rear-mudguard contract plate ???!!! If 1st contract (going by the frame), the colour choice is SCC. No.2 Brown.........if 2nd Contract (by the engine and rear-mudguard contract number) then the colour Sept/Oct 1944 would have been British Olive Drab..................:-D

"Thanks for the info , when you say the frame number is stamped on the engine , does it also have it stamped on the frame somewhere ?" The frame number should be stamped on the front of the frame head-stock, slightly over to the right and vertical....... This should match the frame number stamped on the engine (not the "V" number which is the engine number - it is thought that the "V" signified a Villiers carburetter fitted)........although with military overhauls and post-war civilian ownership it is possible that the engine unit may have been replaced/exchanged at some point ? When built, early Flea's have the contract plate wrapped around the left-rear upper frame rail.......later contracts had this riveted to the rear-mudguard..........if yours has a civvy number plate fitted check beneath for either the contract plate or the presence of two small holes to indicate where it once was.......... "Just looked again and the 4800 has a V .........V4800 , strange the "old" logbook and new one lists the engine and frame number as 8753, as can be seen in the photo they don't match !" As for this, it could be an old error/anomaly and a mis-reading of the numbers stamped...or the numbers may be poorly stamped with the "3" probably being an "8" (looking at the shape of the other "3" this has a "flat" top so I'm pretty certain that the first digit on the engine is a poorly-stamped "8")........I read the number photographed as "3753" at first glance and this is far too early for the first WD Flea contract which commenced at 4171.........the few pre-production examples made during 1942 had frame numbers in the range from 2792 to 2878 (approximately 18 machines)..........not sure therefore where 3753 fits in ! IF frame number 8753 then this bike is part of Contract 294/23/S.6602, Catalogue Ref 28, for 735 WD/RE's........frame numbers ran sequentially from 8171 to 8905, WD serial "C" numbers from C 5816151 to 5816885.....(you should be able to work-out your "C" number from this).....delivery commenced at the rate of 350 per month from September 1944.........this was the 2nd out of 3 large contracts for the Flea, S.6602 being the smallest..........it is entirely possible that this bike spent it's military career in storage, most machines in use being from the first (large) contract of 1943..........

I think the clue here is "KW" on the label for Kuwait..........but the NSN is a UK one on account of the "99" coding (for UK).............maybe, as our Allie, we supplied Kuwait Forces with NBC suits to UK standard and manufacture during GW1/2 but in their cammo ? Sounds feasible...........

Having restored two WD Flea's now, one early and one from the last Contract, it's no easy job to do if parts are missing.......the WD Flea is significantly different to it's James ML WD and civvy counterparts............ Re: the headlight - it's a standard Miller unit with the riveted-on side bosses and two holes on top for the switch and blanking plate.........the plate itself is a pressing in either 1/16ths or 1/8ths gauge steel and as Lex has mentioned is contoured to fit the headlight shell pretty closely and secured in place by a thin steel strip spot-welded in place........as for the switch, good luck ! It was unique to the WD Flea and has "Ch H T P" positions...........although the top of the switch is unique, the bottom is almost common with all other Miller switches and they are easily disassembled so if you can source a top, you can cannibalize a similar civvy switch for the rest............reflector and bulb holder are also standard Miller........blackout mask is also of Miller pattern and although similar, not the same as the Lucas type...... Tail lamp also very hard to source........... WD handlebars are also different to the civvy ones, so best to check that yours haven't been replaced at some point.......... Engine should have the frame number stamped on top beneath the carburetter.........note that the latter is almost the same as the James ML but has a different (non-standard) needle and jet block...it is a Type 3/2 rather than a 3/1.....the choke assembly also has a different part number but I'm not sure what the differences are here............. Rear wheel sprocket also has one tooth difference to the civvy versions.............. Later in the war some manufacturers were lucky enough to have the Serial numbers running in-line with the frame numbers, but not all...........in the case of Ariel, their parts lists carry frame, engine and serial numbers in editions from about 1942 onward but not necessarily matching the frame or engine numbers ! :-D

The correct carburetter for a W/NG is an Amal 275 with a separate type 1J float chamber............ However, you can use the slightly larger 276 which will improve performance with the 1J float chamber........the correct float chamber should have "1J" marked on it (on the lower union to connect to the carburetter)........ The earlier carburetter with the holes around the base (which you have currently fitted) is a type 76............when it was redesigned without the holes it became a 276.............

Need a frame and engine number to advise further..........steel timing cover and primary covers suggest a 1944 model................these parts themselves are quite rare nowadays......... I can see from the images though that the carburetter is wrong....it is the pre-1940 version with the holes around the base, and the float chamber is also incorrect.....sits at the wrong angle ! Needs to be a "1J", same as Matchless, Triumph 3HW, etc.......the current fitting won't help smooth running ..........

You only need a working stop/brake lamp if the remainder of your lighting system is functional............you can quite legally ride or drive any vehicle on the road during daylight hours without any lights fitted, or if they are fitted (and functional) but "masked" or "covered over" so cannot be put to immediate use this is also quite legal..........same for a MoT test........if not fitted then they cannot be tested, or if fitted and functional but covered over and can't be put to immediate use then they aren't tested............the MoT document issued will note "daylight use only"...... Some vehicles including trial bikes and quads, tractors, etc, are in a similar position......... I never ride at night, dusk, dawn or during periods of poor visibility............good daylight only........my own bikes are fitted with wartime lighting, blackout masks, wiring and no stop lamp..........without any bulbs fitted you can quite legally ride on the road as the lamps cannot be put to immediate use...........same for the stop-lamp - you don't need one if you effectively have no functioning lighting fitted.............without any bulbs the lighting is not functioning and therefore cannot be put to use unless a bulb is fitted........ Horns and speedo's however are a separate requirement.......... I knew Chris D. rather well.......we shared the same profession.........

What Price Glory (WPG) in the US do an RFC officers maternity jacket in two fabrics..........about £150.......... Although in the US, they ship from Dubai and far quicker too than Royal Snail.............. Tip is to read the product reviews prior to ordering as some stuff comes up small..........order a size larger if necessary...... Their repro WW2 RAF OA's shirt is little short of brilliant............as is their WW2 RAF BD (new run).......... They also do breeches......for officers........ Between WPG and SoF, you should be able to get a reasonable outfit up and running.........

There are, seemingly, two versions of this jacket.......MK2 and 2A but I'm not certain as to the differences........ These first appeared in DPM during 1971 and were/are still in use today despite the introduction of MTP......not a bad service life ! There is also a much rarer green version that preceded the DPM during the late 1960's.....it's almost identical but with a few differences.......trousers to match were also made.........the green version is, needless to say, exceptionally scarce today.............prior to this, the MK1 parka/jacket and trousers were in use, in blue-grey......... Early versions of the DPM Mk2 jacket have the sleeve pen-pocket as shown, plus also have (generally) bottle-green colour velcro and buttons.........the tape to which these are attached is also often sewn internally, emerging only where the buttons are fitted............ Later versions from the late-1980s onward generally adopted the darker colouring and patterns of DPM and the labeling changed...........velcro and buttons tend more toward olive drab in colour and the sleeve pen-pocket was modified in design, losing the metal clip and incorporating foam padding the provide grip............other mod's included velcro-secured flaps added to the inner breast pockets............... Garments were originally and still made in 100% satin-backed heavy cotton-drill with a partial cotton-poplin lining.....similar cloth as specified for the 1968 pattern combat suit and still used thereafter for the para and sniper smocks until going out of use as expensive to procure...........

I'd agree with the above.....mid-late 1970's..........though possibly earlier...? Note the wearing of what is possibly the early 1960 pattern DPM smock (collar gives it away), this garment being issued and worn by some troops up to the mid/late 70s at least whilst stocks remained........and the presence of the earlier pattern 58 ammo pouches with the low, vertical positioning..........again, although superceded during the mid/late 1960's by the modified pattern, they continued in use for at least a decade later whilst stocks remained............. Note also, the presence of the padded NI gloves, again, introduced early/mid-1970's...........