dgrev

I eagerly await the next update. In the meantime, sorry to hijack your thread: but I need to contact someone who replied to either your Dennis or Thorny thread. IIRC he was restoring a very large old engine. He mentioned that he was reproducing data and serial plates. I need to get some done but only have photos to go on. Can anyone identify and provide contact info for the gentleman concerned please or for anyone else who makes good reproduction plates? Many thanks Doug dgrev@iinet.net.au

Terry Email me please? Regards Doug

Terry I may have taken you for a ride in a Ferret, but it definitely wasn't mine. Mine has never been to Corowa. I did drive a Queensland owned one there about 5 or so years ago and did take someone for a ride. I had no idea there was a Saracen in South Australia. Email me off list please. dgrev@iinet.net.au

Richard Nuts to evilbay! They are insidious, they also own Paypal and other companies. Doug

I need to correct the 13,000, the site I found that on incorrectly included military Champs in that number (ie Rolls engined ones). Austin engined Champ production is rather murky but appears to be somewhere in the 500 units area. So much, much rarer than a Gipsy! Regards Doug

Degsy Ah, thanks for that. So, I did a bit of research, apparently they made over 21,000 Gipsys (note correct spelling is with an "i") and just shy of 13,000 of the Austin engined Champ. So the Austin engined Champ is rare than the Gipsy in numbers produced. Regards Doug

Everyone, I have no idea if this is the correct location to be posting this info, or for that matter if I am barking up the wrong tree with the identity of the vehicle concerned. The below ad mentions an Austin engined Champ, to me that sounds like an ultra rare Gypsy? <http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/dover/heavy-farming-agriculture-equipment/austin-champs/1054085990> Correct me if I am wrong? FYI - "Gumtree" is an Australian alternative for those who do not wish to do business on evilbay. I have never used it, so know nothing about its rules, safeguards etc. The location is Tasmania, which is oh, roughly, 1000 km from me, so no, I won't be taking a side trip to check these vehicles out. Regards Doug http://www.owningtanks.com

Someone I met, somewhere along the line recounted to me a conversation he had with the Leopard 1 factory driver who did one of those jumps for the manufacturer's publicity at the time. Effectively he said it was the stupidist thing he ever did and that the landing was beyond description. In short, it hurt beyond belief. I would suggest you imagine having a car accident in the downwards direction and what that does to the internal organs. Regards Doug

The photo is well known. I think it is one of a number showing similar scenes. I cannot recall the details, but it was German units fleeing the Russian advance and taking their families back with them. I am guessing that the units fell back through their home towns or last posting in order to collect their families and get to the US/Brit/French zones. If not that, then opportunistic gypsies? Regards Doug

Why does your link go to an expired ebay book auction and not to your group? Regards Doug

Adrian This could quite easily be wrong here, but I was told that one of the bizarre quirks of the Merritt-Brown as used in the Churchill was that when going in reverse, the effect of the steering was reversed. ie, a) pull right to turn left and vice versa. b) However, once travelling over a certain speed, the steering reverted to normal ie, pull right to turn right. All whilst travelling in reverse. Comment (a) seems quite possible. But comment (b) sounds too bizarre even for a British tank gearbox to me. John Pearson or perhaps anyone else with Churchill experience care to comment? Regards Doug Greville Australia

Adrian, Just a reminder to do the close up pics of the release buckle and the joints in the holding band? Regards Doug

Adrian Mate........ I was just walking along doing the usual scan of the tables at the swap meet and my eyes almost came out on stalks when I realised what I was looking at! It wasn't cheap, but I was having it regardless as I have been looking for one for years. The fact that it had full decals was a plus too. I had an empty complete unit with striker head, but some industrious soul had taken to it with brasso, so there was not a skeric of paint on it. That head is now on the cylinder pictured. I had no idea of the manufacturer or name/designation of the extinguisher until this find, but the decals told everything. I have emailed the manufacturer and they have no records going back that far, so they were rather interested to receive the above pic too. Regards Doug

Adrian See attached pic (hopefully) of what I found at a swap meet! I had some blurry black and white pics of the mount and pretty well got it right when I fabricated one, down to the inbuilt safety for the striker head. The complicated straps and clasp did not show up on the pics I have. So your pics are a real plus. I have a striker head for the extinguisher bottle. Please email me direct at dgrev@iinet.net.au Regards Doug

Adrian Excellent, many thanks. I have never seen those pics before! The email monster must have gobbled them up. Can you take close up pics of the straps for me please and the "buckle" with dimensions too? Sorry to be a pain. Thanks Doug

Adrian Please do send any pics you have. I recall us emailing about the mount, but don't recall receiving and pics. Regards Doug dgrev@iinet.net.au

Hello I am looking for detailed pics of the mount used for the above fire extinguisher? I have one of these extinguishers, but would like to make an accurate replica mount. The vehicle in the attached pic has disappeared and thus I cannot ask the owner. Please reply to dgrev@iinet.net.au Thanks Doug

Alan You had better email me, I think I have located one for you that is for sale! Regards Doug ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Armoured Vehicles Collector _______ _/_(_o_)_\_ ____ _/|___|_|___|\_ /____\ / [___] [___] \ Douglas Greville _/[o]___\_ /\_ [o] [o] _/\ Broken Hill __/=_|____|_=\__ |w||___________||w| N.S.W. /__\__________/__\ |w|\u u/|w| Australia |w| \ / |w| |w| \_________/ |w| |w|$ \______/ $|w| [w] [w] [w] [w] M8 Ferret dgrev@iinet.net.au Web Armour site at: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/lsm/dhmg/index.html (UK mirror site) and http://www.trackpads.net/sites/heavymetal/ (US mirror site)

Grasshoper I have several articles on my website that go into detail about the operation of armoured vehicles. See graphic below (hopefully it won't look like a bomb hit it). Regards Doug ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Armoured Vehicles Collector _______ _/_(_o_)_\_ ____ _/|___|_|___|\_ /____\ / [___] [___] \ Douglas Greville _/[o]___\_ /\_ [o] [o] _/\ Broken Hill __/=_|____|_=\__ |w||___________||w| N.S.W. /__\__________/__\ |w|\u u/|w| Australia |w| \ / |w| |w| \_________/ |w| |w|$ \______/ $|w| [w] [w] [w] [w] M8 Ferret dgrev@iinet.net.au Web Armour site at: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/lsm/dhmg/index.html (UK mirror site) and http://www.trackpads.net/sites/heavymetal/ (US mirror site)

NO!!!! Bad idea. We can do without that sort of thing on a public site.

Alan You'll want to be lucky, there is only one that I know of in private hands and that is in Germany - quite sure it is not for sale. Whilst you are at it, I would like an M113 C&R Lynx. Regards Doug dgrev@iinet.net.au

Video of Abbot falling over at Beltring. Any chance you could email that video to me? I was there, but just missed the whole thing and the Abbot had left the area by the time I got to the off road course. Thanks Doug dgrev@iinet.net.au