dgrev

Matchfuzee Lots of good information on that site. Thanks for that. Doug.

Zuffen - your theory sounds logical. No idea how we prove it.

Chris As bizarre as it seems, ammo cans from far off countries do turn up for sale here. The supply from our army is sporadic at best. But as there is a constant demand for them from civilians, the surplus stores quite often import pallet loads. Regards Doug

The brown can all but falls through the cut out in the Mk2 Ferret tray. As far as I know, the Aussie Ferrets used only the .30cal Browning. The tray looks to be the factory installed one. Our Ferrets were very early manufacture. Likewise any British made mounts/trays for flex mount were 1950s production, such as Ferret Mk 1, Saladin and Centurion commander's flex mounts. Saracen had the same turret as the Ferret with 2 hatches not the early 3 hatch version. From the replies to my question, it would seem that for some reason Britain decided to go with a non-NATO standard ammo can when it converted to 7.62mm. Heavens knows why?

The "Aus" should be Australian.

Chris. Thank you for that. Now I know the terminology I have done a web search and see that there is also a H83 that other than 2 bumps in the lid appears identical to a NATO .50cal ammo box. But why is a H84 not the same as the NATO M19A1 (I have finally found a designation for it) 7.62mm ammo box? To answer your question. The H84 fits neither the .30cal turret mount in my Ferret Mk2 or the external remote mount from a Ferret Mk1. Actually, I have never seen a mount designed to take a H84, they are all sized for the M19A1 box. Regards Doug

Rick Any news? Regards Doug

Hello Amongst some stuff I have are some British 7.62mm ammo boxes. These are brown colour with rounded corners. Very strangely they do not fit the MG ammo can holders in either the Ferret or other mounts. But the standard US/NATO post war can fits all of the above mounts and are wider with squared off corners. Are you familiar with these cans and why are they smaller and rounded and don't fit the standard mounts? If needed I can take some photos if my description is not helpful? Please see attached photos. Regards Doug

For some strange psychological aberration certain people get their jollies out of doing that sort of thing. Perhaps they are more animal than human. Happens all over the world.

Well............... the re-enactors do dig lots of holes, trenches etc, so not as if you would have to DIY. But they probably will not be very welcoming once they realise the purpose of your visit. That could be too authentic even for them! You may not want to be pursued across Belters by an irate trench owner either. 🚾

Us Aussies historically have had a problem with that concept. Which means I should probably let discretion over rule my desire to comment.

Looking at this from the other side of the world, I am just shaking my head. Elitist Thunderboxes!

I got all excited and through you had bought one or had one for sale. 😞 Interesting article and thanks for the link. Regards Doug

Steve - I think in time you will agree that to have persevered with the Brighton run would have been a bad decision. The 3 of you were under the pump in order to make that event and pure and simple, the truck wasn't going to make it. Driving these old things on modern roads is stressful and having an untested vehicle with as it turned out a major issue would have just ruined the whole experience, probably with it marooned by the side of the road with a seized engine. In my opinion all 3 of you man'ed up and made the no-go decision which was a much harder thing to do than heading off down the road. In aviation it goes by a number of names, but is a well know trap for those who fixate on the goal to the exclusion of perspective. It is a difficult thing to resist. See graphic. Now you have no schedule, can get that engine running sweetly and can enjoy the rest of the restoration, other than the wings (mudguards) installation that is. Regards Doug (Aussie one)

Just received an email about a special event at the show for Light weight Landies. That came with the obligatory "buy tickets" message, but perhaps they are finally starting to see the light and realise that there is such a thing as content marketing.

Today's offering in stereo is 1) Buy a jacket 2) Buy tickets. Not a word about the attractions at the show, the attendees, the interesting vehicles, the flea market, public transport connections and so on. Rex please un-retire!

Well, they are at it again. Duplicate blatant spamming. No real content, just pushing for advertising or/and fill in this form and pay money. Where is the information about what is on, the number of vendors (of MV parts, not carnival dross), the number of MVs registered etc? Larry, as tempting as unsubscribing is, curiosity has got the better of me for the moment as I wait to see if they can actually say something interesting amongst all the bumpf. Be nice to unsubscribe to mono, but would probably mean I would be totally unsubscribed. Oh for the days of the Rex emails, with genuine and interesting content..... Regards Doug

Steve - I like your welding jig, simple, practical and logical. Richard, Flanders and Andy - were you talking timber I would have expected such replies. But cast iron??? No wonder it has taken the Goslings unaware being that they are metal workers. As it would have 99.5% of the rest of those who read this adventure. However, it does suggest that as the pistons have not been "left outside" and that being closed up in the engine, then the scenario may exist that they have yet to warp to their final dimensions? (Which could also account for the ring seizures?) If they had not finished their aging process, then the Goslings may very well find that they are now distorted and will complicate any corrective machining? Does this mean that the pistons need to be left to their own devices for a few months before any attempt to correct them is made? Regards Doug (Aussie one)

Hello Sam. Was worth asking in case there was something peculiar about the bogie spring arrangement that made it different from regular eliptical springs and meant they had to face only one direction. Regards Doug

Hello. Back when you were doing the springs, I notice you took care to preserve some yellow paint on one end. Would I be correct in thinking that the springs are only allowed to be installed facing a certain direction? If so, why is this? Regards Doug

Flandersflyer. A lot of common sense in your suggestion. One wrinkle I can see is that they made their pistons round, but previous comments say they should be oval. Does that matter on such an ancient engine? Is it just a case of proportional expansion or do they have to factor in the need for "ovality"? Doug G. Australia

Steve I would suggest that a pull down is the only real option. Persevering given the behaviour of the engine will probably not see any improvement and at best can only "make metal" as whatever is binding has to be scraped away and will then end up in the oil. We are not talking shoes "wearing them in" so that they become more supple. If the pistons are too large then I tend to think they will scour badly, if they leave material behind on the cylinder walls this is not healthy for the rings, possibly resulting in a broken ring. IIRC this vehicle has no oil filter, so that means the metal shavings will then circulate in your engine. Not a desirable scenario. Sorry, but hoping it will "wear in" is being confused here with "bedding in". Regards Doug

Steve Just be wary that you are not being given a message by the vehicle that you are "pushing it" by trying to make your deadline. There seems to be multiple issues happening there. Would not like to hear that it gave endless trouble on the event or that you broke down part way there. Would it be more prudent to take one of the other vehicles and stop stressing the 3 of you? Regards Doug

The best place to buy diaphragm rubber is "Fitch the Rubber Man" in Adelaide, South Australia. They are a specialist and can source some very obscure products. They mail world wide. They keep a few thicknesses on hand and I have personally seen 1m wide rolls of it! Nobody else even comes close to their prices, way way cheaper than ebay.

Asciidv I would be really surprised if there was an issue. Being that both end fittings were turned. The only out of balance I could imagine would be a seam on the inside of the tube. Time will tell.