Markheliops

I don't think your other half will appreciate giving birth to a DUKW!

Not really sure we should be having a pop at Jeep and Landrover owners. I'm in a lucky position to be able to run and maintain a wide selection of MV's, both tracked and wheeled. Jeeps were, after all the iconic WWII vehicle and Landrovers have served the Armed forces very well. I don't want to see the new show become elitist and look down on other owners. Many moons ago the MVT were thought of as similar. If you didn't have a WWII vehicle you were a second class member. This has all changed now and quite rightly so. I welcome all fellow MV owners - regardless of what they own. Anyone who thinks they are above the average jeep and landie owner isn't really in it for the hobby - more for their own egos. Markheliops

Martin - any room for a Chieftain ARRV in you're drive?

Rambo old bean - the toilets at War and Peace get cleaned three times a day. The War and Peace show has over 4500 vehicles exhibited and over 100,000 members of the public visit the show. How many toilets would you say is sufficient? The other shows you mention have no where near that amount of people using the toilets. Lee - how many toilets do you get in for the Bunker Bash and how many would you say need to be at the War and Peace show? It's like comparing a windy day to a Hurricane!!! I would imagine you could get in 2000 toilets and they'd still end up in a bad way! So back to my original post - get your own loo and it's problem solved. If you like, I'll get you a subsidised luxury bucket with fur-lined rim but you have to buy your own toilet paper. x

I find some of the comments on this thread very bizarre. Rambo - you will not get free entry unless you are a member of IMPS for two consecutive years or more. IMPS costs around £28 per year to join so all in all - that equates to the entry fee for War and Peace per year. Personally I like the extras that go with being a member of IMPS (magazine, newsletters, etc) so I am a member. I know some people feel aggrieved to pay for entry to the War and Peace show but then the same people also complain about the facilities! Unfortunately you can't have your cake and eat it too. After all, where do people think the money for the facilities comes from. I do not know of many places where you can camp for a couple of weeks with your MV, have use of the facilities and pay a measly fee of £25. The facilities at War and Peace are slated by members of the forum for not being up to scratch but can I remind people the facilities are fine until people start abusing them. The people who abuse the facilities are unfortunately our co-MV owners. You can't really blame Rex for the standard of toilets / showers because he does get them cleaned three times a day. What more can he do? Before I had the love trailer I use to be at the showers and loos at 6am in the morning and they were spotless. No problem with the facilities whatsoever. The alternative is very simple - we hire a toilet every year. Not because the facilities aren't up to scratch but it does avoid a long walk. There are seven of us and it equates to approximately £12 per head. Or you could buy a portaloo for a reasonable amount. If there are no spare funds for such luxuries a bucket costs nothing!!! The issue of showers is easily solved too. A friend of mine uses a 12v pump into a pan with water heating up from a stove. Works a treat and doesn't use much water either. Everything can be overcome with a little thinking and adapting to the surroundings. As for travel distance - hats of to the chappie who drives 530 odd miles to the Beltring site. Well done Sir. But in saying that - would the extra miles to Folkestone really stop you coming. Paying for the amount of fuel you use from Wales already, I'd be surprised if you stopped coming due to the extra miles. If you said, I'm not coming because I can't afford or don't want to drive 530 miles to the Beltring site would be perfectly understandable but to say the extra miles pushes the journey beyond your limits? I wouldn't drive 530 miles for any show. Surely such dedication can cope with the extra mileage. Neil - movement of the big toys. Lets be honest. The cost of moving the big stuff around is not cheap and I obviously know it. I'm glad you acknowledge the subsidised low loader travel that Rex provides because it is precisely these sorts of costs that the £25 entrance fee covers. Someone has to pay for the luxury of low cost transport of the tanks etc. As a big tank owner myself, I am well aware the costs will increase but then I knew that when I purchased the ARRV. Yes it's a blow but if you feel hard done by, imagine how I feel. I keep my kit half a mile from the Hop Farm!!! I shall probably take fewer vehicles next year because of the extra costs and the aggravation of not being next door to the show site but will it stop me coming - not on your life! I suggest those with military fleets to rival the Mexican Army who are going to feee the extra miles take less vehicles. It won't ruin your time at the show. For those members who complain about the extra costs of traveling to the new site I wonder if it will stop you going in to the arena, or driving round and round the show site!!! I doubt it. Or will you avoid the trade stalls because of the extra fuel costs? I don't think so either. Will you take less beer (god help us) or maybe less food? Not on your life!!! The show has moved and that is that. For all the members out there who are deciding whether to go or not I'm sure you will come to your own decision in that respect and I hope you feel it is within your abilities to give the new show a chance. If not then give it a miss but PLEASE stop whinging about it. It's life and life is not fair all the time. In the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter. All I would say it's very annoying to keep reading negative comments when people are doing their best to ensure the show continues. Last year when the show suffered with the very bad weather, all that appeared on the War and Peace thread was bitching about the conditions. Whilst those who complained about Gods work (Really, Rex had nothing to do with the weather) whilst sitting in the comfort of their homes, there were dozens of people doing their best to make the show happen, working 15 hours a day. So all in all - I hope the show is a massive success. I look forward to seeing all my MV co-owners at Folkestone next July come rain, hail, snow or sunshine. The show may have moved but I never went to War and Peace because it was staged at the Hop Farm. It doesn't matter where it is staged - it's still going to be the event of the year. Give it a go - you may like it. If people don't want to give the new show a chance, then go and do something else. Honestly - your absence will not effect my enjoyment of the new show!! Constructive criticism welcome - whinging is not!!! Markheliops Markheliops

You might be surprised mate but the War and Peace show and the music festival are the 2 biggest sources of income for the Hop Farm. They are going to feel it as will the local businesses in the Paddock Wood area. I live in East Peckham and I am currently drafting a letter to the local village magazine after reading issue after issue of what I can only describe as mis-informed rubbish from some areas of the local community. As a former serving soldier I do not like being described in print (not me personally) as the pretend army who bring chaos to the area for the period of the War and Peace show!!!! I shall be my usual diplomatic self but be assured I will make the point that those who write such rubbish should be 100% sure of the accuracy of their information before they put pen to paper.

Someone I know has been to recce the site and he does have some reservations in regard to access for over width low loaders (ie carrying tanks) - however I strongly suspect Rex has something up his sleeve in regard to this. After all there is a hell of a lot of kit that arrives on the back of a low loader, including most of Rex's kit. As for the size not being equal to the Hop Farms 400 acres - I would suggest that at least 150 acres of the Hop Farm do not get used for the War and Peace show. Don't forget the Hop Farm has a huge area used exclusively by the Hop Farm. I don't think Rex would have taken the site on if he was not confident that the show would fit onto the site area. I'm sure things will be revealed in time but hey, lets support the show because the other alternative to the site moving would have been no show at all - and that would a very sad day for this hobby. Just a thought - I wonder if The Hop Farm will attempt to stage a military vehicle show in July - I suspect not as without Rex and the organisers I don't think it could happen - but never say never. Markheliops

Well I'm really looking forward to the show moving - and I live 1 mile from the Hop Farm. it will still be the War and Peace show but with an updated and fresh look. On a personal level - I think the show needed a change. As usual the rumours will start to bounce around and the conspiracy theories will be all over the place. Only Rex and the other organisers will know the full extent of what has gone on and why the show is moving. I can assure you of one thing though - the new venue has nothing to do with catering for our european friends. If anyone has ever tried to find a show site, they will appreciate how difficult it can be to find a site where they don't mind tanks trundling around and people digging holes everywhere. I'm sure a lot of time and meetings have been spent looking for a site and Folkestone is as good a place as any. Folkestone is not a million miles from the Hop Farm and even if it was - I'd still go because for me it is the only show I am 100% committed too. It is THE show where we can all meet up and share our hobby with like minded souls and have a great time doing it. I don't know any other show that allows people to plot up 2 weeks before the main show? Oh and one more thing - I really do wish people would stop thinking the organisers (Rex) makes a fortune from the show because it is simply not true. For those who organise shows they will understand the costs involved and you can probably times that amount by 5 for the Largest Military Show in the World. If people do not wish to go - then that is their choice but I for one wouldn't miss it for the world. My dates are booked - wherever the show happens to be. Markheliops

That is a lovely looking Ward John! Top banana. Umm - Tyres - I'm liking your tyres as they are the same as mine. A much nicer ride than the bar grips. Markheliops

I saw these things for sale at the Motor Boat Show last year. If you sell your Sherman - you may be able to afford one -

The Gama Goat you are referring too is my new restoration project. My mate Hans owns the vehicle and has asked me to restore it for him. Expect to see it at War and Peace 2013. Markheliops

My militant details are as follows: The military registration is 86 ET 46 The data plate on the truck states: Chassis number is 0870076 Contract number is WV5299 Asset Code is 1335-0032 The data plate on the recovery body states the same except for the contract code: WV4337 My V5 log book states manufacture date as 1970. Markheliops

Cracking thread - we like these - the inner guts of armour - you'll never know what you will find! I wouldn't worry about the time it is taking. Most of us on here who have tinkered with the MV stuff know only too well - a job done properly only needs to be done ONCE. Keep it up. Markheliops

Greetings Richard - I too have the Naughty Nurse that enjoys my hobby with me - makes things very easy. markheliops

That would have been me Richard - followed by the naughty nurse in the white Ford Ranger. Sorry if I didn't spot you but the road was getting quite tight. Markheliops

I don't have a problem with uniform or rank - but the medal thing really gets to me - speaking from someone who has earnt the right to wear medals. Enough said. Markheliops

Hi all. The Militant is at Lymington where I am going to use her to carry out some repairs to a couple of Chieftain MBT's. We covered 450 miles on Saturday - 175 miles in the Militant. Ear defenders - a God send!! I found the speed to be around 43 mph (except when going up hills) so I was quite pleasantly surprised. The drive was okay and for a 1970 truck - I was quite impressed. The only mechanical issue the militant suffered was a broken tacho cable and I have a small air leak - well chuffed with that. When I saw the Militant at Withams it wasn't for sale. The previous post in regard to the previous owner is correct as far as I am aware. I was up at Withams purchasing a Lubrication trailer and saw the Militant there. I thought then it looked in very good condition. I did have to persist in my enquiries about buying the Militant but Rob (sales) said if I had not purchased it when I did it was going in the next tender. Markheliops

Hi Stu - IN regards to your question - David Crouch is as straight as they come. A very decent bloke and if a vehicle is a shed - he'll tell you it's a shed before you buy it - then it's up to you. He also knows the value of a pound note so he knows what a decent truck is worth. That's not a bad thing but he is a business man. Withams - Any truck that has been through the overhaul program will be pretty straight - but they do command hefty prices. As a matter of interest - I may well be selling a Bedford flatbed soon - purchased by my boss and never road registered. No where near the price of the ones you'll be looking at. Markheliops

Cheers chaps. I'm picking up the new beast this Saturday - 180 mile trip back in the Militant. I have been advised ear defenders will be a good choice. Good way to A) get used to it and B) See if any issues crop up. I'm quite hopeful as Rob (sales) at Withams is putting the Militant through the workshop for me due to a couple of items I picked up and for a general check over. I know there have been some "mutterings" about Withams but I have found them more than helpful on a number of occasions. Topdog - are you referring to "the" local club? Markheliops

I know I have one of the flaps - possibly two. You can have them for gratis as a forum member gave them to me a few years back. He gave me a complete set of covers for the Brockhouse trailer penthouse but I never obtained a set of poles to complete it. You'll have to collect so where abouts are you. Markheliops

I was always told to try and winch a vehicle from the direction it came (ie backwards). It hadn't fallen over at the point it stopped - so I would have though winching it from where it came from would have been the way to go. Markheliops

Pics as promised. Further pics can be seen in my photobucket: http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u233/Markheliops/Militant%20Mk3%20Recovery/ Markheliops

Hi Robin. Pictures coming soon.

Hi all. I have just purchased a Militant Mk3 Recovery. Why you ask – well I thought it was time for a change and with the Chieftain ARRV I really need something that can assist me when removing the power pack, etc. For those who remember War and Peace when I had to remove the FV432 power pack - I was really impressed with the Militant that we used. I know it's not everybodies cup of tea - but I quite like the look of it. For those who have known me a while, you’ll appreciate it has been a bit of a struggle with my conscience deciding to sell on the Ward La France M1A1 but I’ve had a blast with the Ward so I have no regrets. (Will be advertised in due course). I think the Militant is a good buy and is in very good condition. No rot in the cab and everything working like it should. It’s also equipped with the majority of its recovery kit. Now I must admit to knowing nothing about the Militant so I will be looking on here for sound advice etc. Then again, I didn’t know much about Chieftain until I purchased the ARRV. As I understand it – the Militant will need annual testing as its dated 1970 and taxed as a Historic vehicle. This doesn’t really bother me and I don’t mind submitting the vehicle for an annual test – as least I know it’s safe and legal. I’ve ordered an owners manual and a servicing schedule so looking forward to seeing how I get on. Militant owners – please be gentle with me – Militant Virgin coming aboard. Markheliops

Hi Antar. Top dog is correct. See the thread below as there is some interesting info on the type of vehicle. http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?24173-Identification-please Markheliops