Markheliops

Happy Birthday to both of you chaps -

Sorry if it's late.

Markheliops

Hi chaps.

I have a contact in the Gatwick area who has a supply and demand issue with contam.

Problem is - he is supplying it and I can't use it all.

At the moment, he has about 400 litres of the stuff.

He may be able to deliver at a price agreed with interested parties.

If anyone needs some contaminated fuel for their toys - drop me a mail / PM and I shall give you his details.

Markheliops

I'm listening Sara -

Markheliops

I saw this at Panes yard when I went up there for some parts.

For those who remember, I had a major mis-hap on route to Bolero couple of years ago.

Mike suggested Panes so I went up there for some brake chambers.

Interesting chap and very informative.

The Ward he still operates is heavily modified, brakes, engine, etc must it's nice to see them still doing what they were made to do.

Markheliops

Hi all.

I submitted an enquiry for prices of filters for my FV432 from a well known MV spares supplier.

Rather shocked when I got a response -

FV 432 Allison gearbox filter - £33.00 + VAT

K60 fuel filter - £28.00 + VAT

Oil filter sealing ring - £3.00 + VAT

FV 432 K60 oil filter - £33.00 + VAT

Fuel filter sealing washers - £3.00 each + VAT

On top of that lot, carriage would be another £11 plus VAT.

Is this normal?

I'm not sure as I have never had to purchase these things before. Seems somewhat over the top to me!

Can anyone suggest another supplier or does anyone have any spare they would like to pass on.

Many thanks

Markheliops

Quality job Jeff - you should be proud of your work.

Not lately -

Quite right Jimh - Common sense -

However - I can carry a 9mm in my pocket - out of sight - but I'm still breaking the law whether you can see it or not.

The Police and other emergency vehicles shouldn't be using the dim - dip headlights at night.

In our fire appliances - you can't operate the dim - dip headlights whilst using the vehicle head lights.

In regards to show ground use - it does state restored vehicles can use blue lights and sirens but obviously not on the public high way.

Pete - my drivers only ever use sirens if they have to after 11pm - I suppose it's down to where you live. Must admit though - I've been woken up at silly o clock by Police sirens and it does give me the hump.

Trouble is - if they have an accident and they are not using blues and twos - they are really in the brown smelly stuff.

See you there then young gun.

this is why mine is covered to and from events and my military police plates are removed

Quite right David -

I would expect nothing less of you young man.

I think Doctors use green lights as they have no right to infringe highways laws and regulations.

Not sure why - maybe it has something to do with the drivers not having been trained to proceed on blue lights and sirens. If you see a doctors vehicle behind you, you are expected to allow him to pass but there is no provision for this in the highway code - unlike emergency vehicles displaying blue lights and sirens.

Just for the record -

You can display hundreds of blue lights on your vehicles - as long as you are on private land -

As soon as you enter onto a public highway - you are pretending to be something you are not - hence you are breaking the law.

St Johns Ambulance service is an official ambulance service - as they provide back up to the NHS service and life support and first aid at organised events.

Rally marshalls can display blue emergency lights if the vehicles they are using are being used in an official capacity - ie - providing medical cover at an organised event.

Had all mine agaes ago -

Okay - this will confuse you -

You do not need an HGV1 to suspend tow using a commercial recovery vehicle - why - because I have already said recovery rules and regulations are different to commercial licencing and regulations.

Likewise a recovery vehicle does not need an MOT or annual test certificate -

When suspend towing using an underlift or spec lift, it doesn't matter what combination the vehicles are as they are refered to as - the load - hence rules and regulations are ignored in this respect.

Told you it was confusing -

In a word - recovery vehicles don't have much in the way of enforceable rules and regulations -

That doesn't mean anyone with a vehicle designed as a recovery vehicle can do the same. The vehicle has to be taxed, insured and operated in an official capacity as a recovery vehicle.

Are you sure they are hot dogs mate -

Look like something else to me.

Well done chaps.

See you outside Lee's tent then -

I believe he will have the kettle on.

My ten pence worth.

It is illegal for any vehicle to display a blue beacon - working or not - unless it is an official emergency vehicle as being used for official purposes by one of the official emergency services.

If a ex-authority ambulance is not being used in it's official capacity - it will be illegal to be fitted with blue lights - whether it is taxed as an ambulance or not.

I think the term common sense should be used when traveling with a blue light - keep it covered and that way you will not draw attention to it.

Also, it is also illegal to have any signs such as Police, Military Police, etc displayed unless it is an official vehicle being used by etc, etc.

I will certainly look out for the HMVF camp- will it be obvious? I am blonde and female and its been nearly 10 years since I was last there!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Rosie -

As I understand the rules and regulations in regards to the HMVF camp -

If you are blonde and female - you have instant access to all areas!!!

See you there.

Markheliops

Don't think Jack is planning to come to the Tunbridge show Chris!!!!

Just checked previous pages -

0900hrs seems to be the time away from Beltring - although haven't made final plans as yet.

Waiting to see how many of us there are.

The scene from Kellys heros springs to mind when Oddball arrives with a whole Army, including the band!!!

"Who the hells that" -

Its the band man!!!!!!

Oh come on chaps -

No one can accuse me - the "HMVF Official Tea / Coffee Maker - of sliding away from tea making duties!!!

I am always the first one with the kettle on. Ask anyone who visits the Heliops abode during shows.

The thing is - the 432 did come complete with BV and connection leads but as yet - haven't tried them out as I always come complete with electric / gas kettle and associated items.

Must try them out next time though.

Excellent Mike - If you are not travelling with us lot from Beltring - see you there. Come over and say Hi.

Markheliops

Have to agree with Marks comments above.

The pageant was a great day out - weather was glorious and it certainly attracted the crowds.

A small gathering on the green stuff - Ferrets, Land Rovers, a rather nice RL Wrecker and RL Cargo, few Jeeps, Volvo Command Car to name a few.

I always try to make this event as I have been attending for years - even before the green stuff with the Lotus cars -

Yes I know you pay to exhibit - but a fiver is not going to break the bank.

I met my mate Ky at 0630hrs at the farm - wise to have someone in the top when you have a 60 mile round trip.

Left at 0730hrs and arrived at 0930 hrs - with a 30 min stop it took us 90 minutes - not bad really in an FV432.

Parked up and said my hellos to Mark and Lisa, CW and PW.

After that I didn't really stop - anything Armoured usually interests the crowds and the 432 was no exception. Was at it for the whole day.

Metroman arrived with camera about 10am - said he would get me a coffee - and didn't see him again. Um - enough said young man.

The 432 came away with 1st place in the Best Military cat - a nice glass bowel trophy and £75 prize money.

I discussed the matter of awards with Mark - it's very nice to get something - but there were much better vehicles on display.

However - saying that - I did talk to the judges and their reasoning is that my vehicle was open for the public to "experience", information boards showed what the vehicle was and what it did - Both me and my mate hung around and answered questions and that was why it received 1st place.

Of course it is always worth remembering these local shows are not Military Shows and as such the vehicles on display are not being judged on condition, etc.

Anyway, had to leave sharpish at the end as the organisers were a bit miffed at the track marks on the grass!!!! They were perfectly polite but not chuffed.

All in all a good day and worth going - just one thing - someone bring a kettle next time.

Markheliops

Oh - the 432 only won 2nd place last year and the Ward won 2nd place the year before that. So the first place this year was a ................................ 1st.

Above is correct.

A spec lift is part of the vehicle (permantly attached and made for a sole purpose of transporting another vehicle in the recovery role) and as such is taken into consideration when working out vehicle weights, axle weights, etc.

Spec lift is as legal as an underlift fitted to heavy commercial wreckers.

Vehicles carried on a spec lift have no legal requirement to be braked. It makes sense to use the causaulties own braking system but is not a legal requirment.

Laws relating to recovery vehicles and operations are somewhat different to normal commercial rules and regulations.

For example - when I worked in heavy recovery I had to recover many "bendie-buses" in Central London. Legally as a commercial vehicle I was over length but not in relation to recovering a casualty as long as I was operating a "recovery vehicle" - i.e a vehicle made for the sole purpose of moving broken down vehicles and not capable of being used to convey cargo.

Markheliops