timbo

Coincidentally I was just reading about this in Warpaint vol 4 last night - a truly excellent series of books by the way. It was primarily an air recognition signal, and was adopted for widespread use in the run up to D day, although from recollection there was a more limited use of it earlier (1943 I think). All vehicles were to have it on although the size and positioning varied greatly. Tanks tended not to have it on the sides or front as it was feared it could make a convenient aiming mark..! Some tanks had white painted turret tops instead. I would imagine nearly all vehicles had it on, even if roughly applied, in order to protect against attack by roving bands of tiffies and thunderbolts.. Hope this helps. Sure someone will be along soon with more definitive info.. Cheers

Looking great as ever Jon. Will it be ready for w&p. Already looking forward to a bottle of Spitfire round the campfire..! Cheers Tim

I know this is sitting on the fence but I can definitely see both sides of the argument. All my vehicles (with one exception), are post 1960 anyway, but are exempt as tracked vehicles. On balance I think this is a useful reduction in red tape and cost. Ultimately it is all our responsibilities to make sure our vehicles are safe. That has always been the case and this change makes it no different.

We have run the new 10ppm ulsd in trains since January this year (had a one year exemption). Bizarrely we have seen a reduction in blocked filters but a very consistent 6-7% increase in consumption...I cant imagine the storage issue is a problem as we tend to be filling the tanks every day or so...

Rob Surely has too many oily moving bits for you..! Cheers Tim

Got any pics Neil...?

Try this link... http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19690011113_1969011113.pdf If you google nasa friction testing you will see that they have done a great deal of this sort of thing over the years, but the above paper refers to tests at Wallop Island in 1969. There is a picture of the heavy load friction vehicle, and some of the test data refers to the 'juggernaut'. There is also a photo but it is wearing ministry of technology markings...

Welcome mate, yes those WW1 boys are pretty amazing aren't they...!

Odd looking vehicle - not what I expected at all..!

Brian Very happy to provide photos if you need them just ask...! Any update on the landy yet? Cheers Timbo

Good luck with the test Mike I took mine in my Sabre last year. Would guess you really have to watch the observation in a Spartan with visibility being a bit more limited - I really need to put a cushion in mine as I struggle, esp with the smokes on. If you havent got them already get some of Marcus Glenns big convex mirrors they are a big help! Although I found the test quite straightforward it certainly wasnt in the 'drive it once round the field' category that some would have you believe. For a start the examiner insisted it was on public road (in a housing estate), and it involved a number of laps in either direction, and parking up in various places, then a few highway code questions. I passed but main thing i was picked up on was position on road esp at junctions so watch out for that, its very easy to go too far right, esp with the left hand drive position. I also know somebody who failed because he got mixed up over indicator direction and indicated left instead of right. Although he corrected straight away examiner said it had to be instant fail. Some good tips in the tractor and specialist vehicle test booklet produced by dvla. Cheers Timbo

I wonder if we will see them coming through Withams? I can see the blurb now 'last one ever, rare opportunity..' and my personal favourite...'stripped ready for rebuild'...if you hadnt stripped it we wouldnt need to rebuild it..!

Great work and a really neat and sympathetic solution... Is it wise working on a tank in socks though..! Maybe there is a market for steel toe capped slippers..?

Did you not fancy taking your Spartan Mike? Quite local for you Id imagine?! Cheers Timbo

Great story, great pics, great find..!

Great footage....although im not sure about the commentary, says the road bank collapsed under the weight but it looked more to me like he just drove off it..!

I suspect an awful lot of the vehicles in the 'American vehicles' section spent most of their service lives as French vehicles..! Were there not also some French built FW190's and Panthers in the immediate post war years? I always quite like the look of the AMX13 myself..

Sorry got confused thought you meant Chieftain at £10k - D'oh...!

Have they still got it ?!

Chaps When was the last time a complete running Scorpion came on the open market? Ditto the chieftain...? The Scorpion that went through Withams 2 or 3 years ago fetched £15k + vat, and was a non runner! If you can get a good one for less than £20k then i think you would be a lucky man (or woman) indeed. The only one that really surprised me was the Bedford! Timbo

Brilliant and spot on LMAO...! Theyre not called sh*tpart for nothing...! :-D

Whilst the vehicles are the same these two definitely came from Thorpe Arch retail park near Wetherby North Yorkshire. This is a very long way from Sussex ! Although of course who knows where they came from before that?

Top info thanks for posting.. I presume the goldfish bowl must have had some kind of ballistic properties..!

DONT DO IT - there is a high probability it is a scam!!!! There are other options which your bank will advise, paypal for one..

Cheers Chris I will take note of those points! Have seen it done and also understand the theory but never done it in anger myself, so quite looking forward to it.! Will check on the various clamps before I start. Tim