alixcompo

K Seal is what the motor trade use. None better.

That's fabulous. I thought someone was making it up to tease us know-nothings. Brilliant.:wow:

Err; this one:-

Just as well I asked. I suppose I'll just have to keep pulling it..!:yawn:

Is there a way to 'relax' my canvas tilt so that I can get it into position over the frame. It needs to stretch an inch. I thought of giving it a good soaking.. Would that help?:undecided:

Fantastic to see people taking on projects like this. I am in awe. Well done. All power to you.

Fascinating thread. Call me sad but I love it when people identify obscure items:-)

Fantastic. Must get you very excited and mark a turning point in the restoration. A solid base to built on

I always get my Mum to blow my tyres up. She is 97.......................

Very interesting thread. In my own very limited way I have come to find that once vehicles achieve 'monetary worth' then people stop throwing away the vital spares that only have scrap value otherwise. With the internet it seems that it you can be patient and hold your nerve then that elusive part will surface eventually. Just had 2 items of 'Unobtainium' turn up in a week after looking/advertising for two years.

I'm afraid the CA is on hold until the winter as other projects demand my attention. However help is needed as I have fitted this item to the Seat Terra.. As yet I don't know what ammunition it takes or how to load it....?:-D

looks fantastic. Great work..

Yeah really good to meet up. I was a bit exhausted and overwhelmed. Looking forward to next year already

I have a winter workshop (indoors at my daughters in exchange for major house conversions) and a summer semi outdoor area at my own place. These 2 are about 12 miles apart. I realise that I am too old to be working outside in the winter these day, if I wish to preserve my fragile spine. I was hoping to show the CA at the 'Great Dorset Steam Fair' but never recieved an answer to any of my applications. Having made more progress than I expected too on the Bedford I decided to swop the vehicles in workshops as the winter project had stalled over the electrics As the next job on the CA is a quick engine overhaul I spent a day with my trailer and took the SEAT Panda Terra to my place and then if you can believe it nearly lost the CA off the trailer on the return journey. Because it has the wheel spats at the back it makes it very difficult to get the straps over the rear wheels. And so A: I just looped a racket strap around the rear axle (Which came loose) and B: Forgot to put the handbrake on. After about two miles I realised something wasn't right. Slowly glided to a halt. Checked the rear view mirror and the van was still coming. It had shaken off the front wheel straps and was loose on the trailer. Fortunately it only jumped the front stops and ground to a halt on the front suspension assembly. I jacked it back onto the trailer and all was calm. So far it seem the only damage was when I had to jack the diff to get to back of the van across the trailer to unload. It is pressed steel and I cracked it, so now the winter quarters has a huge puddle of hypoid across the floor and I am in denial. The wiring on the SEAT is still proving to be a barsteward. Typical Italian; lies in the wiring diragram, faulty components and wires changing colour along their route. And I picked up another wierd and wonderful toy today. Ever seen one of these? Another SEAT Terra version but with a 1.3 VW Diesel fitted. The Nato Green is being readied as we speak

weld it from the back..??

I found the toilets near to me excellent. Perhaps it depended on what time of day people visited. I did speak to a very nice lady who was part of the team cleaning toilets in the permenant buildings near the arena. She did every one every 2 hours and she said that every time it looked as if they hadn't been cleaned for weeks. Perhaps we are all the guilty parties

Well done you have been very patient

Right; Just got around to my War & Peace report. This summer has been just manic and doesn't seem to show any signs of slowing down. Having flogged myself to death to get the van in paint it was really well recieved at the show. So many people came to see me and then I never got a chance to find them again. I shall try to be calmer next year. It seemed to amused a few that I was so paraniod over getting panel prepped for my lad to finish and spray that I actually prep'ed two passenger doors. Then you will be pleased to know that I also prep'ed 2 N/S wings. I also cleared off the card on my camera, remembered the charger and managed to leaved the camera battery at home; and well, suffice to say there was a pile of stuff I left behind but fortunately remembered the beer. On the morning we left the new registration arrived through the post from the DVLA so I was able to get some plates made up at the show. I bet they were the only ones they made all week that had an authorisation certificate with them. I had them made up in black and white of course. While I have had the van running in the past it had never been driven for...? Probably for 40 years at least. So with the whole acreage of the racecourse to play with, how could I resist. We made 3 whole laps and by the third we could even select 2nd without having to stop.! Fuel was a bit of an issue on the ground that I had only brought a gallon, then had to fill the generator and whilst driving the van was running off that gallon can; so it is a wonder that it didn't run out. I was chuffed to fnerk and prouder than a new Dad to be driving it. Folks were darting out to take pictures and everyfink. The CA was so well received it made all the hard work over the last 18 months worthwhile. Had it occurred to me I could have put it in the pre 60's display area (which would have save an awful lot of walking as well) but we had no gas and couldn't get off site to buy some. I would also have had to clean the dust off the ol' girl and while I was trying to do that for the first few days, ultimately the wind changed right into our faces and it became pointless. Every year I take my son Dean who is handicapped though it doesn't affect his beer consumption. So being the responcible adult it was a little embarrassing to arrive in the Red Cross tent after my lad stumbled out of the jazz bar and badly grazed his knee. Despite refering to them as the RSPCA they were very welcoming and having explaing about falling out of the bar the asked if there were any other issues. I was forced to admit "Yes he is diabetic as well..... we should have eaten 2 hours ago but went for a pint instead.! But we survived. Thanks to all the forum members who chatted to us and appologies for not being more social. We had a great show and just can't believe that it is another year gone.

Speaking as someone who takes a 'Modern' ex military vehicle (1958) and an undisguised 'Motorhome'; I had a fantastic 7 days. I and my disabled son once again enjoyed the friendly atmosphere, the huge amount of support in restoring our MK1 ex Navy Bedford CA and the easy going happy to chat feeling the show generates. We liked the toilets, the showers, the new showground the good organization and helpful staff/marshals. The 'Spitfire' tea room is the best place we have ever been and at every visit we felt underdressed. I hated it when blokes wandered in without a shirt on and then leaned on both elbows over the counter. The Vintage Village was brilliant and worked so well tying in the scale aircraft and WW2 dioramas etc. It is a great area to develop We didn't much like the amount of walking we had to do. A hop on/off bus/truck would stop a lot of people driving around. Frankly I didn’t blame them. It took us about an hour to go and get our milk in the morning from the only ‘Camp’ shop that was just a little bit expensive because it was the ‘only’ shop. While it is great to be able to order a newspaper it did cost 40% more that Mr. Murdock wanted to sell it for. Why was there only one shop? Prices did seem to change during the week????????????? Beer was expensive although it was good to have the choice of bars and the entertainment was excellent. We can’t understand how people can destroy toilet blocks and then complain about ‘filth’ We know, having spoken to staff, that many of them were cleaned hourly. We can only blame ourselves for any failings there. However me and my lad had no problems and found the blocks to be clean and well supplied. The trading areas seemed cramped and scattered. Why was the funfair pride of place.? On booking in; might not that be the best time to suggest where vehicles might be best displayed.? Also it is an ideal opportunity for someone who knows to pick out vehicles of special interest and arrange arena/static display times/areas I just aimed for quiet camping and we were the furthest point from anywhere. It did appear to us that with all this extra space it was just filled up and areas didn’t seem very ‘Joined-up’ with one another. I was temporarily confused that some people seemed to leave on the Friday but then I realized that if they had arrived the previous Friday then they had enjoyed the opportunity to see everything and chat to everyone in a relaxed atmosphere before the ‘loud’ weekend tourists turned up. The downside of mixing ‘purists’ and the braying/paying public All in all it was fabulous and we both loved it to bits and can’t wait for next year.

Wow, you know your Bedford CA's. They were quite an advanced vehicle when they were first launched in '53, coil sprung front suspension with anti roll bar, 2 speed electric wipers etc etc. But if the spray gun didn't reach it then that part didn't even get painted. Though there are only a few closed/box sections that's all it took for rust to take hold. My one has survived rusting very well having lived in Malta for much of it's life but in those few closed body/chassis sections, damp still rotted bits out.

Slightly off topic here but I have an ex USAF LDV truck which has been over painted. I am keen to find out what marking it would have had. Could you put him in touch with me please.?

I took the Bedford CA MK1 on Tuesday having finished painting on Friday and assembly Sunday and Monday. Got it running and did 3 laps of the site. Can't tell you the feeling of a vehicle that hasn't been driven for at least 30 years and seeing people diving for their cameras. I'm right with you. Fantastic week.

Day five; Too tired to write words;

Day 4 of 12 hour days and the old girl is definitely moving on. My lad is in charge Of painting and final prepping and I'm in charge of mending things, initial prep and making bacon butties. When the boy finishes at 5 or 6, I start on the bigger repairs ready for the next day. It's been so full on that my lad pointed out this morning that I had prep'd two drivers doors.. Oops. It happens when you're tired. This sorry item is the original N/S front wing. Two major bends and a deep horizontal gouge. But it was all good metal with very little rust; so it was indulged to several hours bashing and filling. But the graft is starting to pay off. I am very pleased. War and Peace beckons, hopefully the van will be in one piece for Monday

There is a reason kids can't get a licence until they are 16... Sure they can operate the bike/quad/mini jeep but they aren't mature enough to have developed the survival/self preservation mentality