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Artifficer

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Everything posted by Artifficer

  1. Tony Great for uninformed adults and ill educated kids. Lots of interactive screens and very few Historic objects. I was describeing to a ferien how a rotary engine worked. ie crankshaft bolted to the airframe propeller bolted to cylinders, breath in like a 2 stroke via transfer ports & hollow crankshaft & out like a 4 stroke via valves. She brought to my attention not only did I have her attention but a whole bunch of adults & school kids. One teacher asked was I an offical guide? I explained I knew because my Granddad told me about his time in the RFC and it sparked my interest and I read a book about it & looked at a WW! Sopwith Pup inA musuem where I could see it up close & personel. Now they hang it 20 feet above our heads to show off the million of pounds worth of concrete that has been crammed into ths spaces. Architecture great but not a musuem as we know it. But what would I know I'm only 69 and only been a soilder for most of my life. As far as teachers go I know nothing!! As for involvement I do talks to schools and they get to handle all the artifacts even Dac weapons shock horror!! Funnyly enough I get invited back!! Rob REME Artifficer
  2. Try Hagertys, they include recovery, even from abroad. They recovered my mates F30 Ford truck from Normandt at no extra cost. Regards Artifficer
  3. Hi Easty100 Best place for EMER's would be the REME Musuem at Arborfield, after all they are a REME publication and not issued to users. Timbo's advice is a good call Rob Nixion knows about all there is to know on Arty. I've worked on Bofors 40/70, 25 Pounders, Light Gun, FH70 and some of the SP Guns like Abbot. Pity I'm now retired from REME and can't help you with the job. Regards Artifficer
  4. Great find Neik, apart from Richard Breretons relic trailer and my repro, it's the only one in existance. are the thinner shelves wood or metal? I built my repro from 2 photos and the drawing in the manual, I belive some later binned store trailers had the end doors deleated as they couldnt be opened when the trailer was still attached to the tow vehicle. It is normal practice not to unhitch a trailer unless you realy have to as the unit might have to "bug out" in a hurry, you know "shoot and scoot". Richards trailer has no evidence of a front door. Some veteran REME guys I served with told me their version had no front door and was fitted with central steady posts. The "binners" where used for spares as you thought, but engine replacement in WW2 was a rear area workshop job, I doubt that such replacement would be performed by an Airborne Light Aid Detachment. "Binners" where issued to Armement Artifficers (my old job) in Recce and Artillery units for small arms and gun spares, heavy items would be transported in heavy sea tail transport. If you come to War & Peace my repro will be on the Summer of 44 display so come along and compare notes. Regards Robin Artifficer REME Retired
  5. True You didn't mention blanks my old Marmite but in the service there usualy 3 types of basic rounds "ignoring AP, FSAPDS, APDS, Illuminating, Smoke ETC". Live, Blank or Subcaliber as in 105 Light Gun in 14mm, the old LAW66, SLR "in .22". plus others. The heads of sheds took a dim view of useing unorthorised pyro/charges in weapons, it would at least mean a charge of Negligance Misuse and Damage or a Courts Marshal and a visit to Colly MCW. Regards and I didn't mean to offend Tiffy (Rob)
  6. I aggree with the old Ferretfixer, to my knowlage there's no such thing as BAT blank and I can't imagine them used as saluting guns, the usual use for blank. I have some knowlage of blank as I command the troop of 75mm Pack Howitzers fireing the Noon Day Gun salute at the W&P Revival and have served with several RA units. As the BAT is recoiless and relys on the principle of opposite and opposing forces cancelling out any recoil, what point blank? In one part of the film you can clearly see the tracer going down range to hit the target. But what would I and Ferretfixer know as long serving REME Armourers/Gunfitters?
  7. Hi John Great job, I thought this one was going to be on the back burner for a while? I notice that strong drink always seems to lubricate the work whenever TL is involved. Regards Rob
  8. Hi Sean David and All I know of a small company who has made several pins and studs for airborne trailers. They specalise on refurbing shockers and stock Andre Hartford parts and complete units. they are:- Vintage & Classic Shockabsorbers 203 Sanderstead Road South Croydon Surrey CR2 0PN 0208 651 5347 I hope this is South London enough for you, Regards Artifficer
  9. Hi OG As you see the Aussies converted jeeps but I suspect that was late and post war. All Airborne REME workshops and light aid detachments used the dedicated purpose built airborne trailers such as John Cordons light weight electrical repair trailer, Agincourt44's Machinery trailer, Louie's saw benches etc and my Binned stores trailer. As you see several members have these trailers and they do appear at times. John Cordon's Elec repair trailer was with one of my old regiments (100 Regt RA) and in my time as a tiffy weapons REME I saw several of the old trailers still in use, veterans tell me they used the trailers a lot and couldn't do without them. Keep your eyes peeled and a trailer will come up. I've just found a rotten chassis which is worth haveing just for the bits. Regards Tiffy
  10. Hi James, Matman amd all The markings on your guns seem to be 201 Battery Herts and Beds Yeomanry which was part of 100 Regt RA (V) until 1996/7. In the 70's they had 5.5's converting in 1980 to Light Gun and FH70 in 1990, back to Light Gun and the dedicated TA battery as part of 7 RHA in 1997 The other batteries where 200 Bty surrey & Sussex Yeomanry, 202 Bty sufolk & Norfolk Yeomanry and in the late 90's 307 Bty South Notts Hussars. I worked on 5.5's with 100 Regt as a Gunfitter,and via various promotions/postings worked on Light gun/Fh70 with 100 Regt until 1997. I have a 201 Bty sticker somewhere if I can find it, James, you are welcome to it. Regards Rob Grainger
  11. Hi Guys Great to see "T" plates still show up from time to time! John, you might recall my "result" two years ago at GDSF, I found a stall holder who had some " T plates at home", when I phoned him he had 8 good plates and 2 tatty ones, I bought them all for £210 includeing P&P.Possibly my best ever result at a steam of military fair. Unfortunatly I found homes for them all. so sorry they,ve all gone. I've got to get in touch with the dealer, if he has more I'll get them and let forum members know and pass them on. Watch this space Regards to all Robin
  12. The gun looks like a .5 vickers, quite a bit bigger than a standard .303. a very similar mount to the twin Bren mount. Regards Rob
  13. Hi Lauren Take a look at Andy Neal's of IMPS Fordson WOT2 Canvas Office Body rebuild, it featured in Classic Military Vehicle some time ago. It's a "from the ground" rebuild that took many years and has won several awards. A first class job but I'm biased as I did some welding on it!! Regards Robin (Artifficer)
  14. Hi Timbo Small unit raids certainly concentrate the mind, constant pin prick raids tie up recources, troops & equipment. The IRA certainly got my attention!! All these operations added to the the Drip Drip effect untill we where ready to hit hard. Interestingly if you have the urge you can canoe up the Gironde to Bordeaux as Hasler & Sparks did then you can TAB down the Frankton Trail to Spain for some tappas. A couple of Marines did the whole trip a couple of years ago. Many canoe clubs in UK still compete for the Hasler Trophy each year in memory of Blondie Hasler. Regards Robin (Artifficer)
  15. Hi Lauren and All Happy New Year!! In the last couple of years friends & myself have rebuilt a WOT2, A Morris 15 cwt compressor truck & are currently working to finish another WOT2. We also worked some years ago on Jim Baxter of IMPS fame's WOT2, this had a Bedford body it became appearent as we restored further WOT's, Morris etc the bodies varied in quite significant ways. the Bedford body never looked just right as the wheel arches didn't center with the wheels. all these bodies had the floor trap fitted but slightly different diamentions, this might just be various makers hiccups. Regards Robin Artifficer
  16. Hi Guys I was also a Gunfitter/Armourer on light gun and had similar problems with wheel knock and wheel bearings. Larkhill dust caused lots of bearing problems despite replacement oil/dust seals. The knock was cured by cleaning the faces of the drum and face plate on the knock off wheel, I belive the Kremlin at Bordon sent out a fix for the problem. Comments on the gun platform reminded me that ROF used explosive forming removing the need for a top die, a water dam around the lower die, the part machined metal plate, some very technical explosive, BANG and plate formed!! Inoted Robmixartillary mentioned wire wound barrels, these seem to be used on some naval equipments, I saw some being cut up at Pompy in the 60's at what could have been Pounds Yard. Light Gun barrels are of monoblock constrection "one peice" and Autofrettarged the inner layers fo metal being stretched beyond their elastic limits while the outer lavers spring back gripping the inner layers, usualy achived by pressing a metal former through the barrel of by hydrulic pressure. Great to hear the technical bit of guns being discussed on the forum Happy New Year to All Regards Robin (Artifficer)
  17. Hi John I've both vols 1 & 2 had them for years. You are welcome to borrow them Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to all Regards Robin
  18. Hi Tony Very true but make sure you fit the 7 second rifle grenade fuse/detonator set as a 4 second hand grenade set might cause embarrasment or a day out with the undertaker. Regards Rob
  19. Just a thought Rob is it a top mounted lbm? It would be quite difficult to operate if it was side mounted? Regards Rob
  20. Hi Mike, Richard & all other Forum members As an old REME Tiffy who has often crossed Mike & Richard's paths proffessionly, I aggree with them. I feel that forum members should have waited untill the Boss (Rex) gave a full briefing, just like the Army, before jumping on the rumour mill. The premature press release has done more harm than good, I spoke to Jim Baxter (IMPS President) and was informed that no desision would be announced until Tuesday 4th December at 22.00 hrs. The members of the forum who have seen military service might agree with me when I say " stop winging it could be worse you could be in Afganistan". It's just a show lighten up. These are just my own opinions and I concur with Mike's note they are not intended to insult or elicit negative comments. Regards to all, see you at W & P Robbie (tiffy)
  21. Hi Richard We went on Wednesday as well, so wet I had to wring out my socks when we got back to our B & B. Great show in spite of the rain, lots of good bits. I managed to get out of the carpark without a tow, years of driving army trucks, both preserved and serving payed off, I obviously managed to learn something on Salisbury Plain. Thursday was better, I would suggest everyone should go to GDSF once in their life!! Great display of green machines, but no vehicle movement on Wed & Thur! Great static displays especialy the saw benches & road making. Regards Robin Grainger (Artifficer)
  22. HiAll Did you know canoe clubs in UK still compete every year for the Hasler Trophy in memory of Blondie Hasler of cockleshell heros fame and the Op Franklin trail exists from Bordeaux to Spain. I belive a Royal Marine party paddled the river and then walked to Spain for charity recently. Sore hands/bum and feet!! Regards Artifficer
  23. Hi Rob Great to see artillery being collected and restored by someone with obvious knowlage and enthusiam, as a retired tiffy weapons REME, armourer/gunfitter to non Reems, it looks like your doing a great job. I live in the rip off south east and finding artillary in scrapyards is a thing of the past, it would be great to see your collection and swop notes. You might have seen me on U tube with the 75mm Pack How's of the Summer of 44, I'm the bloke doing the BSM job. Regards Robin (Artifficer)
  24. Hi Dave I noticed you have posted to Richard for info on the binned store trailers,Richard kindly provided me with info for my rebuild. I had to have the locker catches cast from an original as they are hard to find, especialy as you need 8+. It seems that the end doors might have been deleated as they cannot be opned when the trailer is hitched up with the legs raised. It also seems that late models where of monocoque construction like the normal 10 cwt trailer but with a No 2 type chassis. Unfortunatly info is scarce I can only pass on what I've been told by Vets who used John C's trailer with 100 Regt LAD REME and also had a binned store trailer. Regards Robbie (Artifficer)
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