Richard Farrant

Hi Tony, Not annealed aluminium for years, but seem to remember being taught to smear soap on it and when it turns black that is hot enough. Don't ask what sort of soap!! regards, Richard

I went up this route last year and none are available. The procedure is to get the main bearing shells re-metalled fitted to the block and line bored to suit the crank. I would advice for the crank to be thoroughly checked and measured for ovality and wear.

I have a feeling the gearbox could be Hillman

From the background, I am guessing this is at the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum at Cairns. Looks like a Jagdpanzer Kanone in the background. Welcome to the forum. regards, Richard

If you say it has a civilian registration from 1985, I would think that is the first thing to check. As registered keeper, for a small fee Swansea will give you list of previous owners. The original owner may throw some light, and subsequent ones might tell you what they had done to the vehicle. regards, Richard

If you were to see the B Vehicle Census Number list that Rob van Meel produced in alphabetical order of manufacturers, it becomes clear. The Cat. Ref. which is also stamped on the vehicle's contract plate, is the running number of the contracts that the manufacturer has from the government. It did not make sense until I saw this list.

I was beginning to think that was the case, thanks Jules

Scroll down to the bottom of the page in this link, it lists wire sizes and what circuits they suit. http://www.autosparks.co.uk/faq

Hi Mark, Not entirely correct. The booking form, much the same as previous one, can be printed off their website and posted to the organisers, that is how I am entering, have it right here in front of me. I guess what they meant was that printed ones would not be distributed as in the past. See you there. regards, Richard

Where I first started work, we had a Champion cleaner and tester. Used to test new plugs before going out on a job, and it was not unusual to have one fail or falter as you increased the simulated cylinder pressure. So a very useful tool.

Hi Tom, Thank you. Nice to have a chat with you too. Not sure that the PTO was for a compressor, as the C4 had a very tall drive box, due to the height of the compressor shaft. Wondering if that was a winch drive box. Is this a C8 GS or a gun tractor ............ or maybe box came from a FAT. Could be for a generator if it had a Wireless body, who knows ! regards, Richard

If you compare damage marks and paint scratches, you will see it is the Panther that has languished at War & Peace Shows for many years, a non runner, with damaged track gear as I recall.

Only just seen this thread, from my view the W looks like it was made by using a V stamp twice.

Hi Luke, It should be a 12v 6w double contact bulb

Lauren, You are probably thinking of Valentine tanks, which were also built in Canada

Hi Rick, Here is some information; http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/WORLDWAR2/2000-06/0961490998 regards, Richard Clive beat me too it!

"reputed to be one of only two left in the world" who are they kidding ...... looks like a C8/GS

Robin, It is the letter I. Not sure what you mean by 'Are you saying that there must be contact with the seal from the start once installed?' What I was saying was that this particular seal that was supplied to do the job was MIS112 and the special support washer/spacer has a bevel on it that stops the lip deforming under pressure. Even if you find this seal, there is no guarantee the spacer lip will fit snugly against the seal. We found this out when one was demanded to repair a Ferret. The one supplied was marked MIS112 on it but the spacer would not face up to it. Investigations found this seal size also fits in a Land Rover front axle, but under another NATO stock number, so somewhere in the chain of supply an error occurred, there was a variation in the moulding and I seem to think there was a small mark or letter on the face to denote the correct one. If you were pedantic on fitting the washer, then the only way would be to machine one to suit an available seal. Using a seal with a dirt lip means there is no way the lip can be supported, it has to be a normal wiper seal, without dirt lip if you were to wish to utilise the support. As I said, not done one lately and last time it was a correct seal.

Just as I thought, the same as specified in the Humber with Newton shockers, also same fluid as used for lorries of the period, ie. Bedford, Austin, etc. so I would go for DOT4.

There are a few that turn up at shows in England

Hi Andrew, I note in the manual for the Valentine III that Newton Bennett shock absorbers were fitted. Having had dealing with these types on an armoured car, I would be doubtful if a mineral oil was used, and as Adrian points out, you should not use a mineral oil with natural rubber seals. Fluid, Hydraulic Brake, No.3 was specified for the Newton Bennett shocks on the Humber armoured car and this was a vegetable type brake fluid. I believe that castor oil could have been one of its ingredients. After 60-70 years, it turns into a treacle type substance, I can tell you from experience. A replacement to day would be a normal DOT4 brake fluid. Unfortunately my Valentine III manual does not show the fluid spec. for the shocks. Do you know what was specified as a fluid? regards, Richard

Hi Rob, That REME wrecker, probably a Western Star as one of them ( I assume there was more than one) was brought over from BATUS to join the REME Museum's vehicle collection, probably at 12 years ago, it has recently been moved to the new REME Museum at Lyneham .....still in the red paint.

Clive, I recall it was a red or pink colour, no pattern that I recall. I will ask my brother as he was sometimes involved in changing the curtain.

Hi Clive, When I used to belong to a local rifle club many years back, we used the Army Cadet Force indoor range. the backstop was sand, but it had a Linatex curtain in front so the bullet went through the target, then the curtain and any ricochet was held or slowed by the curtain. Problem was with the tight grouping of shots it was not long before the Linatex got a bit tatty behind the target frames. I am sure this was probably supplied by the army to the ACF.

Hi Howard, good one! regards, Richard