Richard Farrant

Gordon, Is this the Saladin which was gate guardian at C Sgn Royal Yeomanry drill hall in Croydon? I remember it coming to 44 Command Workshop at Ashford (around late Eighties) to be put in visual order and the guy working on it was keen to make it driveable (he had spent many years working on these and Saracens). They had to order a part and a message came back for RAOC questioning as I recall as they were out of service.. I painted the signs, RAC red/yellow and London District. Sadly I did not get a photo of it.

Hi Barry, Here are the American Standard chain sizes; https://www.usarollerchain.com/American-Standard-Roller-Chain-s/5388.htm A thought struck me that the roller diameter may be worn and originally 5/8" diameter, if so then it is listed on the link here. regards, Richard

Well done on buying a Bedford. I have owned my Bedford QL for 34 years and had some great times with it. regards, Richard

I was given a pair of surplus locking wire pliers unused, by someone who did not have a clue what they were for! Also bought a big reel of stainless locking wire from a stall at an airshow, labelled Hawker Siddeley. Use it a lot on restorations.

I thought the NAM had a large storage facility (Stevenage comes to mind). About 8 years ago the Tank Museum stored the NAM vehicle collection in their new Vehicle Conservation Centre while the NAM had work done on their storage building. I had a brief walk around the vehicles at that time and recall some rare vehicles.

Hi Kevin, I have used that particular brown canvas for some covers for customers vehicles some years ago and samples of the canvas was shown to them and approved. You have to remember that canvas will weather and dull down, just like a coat of paint such as SCC No.2 or Olive Drab will. Also be aware that during the war some vehicle canvas covers were painted with canvas paint, so photo matching is not very accurate proof. s

I still use a Redline 2-gall can dated early 1930's for the mower petrol, that has the wrong cap, no big deal, the caps get lost, nicked or swapped around. I have used it for more than 40 years. As for making them still for the army in 1950's, it should be remembered there were still vehicles in service that were equipped with stowage for POW cans and not jerricans.

Hi Rootes75, Here is a photo of the windscreen I have, the frame is made of brass and joins are halfway up the sides as you said yours was. Send me a Private Message with your email address and I will send you a sketch of the relevant dimensions. No rubber seal with it but you can buy sealing strip by the length and bond the ends together.

Chris, A similar thing happened to me once and the experience getting it dealt with is something I never wished to repeat. At the time I was wearing goggles, but using the angle grinder low down and something went under the googles. I now wear safety glasses and a visor and always ensure the sparks, etc are going away from me. A lesson for others! If I see someone using a grinder or wire wheel without face protection, I give them some wise words.

I have a ex-WD windscreen assembly which is nos with a Rootes part number on the label, will get a photo and more details like measurements.

The windscreen assembly is new old stock (with glass) with a Rootes part number, but the number is not at all in the configuration like you quote. I will have to dig it out and find the number and some measurements for you to compare.

Assume this is a one piece windscreen, do you have a Rootes part number for it? regards Richard

Yes, there are very little differences, as you say, the split cab is one and there are some with waterproof brake servos, but all types are covered in the book I mentioned.

The Maintenance Manual for Austin K5, Book no. 101/AN5B dated Feb. 1946 covers all contracts and variations.

Bryan, Having seen these coming through workshops in 70's and 80's, I am sure that being CL and for non-tactical use, that a lot were supplied in gloss Deep Bronze Green (not Brunswick) and they would not have had radio equipment fitted either (nut there is always an exception I guess!).

It would depend on the unladen weight of the vehicle, for instance most 30cwt trucks would be 4x2, but there were CMP 30cwt trucks that were 4x4, so the added weight of a front driven axle, transfer box and heavier wheels and tyres would probably tip them over to the next overall weight group. The War Office pamphlet on Bridge Classification, lists each individual make and model of vehicle so it was not a generalisation.

Hi Wally, According to a War Office pamphlet of 1952, the RASC vehicles were signed with Blue/yellow diagonally back then. I was pretty certain it was done a long time before the change to RCT.

The RASC sign during WW2 was a square cut diagonally with Red to left and Green to right. The blue/yellow sign was post war RASC,, not sure of the exact date the change was made.

Simon, I am pretty sure it was R16 that I used. I have similar grade canvas on my QL and that sheet was made and fitted in 1993 and still good.

Some years ago, I needed to have a new canvas top cover made for a Dingo scout car, this would have been brown canvas in the wartime period. None of the afore mentioned canvas makers were interested as they said it was not possible to obtain Brown canvas. It did not take me long to find a supplier in England and after seeing a sample, went ahead and got a top cover made by a local sail maker. This led to a number of orders from other Dingo owners and all were satisfied with the colour. In fact a forum member asked if I could get a canvas sheet made for his Carrier to the original design and he approved the colour. The supplier to contact is Kayospruce Ltd in Fareham, Hants, Product is called Cotton Canvas, but there are several weights of canvas and I don't recall the exact one I used. Their website shows the colour, but they will send you samples. regards, Richard

It does not say the vehicle is overseas, read again, it says 'overseas buyers'. Looks like it is in the Braintree area.

6 and 7 volt bulbs? Surely you mean Watt ??

Just for interest, the ground pressure of a FV432 is 11 pounds per square inch, the ground pressure of an average adult is 16 pounds per square inch. However, I can see a problem with a rubber surface and rubber padded tracks in that they would create a lot of resistance and probably tear the surface up if you had to slew the vehicle, even slightly. Concrete is the only solution.

I remember East Kent Roadcar ran Dennis Lancets (similar front to yours) up into the late 60's. I looked up a Solex carb book from early 1950's and that make was not fitted as standard to Dennis, but there was a listing for a Solex as a replacement. The Solex governer is a system where when the velocity of air going through the venturi reaches a certain point the butterfly closes up a bit, on WD vehicles it was set around 40mph in top gear. That is fair enough but if you were climbing a hill in 3rd it would inhibit progress and you were not doing anything like 40! A small adjustment on the spring cures that.

I believe the one I knew of was once a fairground vehicle.