Richard Farrant

Hi Sam, That plastic jar under the engine flap, is not for cold starting, it is filled with Methanol and drawn into the air brake system to stop moisture freezing valves.

Thanks Alan, I recollect it now, used to be on display outside at the Rotunda against back fence. Another barrel there that sticks in my mind was one that had blown apart, due to the gunner using a lump of turf to wad it, think it happened on an island, St. Helena was it?

Phil, The photo shows an early 1950's Morris Commercial MRA1 1 ton 4x4 GS truck. The body is original, but shortened. Powered by a 6 cylinder ohv petrol engine

No problem Tony :-D Actually, I have spent a lot of time at the Rotunda some years ago, doing work on their vehicles, and I remember seeing something about it on an exhibit, it stuck in my mind.

Point of Order.. Moorfield actually....not Whitechapel

This cold start is the CAV Thermostart, it is a heater plug, that is held on for the specified time, at which point a ball valve open allowing diesel through, this catches fire, this is the point you start the engine, the flames are then sucked into the engine. A very common type of cold start device and works well, usually the first time. The Start Pilot pump was fitted to the MK, I do not recollect it on the MJ, long time since I was working on them now, but have never had to use a Start Pilot cartridge on a Bedford. also a MK had an electric fuel pump so the instructions on an earleir post are specifally for a MJ

Not driving, I was in the turret, on road test back in the 70's, thought it was going well, .....90 mph. Passed everything on the road, got to roundabout and returned, meeting all those we passed, the look on their faces :-D. Later heard some TA guys who brought some in, saying they had topped a ton on the motorway. No wonder the engines were always disintegrating !

I think you will find he knows all about them :-D

Thanks Andy. That makes sense, to make it completely as original, would be a major undertaking. Looks very impressive though.

Judging by the shape of the radiator blind, it was made for a normal Land Rover, and not an airportable, probably not original fitment. I was only involved once on doing this modification, what was just prior to troops embarking for the Falklands war, there were a load of us detailed to get it done so it could be shipped. Too long ago now to remember details though.

It is standing on 5 piles of wooden pallets, so surely it is not built to original hull thickness and weight?

That would be the remnants from Glyn Hewitt, of Hewitt Marine I guess, think he had about 30 at one time.

Never had that problem when in service.

Graham, Doors, yes.......rain comes under them when travelling horizontally and those MO's started in 2006, so had a head start, I will give you the nod on the next one, if I have a clue that is :confused:

I wish .................bloody rain today was horizontal actually, boredom set in yesterday, and now Clive's MO's are all in one place, I went through them, and to date I have got 43 right, so plenty of room for a challenge :-D

I just came up with the same as Lardrover, never heard of that before, but it fits the theme of things, he beat me to it by 2 mins :-D

If they were not wide enough :-D.............you obviously remember

Bernard, There was one of those Lightweights at Lydd Ranges, we always refered to it as the one with Carlos Fandango wheels (if you understand that you are showing your age!) :-D They also had Mk1 Supacats and trailers

"Six cylinder opposed pistons" is the correct description. The second and third pics look to be of a special project tank as it has the dummy turret fitted to simulate weight.

Is this the projected design of an armoured vehicle from Scammell's designer, Oliver North, dated around 1934 ?

Correct Mike

and it is a Brockhouse...not Orme Evans.

Plan view of a vehicle ? The round items on the drawing look like cupolas that hinge forward, with three periscopes each. No ideas other than that :confused:

This is the one that I remember, think it would be a 1950's build, powered by the Enfield diesel. Thanks for posting it Alan

Hi Alan, Although the Light Mobile Digger (LMD) that you show here, was based on a Thonycroft Nubian, I think the chassis for this and the one for the missile crane are totally different, axle postions, cross members, etc. I am very familiar with the LMD, but have only seen one small photo before of the Missile crane. Although the LMD was another concoction from ROF Nottingham, I found it a fascinating machine to work on....and use. A lot of the problems with them was standing idle between exercises and siezing up. It was supposed to have been developed with experience from coal mining, which figures with the digging chains and conveyor. A postwar vehicle that I would put on my wish list ( if I won the lottery)