Richard Farrant

My brother has, and several others we met in France had.

hi Hanno, It was nice to see you, although briefly. We had been up to Longues a couple of times looking for you. There were a few other HMVF members at Etreham. The week was very enjoyable, and it was good to meet Rippo, who was camped next to us there, (hope you got back safely with your MW, mate). I am pretty sure I passed Chris (sirhc) on Sunday along the coast road.

The Q4 truck made during WW2 and up until around 1950, was a 4x2 with a 4.1 ltre side valve engine. The Q4 which entered army service in early Fifties, also Civil Defence, was a 4x4 with a later overhead valve engine. Cabs are totally different.

I was told it was the Dorset flag, yellow denoting the sands and white for the chalk hills.

Hi Wozza, I have built hundreds of these 330 engines when working in REME, but last one was quite some years ago now. I am 99% sure the only way the water passes from block to head is at the front, pump and thermostat housing and at the back where two large "O" rings seal to the rear of the head gasket. So what I am saying is that I don't think it can be the gasket that is leaking. They do have removable sleeves for the injectors, with rubber rings to seal, it might be a leak here perhaps. It is a two man job to remove the head and you need to remove the seats and the large access panel over the engine.

Clive, Think very carefully before putting a flame to it. When we had to repair tanks in the workshops, they were hot washed or steam cleaned for sometime, then left for a period and a special meter used to "sniff" inside. The boss may have been soldered originally, so brazing may not be a good idea. If it is cleaned well around the crack, solder is best solution. I actually use a radiator repair man for my tanks, they often do not advertise, but are well known in the local motor trade. Worth getting someone like that to do it.

Chris, The Ferret EMER states the heaviest / uparmoured weights.

According to EMER Data Summary, the weight for heaviest uparmoured versions are; Mk2 Recce Unladen 3.683 tonnes ( 3 tons 12 cwt 2 qrs )

Jim, Sky Blue was used for engines after about 1950, previous to that Eau-de-Nil was used. Some engines, such as Rolls Royce B Range were painted in this colour from new, others were done on overhaul. It is so that water and oil leaks can be seen, from what I was told. As you are restoring the vehicle to as it was after undergoing a rebuild in the 1950's, this will be right. The Scammell Explorers engines were the same when in service........unless the vehicle had been repainted without the bonnet sides on !

That is correct, Mike. This injected version of Meteor, the M120, was also used in the Churchill Flail, to power the flail drum.

Happy Birthday CW :clap: ........was going to say, are you "pushing the boat out" for the occasion, but that might be an inappropriate phrase to use at this time

I would say so. Have you got the tank badges?

Interesting, is Forest Green a lighter colour? I worked on a few when they were in service, probably near the end, and they were in Deep Bronze Green, which I would say was as from the factory, because of the gold lining on the tank. I do recollect hearing once, that a batch was ordered by the Forestry Commission, makes me wonder if those in Forest Green were theirs.

See, it is not just me that did not like the music . Great pics though. You have had a lot of good times to look back on, we cannot do all that we would like to do.

Jack, I spent ages in there, remembering different products, spotting tools for tasks that are no longer done................looks a bit like my workshop :-D

Good point.............long time since I bought any.

Yeh...........they'll be recommending Belzona next :-D

Words fail me.........:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: as "politics" are no allowed on here, I will say no more :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

I don't think these British export licences are new, and cannot really be applicable if you are travelling to and from an EU country, they are for permanent export situations. What those going to Normandy have had to apply for, through MVT, etc. is a French temporary import for ex-military equipment. This gives them details of when and where the vehicle is brought in and out of the country. Think that is where the confusion has arisen. This is all due to an old French law that was lying on the statute books and somebody has brought to life, hence why there is a problem for the French citizen to own armour now. Just my thoughts........

:-D why am I not surprised ?

Don't mention school dinners.........it makes me think of inedible veggies and gypsy fart... sorry, tart :-D

Still operating I think

You have a Dinky ????? do we really need to know that :-D............oh, toy van, right sorry. Not sure about the starter, engine was a bit unique though, wonder why they went to that length to make something of an odd design. Think it had four cylinders, two for charging, the other two for power.

Ashley, The trailer on that one was not a military type, just a normal single axle low loader........belonging to Tom O

Yes, I think that I might be just a bit older than the van . They had a choice of engines, either a Trojan two stroke or a Perkins P3, not sure which the BB Tea vans had.