Richard Farrant

Fred, Are you are in North Kent? I am in Ashford and we have a British Oxygen depot here, with all sizes of cylinders available along with a shop with all welding supplies required. I seem to think there is one in the Medway area as well. Hope this helps. Richard

Neil, I noticed the fan belt before reading the text, it looks to be either worn out or too narrow, as it sits too deep in the pulley. Richard

Some years ago, possibly early 80's, there was a TV series called Airline (I think), featuring a C47 / DC3. The ficticious airline was called Ruskin and the plot was based just after the war. One episode, I seem to think they had to go to Italy or beyond and the plane landed for refuelling at Rome (could have been anywhere I suppose, knowing films!). Anyhow, to the point, one of these impressive Federal refuelling rigs arrived in the scene, so my guess there is one survivor somewhere in Southern Europe. Richard

Matt, It looks like a Studebaker US-6 Richard

R Cubed, Vehicles made in the USA during WW2 and right up to around the 1980's, would certainly be using inch sizes, their threads being predominantly American National Course and American National Fine. Spanner sizes will be AF, which means "Across Flats", so to determine a size of spanner / socket required, measure from flat to flat, with an Imperial vernier or caliper to save having to convert. Do not fall into the trap of what some people do, when measuring a bolt head, for instance, 9/16"AF spanner size, they then think it is a 9/16" bolt, the actual shank diameter would be 3/8". Forget the 105mm gun, armaments are a rule to themselves, but I have no doubt that the gun carriage would use American inch threads on it. Richard

70mm , then your nut is 2 3/4" AF spanner size. Richard

Baz, You may also find that the electrical system is unusual. As you have the firewall fitted, the Bedford was built to conform with Petroleum Regulations and would have had an insulated earth return system. Richard

Shopnut, Don't forget that metric sizes were not used on these vehicles, any metric spanner is likely to be either sloppy or not fit. R Cubed has replied saying he measured the nut with his vernier and it is 83mm, this would work out at 3 1/4 inches. Hub nut box spanners are still available in inch sizes from motor factors who deal with commercial vehicles. Richard

Clive, I remember you mentioning the Two-Steps Pig recently. Actually it is usually the modellers who criticise the owners of real vehicles for their details. One instance, was a certain owner of a Half track, at Beltring some years ago, we watched the guy look it all over then he turn and came over to us, asking who the owner was and putting his point of view on some details, saying it was not the same as his. The owner, now getting a little annoyed asked where his was, "oh, its at home in the display case" was the reply. The owners reply was not repeatable on a family forum Richard

Clive, Me thinks you are a bit of a rivet counter :-D :-D :-D :whistle: Richard

Really stabbing in the dark here....something to do with aerial photography by drones? Richard

A little bit of both really. The box obviously contains something, but the flap is opened only to check with some kind of instrument. Richard

Anything to do with guided missiles? Richard

Hmmm.......something wrong here, I am nearly 56 and still working :-( Richard

Neil, You don't look 65 Richard

Andy, I did that one on my BSA many years ago, also 79th Armd Div, bull's head. It would be easier nowadays with scanners, find a good picture of the 11th Armd. sign and enlarge it, if it is blured, redraw over it, then make a card stencil, lay card over the yellow square on your vehicle, draw around with a pencil, then paint in with an artists brush, the horns, hooves etc can be added in afterwards. These signs would have been hand apinted, often by the unit's signwriter. It is quite satisfying to do these signs as they finish off a restoration, along with census numbers. Richard

I restore British wartime vehicles, predomintly and use computor cut vinyl stencils. They are low tack so no worry about lifting the paint on removal. Only trouble is you can only use them once, but do achieve a good job. Any company doing vinyl signs can do this, providing they have the stencil vinyl. You will, of course, have to give them all the information and sizes of what you require. My pet hate, is vinyl lettering on older vehicles, this way it costs little more to do, only a quick spray over the stencil. Richard

No problems, Clive, if you do it yourself. The Hoovermatic is not as complicated to work as first thought ;-) Richard

Mick, You are just unlucky, normally any fluid leaking past the seals in the wheel cylinder, leaks out where the cylinder joins the backplate, because the gasket is either damaged or missing. Your gasket would seem to be intact so has leaked through into the expander. Richard

Clive, Would lime do? After all it is a product of chalk. Should get it in builders merchants by the sack, any left over is good for absorbing oil spills. Richard

I agree, Clive. It was only because I had been coming on every day that I noticed the new address come up on the old site. As the old sight is not available anymore, many will fear the forum has gone altogether. It does make sense to notify all members of the change by email, but that will not get those that have not signed. Also, as the new web address is considerably longer, thought should be given to the logo intended for caps, shirts, display cards, badges, etc. Could not the old hmvf.com address, still be used and linked to this one? Many websites work like that. Richard

Clive, I hastened to add another line on my previous message, just in case french chalk was not suitable, why not go on the Downs to a quarry, or chalk pit and get a good clean lump, then grind it down and sieve it out. You would need a lot of chalk sticks otherwise! Richard

Clive, What about French chalk as used by tyre fitters, at least they used to use it on tubes. Richard

Good work Jack and company! We were getting withdrawal symptoms. Clive has been mailing me, to see if I could get on to the forum. Just one question, the avatars and smilies are replaced by those annoying little red crosses, is that something I can correct here or a general problem? Richard

Rick, If you mean the stud in the block that the manifold mounts on, it is 7/16" BSF, according to the parts list. Richard