Richard Farrant

Clive, I had a feeling that DBG was re-introduced soon after the war ended in 1945, have come across it written somewhere. The grey you refered to would have been used in one instance, on DUKW's. I remember seeing one in service, late 50's / early 60's in grey. When I started working for the army in '74, most vehicles were in gloss DBG, from armour through to plant and very smart it looked too. Richard

Hi Clive, The paint trade use Matting Agent, never used it myself, but do remember years ago when making models, before getting into 1:1 scale, that Humbrol did small tubes of it for their model paint. My guess is you would have to experiment to get the required finish, too much and it would be like blackboard paint. Your remark about using chalk is quite true, but I guess matting agent is more "scientific". Are we going to be let in on the secret project or will all be revealed at the start of next season?? Look at this website; http://www.hmgmarine.com/mattingspecs.html or do a search for "matting agent", you will find a lot of info on it. Richard

Clive, Very enjoyable..........I'll wait and see it on DVD. Richard

Clive, On that note, I shall say Goodnight Richard PS Its cheese actually, did you see the W & G film?

Clive, You will be no doubt, looking for some Stinking Bishop tomorrow. :lol: The film seems to have made it very popular. Richard

Chris, I think Richard means the other forum. I also cannot find it anymore, used to be a member of it. We were always being told to answer the technical queries on it as it would be permanent........but now its gone! There is no link that works, to a forum on the above website. Richard Farrant

Daren, It is a Armoured Command Post as you say and is FV610. Some were designated GPO, thats not General Post Office, but Gun Positioning Officer. Another role was FACE, Field Artillery Computer Equipment, both Royal Artillery usage. How did it get in that condition? As you say it is road registered, I assume it was in good order once. I have had experience of these in the past and some were used, after they were declared obsolete, by research establishments, with all sorts of odd modifications and fittings, maybe this is how come it has a few variations from the norm on it. Will certainly want a deal of work and parts on it. Best of luck, Richard

That looks like some of Pounds stock. The Mowag and Ward La France wrecker appear to be ex-Swiss. The GMC with US markings looks familiar as I recognise it from rallies a few years ago. Richard

Sorry no photos, but is anyone seriously interested in British "C" vehicles? For the uninitiated C Vehicles are Engineers Plant. The items are all 1950-60 era laying in a yard and are as follows; Marshall Gainsborough tractor wheeled loading shovel -very rough, for restoration. Aveling Barford 4 wheeled grader - condition as above Ruston Bucyrus 19RB tracked excavator - condition as above Track Marshall TM70 crawler tractor - condition as above Bedford RL map printing room body - cab and bodywork rough None of these are for the faint hearted, but if genuinely interested, send me a PM. Richard

Daren, Obviously you will not heed my warning, DON'T ...... so I will give you some advice on them. Firstly, they are very thirsty. Go for one that is not uparmoured, because they are about a ton heavier and it is noticable, they can be spotted by the extra armour welded over the outside, look at the rear door area and you should spot it. They also have 12.00-20 tyres where the normal Saracen has 11.00-20. Another thing to watch is if you find one with the beehive engine covers (reverse flow cooling), check that it has the sheet metal / rubber shroud over the front grille. If it does not have the shroud, check which way the fans are blowing when you start up. For reverse flow it will blow forward. I have known some people fit the standard fans that blow rearward, but with the beehives and no ducting around the front of the hull, they can suffer fuel evaporation and other problems. So are you with me so far? The accumulaters serving the brakes and steering need to be charged regularly, else you will not get sufficient pressure in the system. Charged with nitrogen or dry compressed air to 500psi. Parts are not too bad if you go to the right places, but some things that are prone to wearing, breaking, deteriorating are getting short and thus, expensive, like silencers, exhaust manifolds, Y-branch, etc. Maintaining........there are an awful lot of levels and oiling points to cover, access to engine is not as good as it might appear. How is that? Part 2 follows (only joking) Richard

Richard, Tony is not on line to explain, but briefly it is a WW2 era US Ford 1.5 ton 4x4 Bomb service truck with a gantry crane and bomb trailer. From the front it looks like a jeep on steroids. Richard 1943 Bedford QLD

Hi Tony, We saw your GTBs at Beltring this year, very nice restorations and good to see something a little different. Richard 1943 Bedford QLD

Now you have me intrieged .....can you identify these vehicles? Richard 1943 Bedford QLD

Front hatch ? .........no problem getting in or out and I am 6'2". Maybe you have had too much pasties and chips :wink: Richard

Clive, Only one done at our place. I think it was the first one and trialled at a local establishment where training was undertaken for that Theatre :wink: Richard Kewelde

Hello Clive, I witnessed that conversion, probably the initial one. A steel box had to be constructed on the roof first with the turret on top, so the commander could stand on the floor with turret at correct height. It was prone to rolling badly on corners as you can imagine with this extra weight high up. Richard "Kewelde"

Russell, I am a QL owner. May be able to offer advise as I have had mine for 18 years. Do not know of any large cache of spares, you have to hunt around. Engine, gearbox, brakes, electrics are well catered for as similar to other models, but cab and body parts have to be salvaged from donor vehicles or made. Two sad cases, one a cargo the other a house body, have recently found a new owner in the South of England. Keep a look at the ads on Milweb, Greensheet and magazines as QL "projects" do come up from time to time. Kewelde

Try the RA Association or Firepower museum shop. I know other Corps museums often sell the crest transfers. Richard

Tim, Thats right, a Light Tank MkVIa. Richard

Hi Tim, As a collector and restorer, I have admiration for you, taking on vehicles of that age and rarity, knowing that parts may take a lot of time and effort to trace and then may only be useful as a pattern. Documents for these trucks is no doubt difficult to find and from experience, I know that illustrations were lacking in them. Well done on what you are doing. I have seen yours at MVT shows in the past, Popham was one I think. I have just been involved in an element of a restoration on a mid-1930's tank and with nothing to go on, the books were only of some help in trying to get it as authentic as possible. Very enjoyable challenge and also frustrating, but I have to say that now we are in the age of the internet, it has reduced the delay in obtaining photos and information from sources worldwide. Richard

Clive, I forgot about the system used to modify the Jaguar J60 engine, that was made by Lumenition. Kewelde

Hi Clive, I have used Boyer Bransden inductive discharge units on a couple of m.v's and have given good results. I was thinking of trying one on a jeep and also a Rolls B at some point. They still use the points but with a minor current through them they do not burn. The info with them states that if the vehicle is an auto, then you will find the idle speed may need setting down after fitting. This tells you a lot....that combustion is better due to an improved spark. The only problem on a RR B is connecting it into the harness and also you would have to dispense with the 24v feed whilst the stater is in operation, as the units are 6/12v dual voltage. The price...was about £25. It is so cheap it is worth trying. The vehicles I fitted them to were a Bedford MW and an Austin Tilly, both improved and starting was good. Regarding using LPG in a B60, were you aware that Rolls produced gas versions of these engines? Kewelde

Hi Clive, Guess that publication must have been one of the early EMERs covering Boedecias Chariot? Yes, The MVT forum, it did work ok on the original format, although not many using it, but the latest one defies anyone to get into it. regards, Kewelde your RR "B" series helpline (you know who I am now?)

Hi Clive, Welcome to a friendly face. How is the condenser testing business? regards, Kewelde

Lloyd, You will not want to here this and I find it hard to bring myself to suggest it, BUT......is the chassis bent?? Kewelde