Richard Farrant

Jim, The platform that folds out is for the generator that powered the X-ray equipment. It was in a separate forward compartment but interior photos I have seen seem to indicate that it has all been made into one. Richard

Danny, you are unlikely to find 'plough' bolts as small as 1/4", The heads are often too small to be used in wood as well, they are meant for use in steel plough shares and points. Look up 'countersunk square bolts' as in the photos in this link. The tend to have a wider head which is better in wood. http://www.fastenerdata.co.uk/fasteners/bolts/more/bolts-a-to-f/countersunk.html

Hi Rick, There is a Covenantor gearbox available, as I mentioned to you a while ago, just found the photos, here is one;

Danny, Do a Google search for "countersunk carriage bolts". These are what you are seeking. regards, Richard

I have seen a similar photo of a Cromwell, in a book called 'Bovington tanks' by George Forty. It shows the tank jumping off a ramp at Bovington Camp. According to the caption it jumped at 32mph during the monthly tank race and landed 31 feet away, stopping within a few yards. Richard

here is one belonging to Kent Police............

As I recall the Type 69 was a Chinese built tank with differences to the Russian design. Might be even harder to obtain parts. After 1st Gulf War we had a Type 69 with mine plough come to the Workshops to be painted up for a unit's gate guardian or war trophy.

Hi Al, Same happened to me when I went up there, apparently the bull had got out in to a neighbours property and we had to put up a mile of electric fence before seeing the tanks. Never saw the bull ! Going back to the videos of the rebuild, really enjoying them. Cheers Richard

On occasions I see police vehicles, often with windscreen protectors from other forces, going down the 2070 to a certain army training area, could be something like that.

I was watching some of the Lots at what was supposed to be the final few minutes and when it got to about 2 mins left the clock would jump back 10 mins and this happened several times. Also noticed that there were differing times between the Lots. The parts and tools were still under auction around 3pm as well. I did notice the last bid on the Bedford QL was £10,250. Was particularly interested as this one was a mate to mine, out of the same Danish army auction in 1987.

Hi Fergus, Looks like they have had one for about 2 years, see here;

Advertised on the website as at the Hop Farm, see https://warandpeacerevival.com/ Not heard anything different.

I would say these are not WW1 lorries as they are 6-wheelers. My guess is late Twenties Thornycrofts.

Looks the same as C8 4x4 as well

The latest video of the Tank Museum's Matilda is now on their Youtube channel. It is slightly different as one of the restorers travelled to Australia to see one of my acquaintances who is very deep in to Matildas as you will see.

Robin the foot operated dump valve only drains the transmission compartment. The water contamination of the steering and brake master cylinders was an issue when in service over 25 years ago. When one of the guys at our Workshop sent in a staff suggestion to MoD at the time to fit a drain plug, the reply was No, it would weaken the floor if a mine or similar went off under it. I would say for a private owner fit a drain plug. If you left it as an open hole water would be force in if driving through it. Richard

As I understand it the SCC range of colours were not introduced until 1941.

Could it be a civilian vehicle registration? AD was a Gloucestershire number and C was 1965

Hi Bryan, Thanks for posting the link. The man behind the museum is Steve Shirley. I first met him in the early 1990's when he was stationed at RAF Manston, some of the fire-fighting school's vehicles used to come to the REME workshops for repairs and overhauls. He had started to build the museum up in a redundant building there. I was involved in the restoration of two of the early vehicles in his collection, the 1950's ex-Royal Navy Dennis F12 and the Land Rover TACR1. Sometimes taking them out to local events. The museum had to move and it ended up at Scampton, sadly they have had to move again. I very much hope they have found somewhere suitable and they are able to open up to the public, there are some interesting vehicles in the collection and Steve is very dedicated, I wish him luck. regards, Richard

There has been a long wheelbase Crossley Q in preservation for many years, think it was in the Essex/Suffolk area and had a signals type body as used by RAF (same chassis as the flatbed) and I know of a similar one in NSW, Australia.

Hi Graeme, Those Ford numbers you quoted are definitely for the Ford Thames 2E, 3E and 4E, just checked the parts book. I might be able to identify numbers of parts for other vehicles. regards, Richard

Forum member Bob Grundy built a A7V some years ago, it was seen at the Tank Museum. See this thread from 2009;

Would they be those thin cork rings on a Daimler spherical tracta housing? If so there are better options. I find that in general, old stock cork gaskets that have shrunk and soaking them in water still does not get them back to original size and better to make new ones.

The guy who told me about it, in the late 1990's was called Herb F, not sure if he owned it at the time, its a small world! (just noticed letters HF painted on the side, so answered my own question!) Here is a photo of the WOT1, ex-crash tender from near Sydney, it was for sale. regards, Richard

Doug, Think the attachment must have gone missing during the website changeover, here is the website: https://bigtyre.com.au/wheels/vintage