N.O.S.

Jack - in case Deadline can't meet your deadline, here are a couple of pics of Lindy Lou's body: One shows neat cut-outs rather than rough flame cut drainage holes, the other shows the German builder's plate. Now I've always thought this was a German repro body built in 1950, but having just taken these pictures and tweaked the contrast to make lettering crisp, I notice some stamped numbers (very American-looking) underneath the plate. So I am now begining to wonder if it might be a rebuilt / reconditioned body, rather than new build.....:readbook:

I have one 24v wheel loader showing same symptoms - if you turn and hold starter switch the starter throws bendix in and tries to turn engine, but stalls on first compression (big V8). After about 2 seconds the starter suddenly spins engine at full speed and we're off. Something must be causing resistance, but once it gets warm (2 secs) current flows ok. I've checked main power contacts on built-in starter solenoid which get pitted with arcing, when I clean them up / replace with new all is ok for a while until problem returns. So I suspect dirty contacts is just another symptom, not the prime cause. I suspect some other poor connection is causing the contacts to arc. Perhaps you can solve the mystery before another one of my starters blows up (had an identical starter on another machine literally blow up last year - blimey, thought a cylinder head had come off! (hadn't been any problem until it 'exploded' and blew brush gear and end cover off) :wow:

Did he trip over that long beard, Andy?

Heck, you're not wrong - round bales and shadow!!!!!

Those black and white chequered airfield control vans can't hide anywhere, can they? :cool2:

Oh gawd - not a GMC mobile library? :shocked: Mind you if it houses your massive collection of 8th AAF literature that might be most welcome :cool2:

Very useful information, Cosrec :thumbsup: What's your take on snatch block pulley diameters? Some recovery type blocks look way too small for my liking. It should be noted that some recovery block pulleys look as if they will accept a larger diameter rope than their design size, due to the wider mouth of the rope groove - which are intended to reduce damage if the rope pulls sideways. It is the radius of the bottom of the groove which is critical for safe operstion, and which determines diameter of rope to be used.

Here you go. I'm 95% certain it was cast - I no longer have it so cannot check!

Are you sure it was a fabricated job? There was a heavy cast unit identical to this - I was told they were for the heavy armoured units (command post). Have a photo somewhere.

Nice meeting of chequer jeeps. Can you explain the Laura Ashley style plane in pic 3 please?

Sounds reasonable Richard. No doubt with poor muddy road conditions there would be a lot of wheelslip, and solid tyres would be liable to be sliced to shreds by the inevitable flints.

Jack - Please tell us you've been able to cancel the anniversary T shirt order......:sweat:

Best bet might be to make contact with a 'marine surveyor' whatever the ship salvage assessors are called - no doubt there will be a bible somewhere with all this info in for salvage purposes. Try Coastguard for a contact maybe?

Thanks Chris, will give ATF a Ricksons (buzz - call - oh never mind!!!)

The only downside of this stuff is when the shaft assembly needs to be dismantled - it can be much more difficult. But if dismantling is required far less frequently (if at all) due to using the stuff in the first place, surely that's a small price to pay. Also flanges etc can be deliberatley designed to be much more puller-friendly (like even just drilling big holes in the right place before assembly) to counter this problem.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: :n00b:

Why on HMVF of course!! Just keep the shots coming please

Can anyone help with a Technical or User Manual (or provide information) on the RAF 4 wheel bomb trailer of the type pictured below? We're trying to recreate some bomb carrying cradles which pin onto the chassis, but only have a few photos like this one to work from. Thanks!

Thanks for the info, Gordon. Trust me to have expensive tastes.

Here's a Constructor-based tale with some pics to make you wince! http://11independentfldsqnmalaya.blogspot.com/2009/10/op-crown-brian-platt-reme.html

Image 348 (the Dodge(?) staff car), looks like a jelly mould but I really like it!

Oh, undoubtedly more in ignorance than in humour - I'm not that clever. (It wasn't even meant to be funny - sarcastic maybe). There could well be some truth in what you suggest, my post should be seen as merely an observation on the way you put it across. You seem to have quite strong views and theories of why the Americans did what they did. But I fear that if we were to dig too deep then all countries involved in the war would find much of which to be ashamed. Your view that it was not necessary to destroy such a large city is a very difficult one to either support or defend so many years later in 2010 - but I'm afraid I've spent too much time in the company of a former Japanese prisoner of war to be able to argue rationally and without emotion on this subject, so I will not. Speaking of which, there was a TV program on not many months ago where a daughter took her father, a former prisoner, back to one of the death railways and he met the local community. To see that man show such dignity and respect - almost forgiveness and understanding - in the presence of the Japanese people, despite what they did to him and his colleagues and despite what we did to these two Japanese cities, made me feel very small and humble.

I had no idea that the Americans were running a diversionary Building Construction research project! All this time I've been harbouring the mis-guided belief that this darstadly act was all about shocking the Japanese into an early surrender, in order to avoid prolonged suffering on all sides. But then there's a lot I get wrong :blush:.

I think some had slightly different rope hooks, but main difference was neatly cut 1/2 round drain holes at base of side stanchions - most wartime ones were a rough gas-cut afterthought.

A bit like having a close shave every day (except hairies like Gritineye )