Simon Daymond

make the most of it, looks like it'll end up down on the beach very soon

Hello, you'll have to shout, I'm a bit deaf from driving another one of those noisy machines

Welcome to the forums, let me know if you're short of bits etc, I might know of or have some.

I've got some spare orange paint if there are any takers?

^^bump ^^, the organiser is trying to finalise figures for this, anyone interested get in touch please

I don't agree that you should pay to exhibit, fair enough there are costs to the organisers, such as public liability and toilets etc, but to be honest where do they get their prices from at W & P? I've never been, but won't go now reading the previous posts. The militants does about 8mpg, I go to events and don't expect a penny in return, and this is probably the nearest I've ever come to complaining, but it seems to me that there are some who are willing to exploit us to further their own ends.

I went to Ponderosa a few weekends ago, many didn't bother to turn up, well frankly they missed out, no charge to enter, excellent facilities, clean toilets, free food. If it can be done there when the profits are going to charity, how come larger events are seeking to charge so much, particulalrly when the number of paying visitors through the gate is more certain?

if you can find the number for the test station, ring and ask for the 'technical' guy, in my experience most are very obliging and will tell you why it should have them on if at all, or if not where it is written that they are not required. You might need to tell the Welsh person you speak to if you ring Vosa direct, that you want to ring the test station to answer a technical question.

If you can't ring, is it too far away to call in?

all being well, we'll be doing the run again, which is half the fun, although I was knackered by Harrogate

Yorks MVT have a seperate space at Harrogate set aside if you all want to park together, but it might be an idea to let them know if you're going so they can arrange space etc, contact details through Yorks MVT website.

was it on here where someone said about a scammer who was had by his victim - he convinced the scammer that they had to join his cult before he could hand over any money, and they had to film themselves performing weird dance rituals etc, and in the end they ended up sending him money

I know someone who has a 10 stud wheel, without the brake drum holes, and I think he'd be looking to swap for one with (he has a militant and the one he has is no good for him)

what a lovely bit of kit, looks very tidy, or is the camera lying?

re fuel cans, the guy said that the original ones, must be the 4 gallon ones, leaked at the tops and bottom where the seams were. Interestingly he seemed to think that German (Jerry cans) were much thicker than our attempts at them. When fueling his chuchill he said it was a continuous flow: full cans coming in from one side, empty ones going out the other.

sidetracking slightly, he made us all laugh with his tales of trying to send morse whilst on the move, the instrument being strapped to his leg, and trying to do this whilst going over bumps etc, he said he was a far better gunner than wireless operator

very nice, and time to paint stuff as well, hope it runs in ok?

I took the militant to Keighley yesterday as part of a display organised by the town council for a veterans display.

As it was hot, we retired to the local pub, where I had the real privelage of talking to a couple of veterans, both well into their 80's.

one used to serve on Dukws amongst other things, the other was a gunner and wireless operator in Chuchill tanks.

As usual, they were slow to speak about what they'd done, no doubt not aware that everything they said was fascinating.

To the point,

they raised a couple of interesting ideas, which I know we all could pass a bit of time chewing the fat over

First item : jerry cans, the British used to use 2 gallon tins, but after being used a couple of times they used to leak badly, so after the desert campaign, they started to use discarded German cans, and the British then had replicas made in Egypt?

Second item: the reason our tanks were so small compared to those of the Germans, was due to the railways? The fact that our tracks were so near ( up and down lines) meant that there was a smaller width available when transporting the tanks by rail, something that the Germans didn't suffer with as there lines were further apart?

Final point: Tank crews, I didn't realise that the crew on a British tank had to operate it and carry out repairs & servicing, whereas our American counterparts had a crew to 'fight' in with tank, and completely seperate crew to repair and maintain it. The guy gave an example where once he was in a Sherman with an American driver, he asked the driver about certain parts and controls of the tank, and the reply was ' I don't know - I only drive' !

Anyway just a bit of something to give you something to post about, not saying any of the above is true, or not, but interesting to know a little more about it.

I suppose you need to find where it refers to the brake test in their guidance notes, to be able to refer the tester to it, without upsetting them. We have tested older stuff in the past and there have been all sorts of weird exceptions, but the testers have been well aware and gone away to check up, things such as not needing screenwash if your screen opens, not needing a repeater light for your indicators if you can see them in operation, ie in the mirror etc.

surely if he cannot conduct a test on the rollers due to the vehicle's construction, he should conduct a tapley test, rather than asking you to bring it stripped down? i.e prop removed?

I know it's not very big, but you've been busy! Who's paint did you end up with?

Is it the 'Fred Flintstone' model (no engine) looks good, or is the camera lying again?

Shame you wouldn't let me tow you back with the militant, you're going to have to 'grow a pair' now you've got a man's truck

(For those not in the know, the Scammell was in a yard down the road from Steve, I offered to tow him with the militant, but he was put off by the prospect of rush hour traffic, the lack of brakes, the trip past a police station etc.)

you could use HMG Manchester , Williamsons Paint Ripon, or Pronto paints Chesterfield, but all will charge postage. I notice you have a Carlac in Livingston, they will stock HMG, Masons, ICI etc. They'll also do all the thinners etc. 5l of HMG synthetic primer, should set you back approx £25ish + VAT.

If you buy paint etc fairly regularly, ask to set up a cash account, that way your discounts will be given each time, rather than having to rely on the generosity of the sales person!

yes but we love it really I take you sourced all your spares ok? It didn't take long between posting initially and this post showing stuff going back together.

I take it you must have a show coming up, either that or you don't like hanging about?

I was just thinking the same thing, surely the scrap merchants must ask some questions? It's the same up here with 'scum' nicking yorkshire flag stones, and selling them to dealers. My mum's local church lost loads, even though they were engraved and painted with the church name. They were found at a local stone merchants yard.

Digressing slightly, I never buy anything from the 'back' of a van, we get idiots around all the time with tools, eg drills with no chargers etc that are obviously nicked, if they can't sell them, then perhaps they won't nick them?

see you had time to paint the back of the engine bay as well! What caused it to go bang? I notice you have to jack up the chassis, presumably to get the sump off clear of the front axle, not a problem I reckon I'd have with mine as it's only 6x4?

Nice to see it's going back together

Hi Paul,

welcome to the forums, with your 'posing machine & smoke maker'

surprised he didn't try to fail it for not having seatbelts fitted!

Hi Dan,

welcome to the forums

just bought some new fans belts today for the militant, to stop that damn squeak, so the militant should be there, even though I won't. No joy-riding around Sheffield Steve!