kpu121265

That's packed lunches and not packed 'punches' per my previous.... Regards Ken

Look like a vehicle equivalent of hob nailed boots.... Ken

As the date with the blaster draws ever closer, the hunt is still on for markings. C-16 is clear enough, which if it follows std TO&E makes this a hq section tank for C company. What is less clear in the photograph is that the unit markings look like 2nd Armored. It is a shame that if the rear markings 'were' there, i can't find them, and that the unit markings and whatever is to the left of C-16 has 'gone'. You can just make out what appears to be the bottom left of the armored triangle and to the left of that a faint 2. It does seem as if this has been marked up twice during it's career, but it is impossible to distinguish what the other markings were. I have a suspicion that she may have been on fire at one time as there are very different 'layers' of 'green' paint on different parts of the hull. The paint is noticibly thicker where we have found markings. We know that this tank was in a playground from 1962, and did not move again until June (or so) 1996 - when "these pieces of equipment are not in compliance with our current safety standards and need to be removed from the park"... Ken

I wish i was clever enough to have thought of packed 'punches' - it can be rough in Yorkshire but not to the extent of show organisers offering pre packed punches as a gesture....... Just goes to show, how far i still have to go with my education. Ken

Stuart has asked me to post this, he can't add images (i can, but not in the right order). He can learn how to post images, i have given up learning to spell! See attached for flyer and entry form. I think this was a great event last year and there is no reason why it can not continue to get bigger and better. 5 tanks have already confirmed attendance as far as i know (although i feel a bit of a cheat as mine is currently only a rolling shell which probably means it will end up full of smoke at the start of the battles), many other vehicles have already confirmed attendance, a battle on each day, weapons demonstrations, many living history camps, 25Llbs firing, arena vehicle displays etc etc. There are packed punches available for the Sat and Sun (FREE) for those that book in and want them and all proceeds go to a very good cause. This is one of the ways we can put our hobby to a good and practical use. As i understand, Fri 8th is available to arrive and set up, and this is another event where you genuinely feel that the organisers are pleased to have you, and do everything they can to help. If you want to come and need a tent for the night, just ask, knowing how this event now works, we will be able to get all the canvas up so there will be plenty of spare room if you would like to join The Troubleshooters - and you would be most welcome - Degsy will confirm that we do not bite, and the only scary thing is the endless supply of spam we use to try to encourage the Germans to surrender. Stuart will catch up with this thread in due course so any questions or observations, post away. Ken

Yes, if it has an HV/booster fitted with a bleed point that needs to be done first. Mike, i have a DT 969 (amongst other vehicles), if you get stuck for any of the parts you are looking for let me know, i might just have them in the spares pile. I am magpie for parts for any of my vehicles, so might just have what you need. Regards Ken

Jaap Rietveld had a lot of DT parts at one time - probably still has. Ken

Tony, i have the manuals if you want to look at them, but from memory you bleed them like any other, starting at the one furthest away from the M/Cyl. If you only changed a front and clamped the flexi up, you might get away with just bleeding that one - you will soon know if they are not working! Ken

Here are a few of our set up. Didn't venture out really except after dark - there were too many people... The trip 'trivia' for this trip was that two loaves of supermarket bread fit perfectly, side by side, in a 105mm ammunition crate.....

The battle of normandy museum closed down, to become a 'peace' rather than 'war' museum. The site belongs to Bayeux so the people who provided (some of) the exhibits had no choice but to move them out. In my opinion this was a shame as it told story of the Normandy campaign very well - not the somewhat sanitised version it has now become. At the time there was a petition raised to try to keep it in it's original format (i collected some signtaures from this side of the Channel, but clearly not enough). The part of the stuka dive bomber engine i have, which was shot down over Bayeux came (originally) through one of the curators of the museum. The big hall at the 'back' which had the dozer, half track and diarama in it is i think pretty much unchanged, but the first big hall has changed considerably, and the part where the shot down german plane (i know next to nothing about aircraft so will not try to mis identify it) has all gone and become the gift shop if i remember correctly. Ken

Eden Camp near Pickering is not that far from Harrogate (north west). http://www.edencamp.co.uk/ If you are out that way this weekend, go to Pickering, it is the wartime weekend. We will be there with 6 or 7 WW2 US vehicles from Fri PM, camped at Beck Isle museum - behind the train station. This is a good event. Parking is a nightmare so go early on the Sat/Sun to have a chance of parking anywhere near; but the whole village goes '40s and there is always a ride on the steam train if you want to escape. Call in and see us for a cup of tea. In fact, if you want a ride up in one of the vehicles, come to the workshop in Boroughbridge on Fri morning, you can kick the sherman at the same time..... Regards Ken

Sanding, chipping, blowing, thinners, scraping, hoping - i've gone mad several times over the years hunting for original markings. The blue ones are often very hard to discern, but sometimes you get lucky as on the bonnet of the WC16 where they were very clear. It is like archology, a layer at a time, until you establish the layer with the markings on. You can then speed up a bit to get down to that layer in the immediate surrounding area, then it starts again as you cut through layer to the next one. I can't remember if i have posted these before, but here is a link to the records of the markings for the WC16 http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showgallery.php?cat=1926&page=3 there are pages of them. Also found the orignal reg number on one side of the Ford script jeep bonnet we have just completed. Patience is the thing, not something i am reknowned for...... Couple of images atatched - when we cleaned the steering wheel up that came with this jeep (wrong wheel for the jeep) it had 'Jack' carved in it (son Mk1's name), he insists it was not him - some things were meant to be so it has stayed with the jeep.

Luckily i have (had) a spare set of worn tracks which came off the M3. It is not a big job to change it when you are in the warm and dry, on hard standing with all your tools to hand. Changing one at the side of the road or in the middle of a field 'somewhere' would be much less 'fun'. Another small step..... Ken

Well things have moved on, literally. Tried to turn the sherman round with the m14 (used that as it is due for a rebuild anyway), the ground is very sandy where she is at the moment. The photos tell their own story. 1 hour later and replacement track fitted and off again. More importantly, the original markings are surfacing. Anyone who has done this, knows how long winded and awkward it is - and one false move and you could wipe the marks out. Anyway, the news from the front is that on one side the original number appears to have survived. This is exciting in itself, but even more so as it means there is a good chance that the other markings we are finding on the same layer of paint elsewhere are also original (looking like 2/_\ veh C-16 at the moment, and USA 30100489). There is more work to be done on markings....... I am incapable of getting the images in the correct chronological order............. Regards Ken

Stuart, if you want to be in the parade you need to register - i have the contact details somewhere. We are not bothering this year as it is awkward getting the vehicles in and out of where we stay, safely. As this event has got bigger, pulling the DT, Halftrack and even the Dodge in and out has become increasingly awkward - there are just so many (impatient) people about. The paperwork takes a bit of filling in so for 6+ vehicles becomes an admin job in itself...... If you want a pup tent for a night or two (or maybe the back of a truck or dropping down in one of the bigger tents) just let me know (mandatory spam suppers and cooked breakfast though). I will have a couple of jeeps there, so if you want one to scoot about in for a bit, again, just let me know. Ken

We are going - Beck Isle Museum again. Ken

Thankyou for your help. It says "non flashless" which confused me as well. I never thought of it having been converted from something, but that does explain 'how' the outlet appears to be in the middle of the those stencilled marks. Makes sense now - thanks again. Regards Ken

Sorry, this sort of tank. Came with a load of stuff in the last container. Clearly marked 1945. Any ideas on what it fits? Ken

Also if i remember rightly (although i have been struggling memory wose recently), they did not have a standard snap style chin strap, but had a leather strap not unilke a leather boot lace - or have i gone mad? Ken

I have one what appears original liner and chin strap which is very dark blue or black inside and out. I also have one somewhere which the same colour inside (db/bl) but red on the outside, which i understand was worn by fire control crew (flames not bangs). I also have a red painted 'standard helmet' which came with WW2 dated firemans suit, which has a unit number stencilled on it, in white at the front. I will post some pictures tomorrow if they would be of interest. Ken

But cleary not in others which some (most) would consider 'harder'. Keep it up. As Patton said, "Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way"! Ken

You accept the fact that you're going to need some bigger spanners, jacks and hoists, more even more pals - and start at one end, just like anything else..... Ken

Gents, i was not trying to knock this jeep, just trying to establish what Neil is looking for. There are many questions about that jeep with regards to it's slat heritage, but if the slat heritage is not important then they are not relevant as i say. The body number on the gusset near the steering tube (outside of it) would help identify the body. The split front seats refer to the tube which forms the seat frame beiing split in the upper middle section (middle of your back). Just to be clear, i have no issue at all with what anyone 'has' or 'wants' as a jeep - my caution was with regards to this being suggested to be a slat gril when there are some questions to be asked in my opinion. Slat gril's (and i have had 5 of them through my hands over the years) i believe attract a premium price due to the fact that they only made something over 25 thousand of them, for some reason i have 26056 as the total production but don't hold me to that. 112054 which i have was assembled on 15th/16th Jan '42 as far as i have been able to ascertain. My mind was failing on the fire ext -in my notes i have that chassis 120697 was when the fire ext. moved to drivers side. So this ones seems correct on the pass side. I've bought lots of 'long distance' vehicles and my advice is to ask as many questions as you can before you hand the cash over - by the time the vehicle is sitting on your drive it is too late to do anything about a mistake..... I was very lucky with 112054 in that the gearbox was dated A1242 and both axles were dated 011242, and the engine no is close enough to the chassis for there to be decent chance it is original to the vehicle. I am the first to walk away if rivet counters was to score points on my restorations, i do the best i can and present the vehicles as the best results of my endeavours - nothing else. Ken

Sorry, i should add, it might be the correct pintle hook, but it has been modified to add the trailer saftey chain eye bolts. Ken

Neil, what is the body tub number? What sort of input are you looking for? I have 112054 which is quite close to this chassis no. It has the wrong pintle hook, temp and amm gauge are wrong, wrong air filter, wrong speedo, it might be the angle of the photo but something looks odd about the transmission hump, does the fuel gauge say 'GAS' as opposed to fuel, is the filterette there, are the seats split back, wheels don't look right, does it have the correct brake and clutch pedal, does it have correct early T84 and contracting handbrake, the cross over tube should not have the breather tube on a slat, wrong intake manifold, the gusset where the bend in the inner side of the pass side wing (near the pass seat) is not like the one on my original slat body, age might be catching up with me and i'm not near my jeeps but i think the fire extinguisher is on the wrong side, it would not have had a fuel can bracket from the factory - there are other things, but of course all this is only relevant if you were looking for an original factory finish slat. The chassis number is in the slat range - but it is fairly easy to get hold of slat grill and add it to an MB chassis with some repro plates. The data plates are not in the same posn as they are on my slat either but there has been some chatter about that on G503 - but that is making me think it might be a repro tub. If you want what appears on the face of it a substantially sorted jeep, this looks like a good candidate but i would be cautious parting with slat money for it. Of course 'substantially' needs to be validated. What are the things which look like bolts at the rear of the rear spring hangers? I would also be asking if it has blown a hose or boiled up recently as it looks as if the head/HT leads have had rad water on them recently. It seems odd to have put what appears to be quite a lot of work in to this, but have the horn held on with a G clamp, miss the retaining plates for the tranmission lever boots, not have fitted any of the ground straps etc. I am not trying to be negative - just trying to help. Regards Ken