BC312

I was reading up on RAC range procedures 1942 they used a white and blue chequered flag as a action flag to show that a tank is loaded or about to be unloaded. Something nice to find.

Thanks Adrian, it will be interesting to see how they were made and why the pressed steel option was most probably better.

Interesting, been trying to find wheel drawings and examples on the web but no luck. So the early flat wheel is solid cast alloy not hollow.

Been doing a bit of research work on the A13 cruiser Mk 3 a future 1:1 scale project i would like to build just like others who have made rare replicas in the past. I noticed that the running gear between the three tanks the A13 Cruiser, Covenanter and Crusader all have virtually the same Christie suspension system and are exactly the same. I noticed that the earlier models had a wheel cover that made the road wheels look flat rather than a pressed dish shape when remove. The A13 had cast alloy road wheels as opposed to the Covenanter and Crusader ones which were pressed steel. What and how were these flat wheel covers constructed and fitted to both road wheel types, push fit/screwed on ?, were they pressed alloy or steel. The A13 road wheels underneath the covers were made of alloy, were they the same profile and shape as the later pressed steel Covenanter and Crusader road wheels. Never seen a photo with the covers removed to see what was underneath and how it was constucted

I agree volunteers are worth their weight in gold as they do it with a passion not unlike the over qualified ones who are paid who have their interests elsewhere, its just an ordinary job they would most probably move away from if a better opportunity came along. Don't mean to be negative but thats the reality in some cases if not most.

I can remember about 10 or 20 years ago you could ring Bovington, the IWM or any other museum and they would have dedicated staff who knew their subject and would pin point exactly what they had in their collection and if they didn't, they knew who had it. These days they take on graduates from the universities who have no interest or knowledge of the type of subject material and you have to explain in detail what you are after or basically give them a short history lesson to get to the point of what you need. It seems the trend with the big museums that they take on highly qualified curators and archivists and librarians who's subject qualification doesn't relate to the subject material of the establishment and who will move on to another better paid job than take on someone who knows their subject with a passion with no university degree. It does make you wonder the type of people running and looking after such collections. Don't worry I will pester the S****out of them but if i can find an alternative that would be better than crawling under a tank all day at a museum with a tape musure.

Trying to find Blue prints, factory construction drawings what ever the correct term is of the Cruiser A13 Mk3 tank. Did try Bovington but it seems their email system is either down or very slow, used to get a quick response. Any other place i can get them from?

Thanks that would be great.

Their email address is no longer valid, shame.

An old post. So what was the outcome to this. Did anyone take over the project. Are plans and drawings still for sale.

Thanks guys. Owning a couple of armoured cars myself i know that the MPG can vary depending on the type of usage. I have a talk coming up soon and need to mention about a few WW2 tanks, just needed an average MPG for each tank give or take, i dont think many people realise how thirsty these beasts are.

Excellent thanks.

Thanks, so i got the Churchill running around 0.4-0.8 MPG. The Valentine at 1.16-3.4 MPG. The Covenantor around 1.3-2 MPG. Anyone know the others.

Anyone know the miles per gallon of Allied tanks from WW2 such as the Sherman, Grant, Canadian Ram, Valentine, Churchill, Covenantor etc. Is there list of the fuel consumption for these vehicles.

Thanks Nick and for the link. Looks like it would be a bit of a task to restore it. Are they rare?

To add I have been told it’s a 1950s trailer towed radar

Seen this over the Hogmore enclosure at the back of the Bordon REME camp. Anyone know what it could be. I think that the body on its side sat onto of the trailer. Not sure the vintage of the trailer by its wheels, could be commercial not military. The top on its side has a turret type base inside with wiring on drums and electrics. Need closer examination. My thoughts that it could be radar or radio or it could be tank training. Note it has a ladder at the side. What do you think. Any ex REME remember it. Now rusting on its side. Need to know before someone in local council gets it scrapped.

I have discovered a target trolley made by Hudson of Leeds which is a non engine trolley not like the Wickhams with a Jap engine. This trolley operated by pulleys and cables from a engine driven winch house. These trolleys were designed and made up from the range drawings and specs and not supplied as a whole complete wagon or trolley only the parts were supplied from Hudson like the axial and boxes nuts bolts and accessories. Would anyone know who has the plans and construction drawing and lay out to such moving target narrow gauge ranges and details of winches and types of trolleys used. I may suspect the National archives or the RE museum may hold such documents, anyone know who else may keep them.

Not sure if you know much about the Weald Foundation but they are restoring two Renualt FT tanks complete engine rebuild and newly made carbs, so anything is possible even better if you can get hold of original workshop drawings and cad the drawings.

Nice to see these motorized trolleys,looks like a bit of fun to work on one. Still need to see a winch towed trolley with no engine. I Have a local range near me that used non motorized trolleys that relied on a winch house that operated 3 trolleys at different angles. I wonder if such trolleys drawings are in any of the archives or if Wickham made non engine trolleys.

I have seen many Wickhams motorized trolleys but non of the winch pull ones that just had a flat bed. Didnt know that the motorized trollies had a fluid flywheel. It would be interesting if these winch engines were the same type made and used throughout the UK during the war.

Just to add were there any makes names on the machinery.

Dong a bit of Research on a old moving target range the Canadians tank crews used during the war. They referred to the range as the 30 yards range and as anti tank gun range as well. I believe 30 yard range practices were used for new recruits to get used to training and maneuvering on the coaxial machine gun in the tank before the practiced at much longer distances. I believe the tank gun scope was and machinegun was zeroed at 30 yards at smaller targets. Am i right or wrong, can anyone else enlighten me about the 30 yards range which i was told was still used after the war.

Any one have a picture of the push trollys.

Been following the thread about the EU deact proposals but all of a sudden disappeared or pulled from the site. Any reason or did someone complain to stop such idle chatter or has an EU sneaked in a law to ban criticism of the great EU republic and its most obeadiant servants who have gone further to implement it upon us.