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Hoseman

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Posts posted by Hoseman

    Seems I accidentally bought an ex-military vehicle

    in Introductions & Welcomes

    Posted

    I recently bought a 1956 Land Rover, one of the first 88" models, and have discovered it is ex-military, and I am slowly putting together evidence that suggests a rather interesting history, but it is really a struggle.

     

    I know it was sent from Rover to the Ministry of Supply on 21st June 1956, and that from there it went to 42 AVD Handforth date into service 27th June 1956 as 83BR48, together with 83BR25 and 83BR53 which shared the same date and Receipt Voucher HAN/R/301/60B, so I am told they went to the same unit. It was one of 2000 vehicles on order 6/VEH/22633 which spanned Rover Mk 3 and Rover Mk 5.

     

    While 83BR25 and 83BR53 served a fairly normal term of 7 and 8 years (though the former was struck off at Middle East Command), my example was struck-off in August 1958 going back to the ministry of supply. Needless to say there are no record carsd for these vehicles, in fact I think RLC only has one record card for the whole of 6/VEH/22633.

     

    A clue as to the unusual exit to Ministry of Supply is that the tub has tie-down points in the back, unlike any available as standard parts, and made and fitted exactly as per the EMER dated January 1957 (EMER Q 027 Mod Instr No 5 Jan 1957) and a modification specific to vehicles that are to be air-dropped. One loops survives, but the holes exist for the 5 others.

     

    Air-drop was in a fairly experimental phase during 1956-1958. The Suez crisis was on and the Beverley had just entered service. Certainly by the El Gamil raid in Nov 1956 the Medium Stressed Platform hadn't yet been approved for the Beverley, and they had to resort to using Halifaxes to drop jeeps using drop platforms said to be from a museum. Air-drop experiments were being carried out by AATDC and A&AEE using the Boscombe Down Beverley XB261, and Boscombe Down was a Ministry of Supply site until the MoS was wound up in 1959.

     

    Records from Ruddington include mention of the sale of Land Rovers damaged in air-drops.

     

    At present the most likely answer to its history is that is was damaged in an air drop experiment carried out by Boscombe Down, and the army said 'you bent it, you pay for it' and it then became a MoS problem that was either sold by them directly through Ruddington as beyond economic repair, or potentially it was repaired and used as a site vehicle. It did come fitted with a 1971 military BCF fire extinguisher mounted upright on the passenger door pillar, which is unusual if it was sold off into civilian service.

     

    I then have a huge gap from the point where it was struck-off in 1958 until 1985 when it was taken on as a project without any registration information, and was allocated an age-related number. No military unit marking were visible then, and I haven't found any. It appears to have had an extensive rebuild in the past including 86" wings, bonnet, screen, so it has clearly suffered some sort of trauma. There is also a dent in the front cross-member.

     

    Research is on-going, as is a rolling repair. It is just another Rover Mk 5 GS, so hardly worthy of restoration as a military example as there are a few lovely original examples about, but the strange history really is something I would love to find some more about ... and maybe my 1 + 1 = 3 has missed some other explanation. I am still digging in the records for any clues.

     

    Steve

    Steve

    I'm always accidentally buying military stuff, don't worry IT IS catching!!!

    kettenkrad replica project

    in German Vehicles

    Posted

    that is a shame, not sure its a "barn find" though...

    I too was following this with interest, was looking good too, . Pity.

    "Barn Find". . . He may well own a barn, walk in one day looking for a hammer and "find" it. Lol

    I do it all the time, go in the garage for something and find stuff I didn't know I had, then forget all about the original thing I went in there fore!!!

    What colour for 1944 Willys?

    in British Vehicles

    Posted

    Can anyone tell me what colour a 1944 Willys MB would have been in British Army service? Also any recommendations on where to get paint?

     

    I have a '44 Willys that is an ex-Airborne Jeep. Does anyone know if they were re-sprayed when the airborne conversions were carried out, or would it have remained in the factory colour?

     

    Thanks,

    Some would be repainted but most left in the factory colours I would imagine

    Bedford mw first aid kit

    in British Vehicles

    Posted

    yes they came in different styles we had several types in the museum archives

    The Dressings Bag are easy to find and contained just that, dressings. (Maybe some safety pins ,tape and gauze. It's the First Aid bag that's hardest to find. This has purpose pockets inside for scissors, equipment etc. I've been looking for one for ages and when they do pop up you need to sell a kidney to buy it!!! I would be interested in a source of any as I need a few at the right price to finish my medics display.

    I have lists of all contents if needed, they were marked with different letters to denote their contents, A ,B ,C etc

    Thanks

    WW1 Thornycroft restoration

    in Pre WW2 vehicles

    Posted

    It appears to be a deep drawing like a cartridge case. I will have to spin it, however. It is about 4" tall and parallel so getting it off the hardwood chuck will be tricky. Any suggestions would be welcome!

     

    Steve

    I know you like to keep things original but for the sake of time and your sanity, couldn't you make a two part one, brass tube and machine a cap end then because. Once dressed and machined you wouldn't see the join.

    Replacing seals - Saracen Accumulators

    in British Vehicles

    Posted

    Unless you're planning on driving it without accumulators, I would just slip a small plastic bag over the end of the pipe and hold it on with a zip-tie or electrical tape; that will stop crap getting into the pipe in a cost effective manner.

     

    Cheers,

    Terry

    Depending on the ID of the steel pipe, we use GOLF TEE' s, plastic, won't damage, long enough to get a grip of if in too tight and tapered fit! Always keep couple in my tool box, but as mentioned, only to stop the crud getting in, don't drive it like that unless you want the insides oil coated to prevent rust!!

    from the Great White North

    in Introductions & Welcomes

    Posted

    Regards to all;

    I'm a retired Canadian Army type, having served 35 years in the Infantry.

    One of my hobbies is military modelling and this had over the years developed me into an amateur historical researcher. While not involved in vehicle collecting / restorations, I've joined the HMVF as a potential source of information on WW II vehicles. In the same vein, I may be able to assist in providing overviews as to how given fleets were employed and offering recommendations on historical markings for Canadian equipment.

     

    Robert

    Welcome to the Green Machine mate

    What have you found in the bowels of your MV?

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    No debate required because in the UK it's not against the law for civilians to possess blank rounds (of less than 1" in diameter) or magazines, no firearms certificate required.

     

    Firearms Act 1968

    That's luck as wasn't going to post that I found a load of 9mm ammo in the nooks and crannies when stripping my jeep, some fired but some not!!! Even inside the chassis rails, they fell out when knocking the spring bolts out!!!

    Bren Gun Carrier

    in Tracked vehicles

    Posted

    Ahh the hedge carrier raises its head again. Owned by the trustees of the steam museum, they would rather watch it rust to nothing than see it resurrected. Kev Powles spent time and effort trying to get it, as did I, as have many others. It's very much of a case of "it's mine, I won't use it...you can't buy it". The floors have gone, as have the track guards, centre bulkhead is on it's way..... It would be very very costly to save this carrier now.... Trust me I have been there and done it !

    I was one of those trying to get these two couple years ago!! I agree, they won't let them go and the "restored" one isn't that good!!

    I spoke to almost everyone there, it's a Trust and getting thru to them is murder!!!

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