Minesweeper

Yes - you are right! We have Acetylene Searchlights on our FWD and the two Autocars instead of orthodox headlights, so they are relevant. No doubt Tim will pick this up. Tony

Great stuff - and good luck with it! Tony

We have quite a nice Rear Light in the collection - and I am not sure without looking, which Lorry we put it on - or for which one it is ear-marked if it is not yet fitted. But when we got it, the red glass was very dirty and I decided to clean the glass gently with methylated spirits. I had assumed that it was a solid red glass right through - but not the case. The red was actually some kind of translucent lacquer which had been applied to clear glass to make it red, and with my meths, I had started to dissolve the red to reveal the clear glass! So I quickly stopped cleaning it! So what I am suggesting is that if you have to replace the red glass, then explore the idea of your local glazier just cutting a clear glass disc of the required size - and then "red" it with some kind of transparent red lacquer. I cannot think what to use for that purpose but no doubt someone on the Forum will have a suggestion! Tony

Thank you! Tony

Funnily enough, have been building one of these in 7 1/4" Gauge - 1/8 full size for some time - but it has rather gone on hold since the Dennis came along. Got as far as the tender......... Tony

On further reflection, I think that the second one is on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and not the Watercress Line - both were on the Watercress Line when they first came back from Greece and then they moved to other Railways. Tony

There are a couple more of the 2-10-0's in this country - brought back from Greece a few years ago, One is on the North Norfolk Railway - and I think the other is on the Watercress Line - tho' not sure about that. One of the two was named "Dame Vera Lynn" after it was returned to working condition. Got a picture somewhere....... Tony

[be a good day tomorrow for looking for fossils down at Lyme Regis/Charmouth area. Another interest of mine. Writing from Axminster, just a mile or two away from Lyme and Charmouth, then I don't think so, today, Rick! Absolutely wild weather here and I think that you would be taking your life in your hands if you ventured onto the beach today! Tony

Really wonderful pictures! Only "Zu" I can think of is "Zundapp"

'evening Barry! What an interesting exercise you have completed in drawing out that "Elbow" on your computer - totally beyond me! Steve is at present in Ireland (work) and will not be home until tomorrow but I know for sure that he will wish to comment on your computer model. We have been looking at all sorts of problems with this particular pattern but the Foundryman did not seem at all troubled by it when we talked to him about it and simply said that he can adjust the sand mould after it has been made. I am not quite sure how - but he was confident! Perhaps Steve can elaborate. Tony

Johnny - the bearing surfaces on both the worm and the worm wheel are fine and the new bearings have fitted beautifully and are not a problem. There was some heavy rust at the ends of the actual worm but we have cleaned that off as best possible - and those areas are mainly away from where the worm wheel runs on it. So we will just live with those. The actual worm wheel is of course, made from bronze and this is where the heaviest wear is. A lot of metal has been worn away and obviously it will be the weakest part now. We are resolved to give it a try and just see what happens. It is still mating very smoothly and without back-lash with the worm. A new Bronze Wheel will cost a lot of money and we would rather not get involved with that if we can get away with it. Hopefully, the lorry will never have a lot of heavy use and gentle handling will lengthen the odds for survival! Tony

With this part of the exercise just completed, I notice that the number of "hits" on this particular topic has amazingly exceeded the 30,000 mark. I must say that Tim,Steve and I have been totally surprised and overwhelmed at the amount of interest that it has created as relating the whole story here, really started quite by accident. This is the fourth old truck that we have worked on and it has always been our policy to take as many photographs of the bits as we have proceeded with the work - mainly to remind us on how to put them back together again after we have taken them apart! The photographs of the other three trucks were taken with film cameras - which could have been an expensive exercise if we had taken as many photographs of them as we have of the Dennis - but with the advent of the good, cheap digital camera, that new technology has loaned itself to comprehensively recording the Dennis restoration - as we have taken approaching 2,500 photographs. And that number of photographs and the wonderful availibilty of the HMVF to set out the story has enabled us to tell the tale. We are grateful to everybody for their interest and to Jack and the whole of HMVF Team for making the facilty available. Tony

Was it recorded at 11.00 on 11th November 1918? Steve

Tim and Steve's Grandfather always warned everybody of the perils and dangers of Drink and Tobacco. We are most amused to see that he has a cigarette in his hand in the photo of him over the Lewis Gun! Be sure your sins will find you out-in this case nearly 100 years later! Tony

Love it!

I used ordinary Black Satin Hammerite on the Stainless Steel Silencer Tube on the FWD and that survived the London to Brighton - and also one other "Run" that we have completed since then. All I can say is "so far so good". Tony

The West Countries and Battle of Britains are identical - the Merchant Navies are bigger!

Thank you Roger and Richard - I'll let you know how I get on! Tony

Thanks Roger - that is most interesting! I guess that the Home Guard is treated as part of the Civil Defence - can anyone confirm that ? But whatever, he did enough time for the qualifying period, and was certainly subject to Bomb Raids in Bristol - so I think that there must be a case. Apart from the Defence Medal, he would have also been entitled to the War Medal. So I still need to know to where I have to apply - and perhaps to start off, perhaps the British Legion may be able to aim me in the right direction - unless anybody knows any different or can make another suggestion! Tony (another Cornishman - but in exile!)

I still have not been able to find out if members of the Home Guard were entitled to the Defence Medal. Has anyone any ideas please? Tony

I rather like that one, Tim! Dad

I was there on an "Escape and Evasion" Exercise in January of 1960. Very cold on the Moor and the DLI were out on it trying to capture members of the SAS and Parachute Reg for interrogation. The Camp was referred to in those days as "Okehampton Battle Camp". Tony

The Radiator looks a bit like the Peerless - But I expect that Tim will know more! Tony

Just put a Feeler Gauge into the cut - 15 thous only. Really amazing!

All done over night, I understand. The machine is set up in the evening and allowed to run on its own until the job is finished - then ready the next morning. We have used EN8 steel and we will not treat it any further.