Lauren Child

I'd have a natter with them rather than using the website My grandmother was in the Y service at Beaumanor. I don't have any links but I did pick up one of the bound reprints of the WOYGian newspaper. She's mentionned in one of the issues when she met my grandfather. I understand the Chicksands museum has some bits and bobs on the Y service as well, but I've not arranged to visit yet. I look forward to seeing what the new website puts up

Have they contacted Garats HaY ? http://www.garatshay.org.uk/

Not the first bunch of nuts transported by half track I'm sure.

Any extra strikes me as handy - Most of the courses I looked at just covered the driving. Having got my licence now I can appreciate that theres rather more to it in terms of keeping the vehicle safe, using it safely, ground commanding, recovery etc.

Is the oil boiling? If so you could look at your cooling system - water pumps, etc.

Similar position here - I'll be pulling the indicators off and going back to blackout lighting

That sounds like a good course. It says it covers maintenance as well - was that bit any good?

I picked up a set of these as an ebay bargain. They've been everso handy and I've not seen them mentionned elsewhere. The Wright Tools Sq. Hex. socket is a universal socket that can take 4, 6 and 8 sided nuts. See the photo. Because it grips on all 4 sides of a square nut (like oil change plugs), it makes undoing them a lot easier than fiddling around with a spanner. They come in sensible (inch AF) sizes. Highly recommended

This chap does a good range of 6volt bulbs - http://www.classic-spares-electrical.com/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/bby?opendocument&part=12 There's no coloured lights listed on the page but you could always drop him an email.

I had the same issue looking for "CMP" or "FGT". I didnt realise you could use the wildcards either. One alternative is to use google using the site filter. e.g. search terms of "site:hmvf.co.uk CMP FGT"

I'd suggest getting some tuition mind you - the book is ok, but it doesn't tell you to watch your back end on corners etc. and that's probably an expensive lesson to learn if you've not been told Given that you are down that way anyway, have you asked the tank museum? If they don't run courses themselves they may be able to point you toward someone in the area that does (though it might be a tank regiment recruiting centre

Nicely done

Damnit, I should have bought that Delorean.. The CMP will never manage 88mph.

This one has similar metalwork on the roof and a very similar fit. Inside it looks like some sort fo command variant. http://www.mod-sales.com/auction/vehicle/home/37074/AFV_432_TRACKED_ARMOURED_PERSONNEL_CARRIER_DIRECT_GOVERNMENT_SALES.htm

I could be one to confirm but from the photo's it looks like there's only one generator position (not two) and not many antenna fittings. That should limit the possibilities shouldn't it?

I think a (5 pointed) yellow star was a pre-invasion US marking. It changed to the white star when it was applied to wider allied forces.

Does that mean a romantic dinner for two? I thought something special was happenning when I saw two sets of overalls in the clubhouse washing machine. That only happens during wedding anniversaries and coronations, and if it was a coronation the ironing board would be out as well.

It stops people slamming the door....

It's a 3.6 litre. Air-portable normally means that the top of the cab unbolts so it's easy to fit in a glider or transport aircraft.

Have you spotted that MLRS publications do a reprint of the WOT6 and 8 Maintenance Manual and Instruction Book? It may be of help http://www.mlrsbooks.co.uk/bookstore/index.php/prod630.html?

I wonder how much training would be required on new vehicles. Would they send the new vehicles out with new crews who'd been trained on them? It's probably more of an issue for armour, but I'd have thought a certain amount of support needed to be delivered with new vehicles and equipment.

Ignoring the re-enactment bit, it would be interesting to have a bit of a natter over why the vehicles/restoration/engineering side of the hobby seems to be losing popularity in proportion to other aspects of the hobby. I can't blame people for focusing on the popular bits, but it seems to be getting difficult to find traders and autojumble type stuff. It's probably more noticeable at War and Peace because that has been the main event on the calender. Perhaps if there's enough of us we can get the organisers to make a "restoration retreat" area of the show to try and re-invigorate things. Maybe an exhibitors lounge type area so it's a focused marketplace for the traders.

Abssaar do a big beastie of a charger that'll charge 6/12/24 volts, and give a 500 amp jump start (which seems reasonable for a 6 volt truck). Still no desulphate function, but that seems to be almost unobtainium on 6 volt chargers.

How about the womens 200mtr dash for the one portaloo that still has TP. Commonly practiced at all manner of festivals, events, and MV shows.

Sorry to hear about your dad - it looks like he had a lovely vehicle. Here's an advert for one that I think was fairly recently - http://www.milweb.net/classifieds/large_image.php?ad=61329&cat=4 so you can get a bit of a baseline. Obviously that one needs a lot more restoration but it is in running condition which makes a big difference. Larger vehicles tend to have less of a market as there are less people around who have the space for one. That said, AEC's are popular vehicles and the Matador has a very British look about it, which should appeal to a reasonable crowd.