Lauren Child

The frame looks similar to the seat assembly that hooks on the bulkhead of a Bedford RL. I don't think it's the same but it could be for the same purpose.

Because if it was on the dockside it wouldnt be able to go anywhere....

Silly boy.

It was the Flying Legends airshow this weekend, so if you lean out again you'll probably see them heading home

Oi you two - get a room

Theres a few of us out there, but most that I know are either taken or gay.

Maybe we need a new tab at the top of the screen for HMVF Singles?

Why dont you post an attractive photo of yourself draped secutively over a big green thing, and tempt some of us out of the woodwork?

Alternatively I'll make you an honorary lesbian, but one of my mates in Bristol is still trying that line and hasn't got very far.

It's been a while since I used the photographic library at IWM, so things may have changed a bit. Anyway, the last time I went, the official photos from WW1 & 2 are in an annexe around the corner from the main London museum. It's there that you go when you visit; so not a question of them having to move files for you to the reading room at the main museum. In fact, you pick them off the shelf yourself.

 

From what I understand, the ones in London are a selection from the main photographic archive. If you don't find what you are looking for, it's worth asking.

Theres contact details for the photographic archive here - http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.1249

Most of the photos I've seen used in books etc have had a reference number with them, that I assume identifies the photo in the archive. The main collection is held off-site so you have to ask for access and give them a couple of days to transfer that archive in.

Vehicle-wise - last time I spoke with the chap in the photographic archive, theyd spent some time collating archives of particular vehicles. I asked about a dodge WC one, but I've never had the chance to follow up as the viewing room is in London.

What a good weekend. Well done to Paul and team they even organised good weather. A total of 340 miles. Nice to meet Simon Stolly for the first time Thanks for the beer.

Stopped at Pease Pottage Services for a breather and a cool off met Lauren Child

I just happenned to be passing and spotted the HMVF tshirt

Nice vehicle Chris!

Can you post some photos of the connectors and any electrical controls. It should be squaddie-proof, so as long as we can identify the parts I cant see it being a difficult job, although you may want to get it checked by an electrical engineer to check for any hazards.

I did touch on this subject earlier Tim.its all the things you mentioned,

i know traders who wont go on principal because of the way they were treated years ago,that means a lot of older vehicle owners dont for the same reason.It doesnt have that sparkle anymore.Maybe its just run its course.Sorry Lauren maybe its just us older blokes who think this.But then maybe the younger ones never experienced the magic Duxford used to be.Full marks for your efforts though,if it wasnt for people like yourself there wouldnt be any shows.:-D

The show has been getting very good feedback in recent years, and its one of the main things that has attracted a lot of us new volunteers into the Duxford gang and the vehicle hobby in general, so I'm hopeful that we are doing things right. There was a new team organising the event this year (with strong support from the more experienced volunteers) with a lot of new ideas.

Duxford is an ideal place for a show having the runway for the cavalcade, allowing vehicles to be displayed on the move (as well as being fun for a drive), and the running collection of vehicles in the display arena. All of this takes place in a museum that won Large Visitor Attraction of the Year last year, and has some world class displays and exhibits.

I know times change, and judging by some of the old photos I've seen both the museum and the show have changed significantly, but I think we've got a good show here, and I look forward to it getting even better as more people join in. I'd love it if you could pass on my details to the traders you mention so we could see if we could get them back.

Good effort lauren, I did try and find you, but could'nt!

No worries. I was tied up with the 432 rides for most of the morning, and then on the cavalcade and ground control for the afternoon, so I wasn't out and about much.

I did meet Andy quickly during the rides, so I've now met another HMVFer:beer:.

A few pics just for you Lauren ! :-D

Champion

Thanks everso!

Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks to everyone that came. All of the volunteers had a grand day and felt it was one of the best ones yet. The quality of all of the participants really made it, and we saw lots of happy people, and recieved good feedback.

The winning vehicles were gorgeous, but we were lucky to have a good selection of different vehicles this year, so competition was tight. I look forward to seeing more photos if anyone has them, as I was dashing around I didn't get to take many, especially of the second field with our wheeled vehicle lineup.

The Cavalcade was great fun, and the Zil I was driving managed to both start (almost) first time, and make it all the way through:yay:, signalling what we hope is the end to the cavalcade curse (in previous years the girls vehicles always broke down, but both the green Zil 131 and the MJ made it around with no problems:sweat:). I actually managed to get the Zil into 5th gear, althought didnt manage to maintain speed as there are two very heavy generators in the rear shelter.

I was on ground control for the Arena events. It seemed like we had more vehicles running around than in previous years with a very hectic schedule. It was also the debut of our newly restored halftrack, which has been a long term restoration project for the last couple of years (and can be seen in pieces alongside the Centurion in our episode of Tank Overhaul)

The Chieftain fault doesn't look too serious. The hand brake valve appears to have siezed, resulting in things getting very hot and producing lots of smoke. This looked quite dramatic, but once we got inside it looks quite simple to rectify once she's back in the workshop. We've also got a starter fault in the Conq which took it out of the running at the last minute, but should be simple to fix.

Next year's event is scheduled for the weekend of the 7th and 8th of August, and may be a two day event (more on that as and when we get confirmation ). This should hopefully make it our biggest yet.

I'd love to meet some more folks from the forum, so by all means come and find me. I'll probably be wandering around wearing blue overalls with "Big Bird" on the sleeve (on account of having a yellow car, turning up on the first day wearing yellow boots, and being 6ft tall .

Heres some more pics of the setup.

I hope the Militant and Explorer are fit for their duty of clearing the mad rush around the airfield of broken down vehicles this year Lauren as they are my favs. ! :-D

Both are listed in the running order for the cavalcade, so odds are good that they'll be running.

A little taster....

It looks like I wont be able to attend this, gutted!!!! Rover off the road because of defective vacuum pump!!! :cry::cry::cry:

 

Mark :cry::-(

Oh no - sorry to hear that . Hope you can fix it.

It's still got a pretty nasty bite. I reckon you had a close call there.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/03/spider_warming/

I thought the H test was conducted from the side of the road or a following vehicle (like the bike test). The training I'm doing instructs the driver to put the vehicle into Neutral and jump out of the seat and look behind if visibility is bad.

Are you sure there wasn't something more seriously wrong with the vehicle - mirrors etc?

Given the peculiarities of the sort of vehicles we all have, it may be worth asking the local fire brigade for a bit of advice.

Luckily with the Duxford meseum being an active airfield we have a local fire service on site, so they give us a lot of advice. We do yearly fire training and run through a drill of getting people out of armoured vehicles (not easy given the access).

It's something to ponder now so you aren't phased if the worst happens.

Nice to see another Vulcan fan - I was at the last air show when the Vulcan flew (before the restoration) and the sound of those engines throttling up to full power going straight up is still the loudest thing I've ever heard. I'm so glad to see it flying again.

Do I have to book in for a day visit in an MV?

I remember when there was loads of trade stalls there, it was the first place I ever saw an MP40!

You can turn up with your MV on the day, and use the "late entry" entrance. It's £5 on the day (the cut-off deadline for free entry has passed), but that still gets you entry to the museum and show.

If you want to camp overnight on Friday let me know. I think we still have some spaces available.

Hi Lauren any idea what happened about the traders,or was it before your time,i know a lot of the older members dont rate it as highly as before there was some rumour of politics and that a new woman had taken over and didnt wont the traders.this was a long time ago but i think traders are still thin on the ground,any reason for this as far as you know.

Sorry I only ask you as you seem to be putting yourself forward as spokes person.Cheers CW.

I've only been around at Duxford for a couple of years now, but I'm not aware of anything like you describe. Traders are more than welcome (as can be seen from the air shows), and if there are any reading this who would like information on the vehicle show please get in touch!

We are continually looking for new things that will improve the show however. One of those was a trial run of moving to Fathers day. This seems to have changed the show as the timing is more convenient for some, and less convenient for others. Was this the time that you noticed a difference?

Any show feedback is welcome though, and we are continually looking to improve the show and make it the best we can. Part of this is trying to make the event more attractive for traders. This years show has some new features that should make it the best yet, and we've already started planning for next year, so watch this space .

Thanks all, very helpful and informative

Today we got the M40, Conqueror, and Scorpion out of the museum and fired up ready to go.

Current count is around 240 visiting vehicles booked in.

I think its going to be a good show