ted angus

Clive, I knew I wasn't due a visit to specsavers !! TED

Sorry Must disagree, In the mid 1980s I was unfortunate enough to be sent on a Service Writing course as a prerequisite to getting my tate & lyles, we were all armed with the trusty JSP 101 titled " Service Writing" I still have that said document with its annex containing official abbreviations and DPM is clearly "Distruptive Pattern Material". in those days the use of abbreviations was actively encouraged, in this modern time they are not however and under its current title of Defence Writing the trusty book no longer contains a list of official abbreviations; However be assured DPM has only ever had one meaning . TTFN TED

I have a US military one from GW 1 a UK one and a very nice ALDI copy They all require tarzan to get the end bars on There is a knack to it but the easiest way is 2 people grunting together. TED

One of the trucks my father regularly drove in 15 Scottish Div - RE Field Company- through Belgium Nederlands & as far as the Elbe was a K5 Some photos somewhere. unfortunately I never learnt about the engine problem until after he passed away. But in some units it seems to have caused a major headache. TED

I wonder if he had any photos etc that you could access to ?? I ave just received a pile of info that was from a heavy recue team in London, Unfortunately the vehicle all appear to Morris Commercials TED

The picture on view seems to show one reversed up to an aircraft possibly a Dakota I have just completed CMSC model of the K2 GS but cannot find a suitable period photo from which I could crib the markings reg number etc to put behind the model. TED

Poetic licence I would have to say possibly slightly . But firstly can I say it is a fantastic restoration . As I get older I tend to take the view that its up to the individual paying the bill, I get pissed off with all these experts telling me my Austion Gipsy is series 3 not a 4 there was never a series 3 !! and that the partition beteween the front seats and back space was not authentic etc etc I fitted the partition to facilitate fitting of head rests and to stop stuff flying forward . But these donkeys could n't see my point about safety being the No1 concern. at my last show Scone 2007 I actually told a bunch of halfwits to disappear with the big F O as they thought I was a criminal for modifying the vehicle ARGHHHHHHHHHH!! But turning to the RAF K2 If the headlight blackout masks were removed it would be spot on for april 46 to april 49 if the wings were painted black. BUT having said that no doubt some on repainting to RAF blue grey in 46 never received the black wings that the AMOs called for. Its easy to sit here and look at copies of the regulations and say that isn't correct but we all know rules were made to be broken , I would be most interested to see the picture that is resting on the bumper. A fantastic job just wish it was mine oh well lottery tomorrow must buy a ticket from the pension or shall I get a tin of corned beef for Sunday lunch !!! regards TED

Degsy Many of the ATVs and heavy units kept in store till 1968 were in a silver grey primer see attached of GGX 441 the other piccy is a restored Austin K4 heavy unit 700gpm Gwynne pump with its own Leyland engine it is in BS 32 later 632 Dk Ad grey but this schemed was replaced from october 1945 onwards back to peacetime colours. TED

I don't have any other shots of GXH 355 in AFS service but there are several in various books of other examples . TED

For comparison here is a WW2 shot of an Austin K2 Auxiliary Towing Vehicle from which the Canteen Vans were converted. TED

Degsy at the end of WW2 hundreds of former National Fire Service and CD vehicles were put into storage, consequent to the civil defence act of 1948 which resurrected the CD corps and the Auxiliary Fire service, Many of these vehicles were issued to local units and brigades to commence training. Concurrently many Austin and Fordson 7V vehicles from storeage were converted in Home Office Workshops into numerous new roles. Originally these K2 Canteens had been auxiliary towing vehicles. A number were converted to canteen van for use by the AFS. All the evidence is conversion was circa 1950/51. So portraying Naafi wagons or WW2 organisations are actually Wolves in sheeps clothing attached is a poor shot from my collection of GXH 355 in service with Glamorgan Auxiliary Fire Service at Floods in the mid 1950s. It later was passed to Glamorgan Fire Service. If you zoom the picture the words Auxiliary Fire Service are just visible under the word Glamorgan. Hope this of interest TED

She looks great I have just build a pair of K2 GS models in deffent color schhemes must take some piccies & post them TED

I used Deep Bronze Green gloss off and on throughout my time in the service. I have used it since when restoring my Gipsy. The main problem is it is a very unstable colour; unlike most colours that fade DBG darkens. before painting my Gipsy I had the tin tumbled for over an hour at the paint shop at Leuchars I sunsequently spent ten minutes stirring using a battery drill before decanting a quantity to use in the gun, The finished job was great . after just a few weeks some half wit damaged a small area on the front wing. I prepared the area primed undercoated feathered the joining areas, got the lads to tumble the can, then stirred it at home then sprayed the area. on drying it was a totally different colour . 18 months down the line the whole vehicle is even darker and the patch repair is less obvious. Sadly even when purchasing products to BS 381c the fresh from the tin shade does vary between suppliers, Whatever you are painting buy enough for the whole project plus 50% from the same supplier. that way you will slightly nullify tone changes by buying from either 2 different suppliers or 2 batches from the same supplier. There is no difference in colour between Matt semi matt satin semi gloss gloss high gloss and very high gloss of the same spec number, its merely the difference in reflectivity that is different and therefore the eye is fooled into thinking its different colours. good luck TED

On my list of jobs is to master the closeup facility on my new camera, then I will post some shots. Yes all are 1/76-72 The Red K3 with the trailer pump is CMSC with a trailer pump by BW. The red Alvis Salamander MK6 on the right is from Capricorn models in resin but they haven't been around for many years. The Fordsons and the Crossley 4x and the Sussex part in view are all scratch built. I have about 500 models that I have built over the last 40 years TED

Until last wednesday one of my sons lived at Waddington and was a member of Lincs Fire & Rescue ; just before leaving his former house he saw the Piston Provost land it was one of the very early arrivals for the airshow. The only other light aircraft with a British fin flash was a silver Auster in Army markings. Searches of local newspaper sites reveals the keyword Provost in relation to the crash. A very sad loss. TED

I just repleced the SU on my Gipsy with a solid state Toacan I bought via an e bay shop to date I am really pleased starts first touch of the key now wether hot or cold. Are you sure you have bought the correct spec pump ?? Also some pumps are designed to be on top of the tank others are designed to be much nearer the carb regards TED

i am laid low with flu so rather than scan any of my books I just "borrowed" a piccy from the tinternet it certainly looks like a Buc but I don't know where ?? sorry TED

I am normally not that fast but not much else to do at the minute I am laid low with flu and fluid on my lungs waiting for swab tests to come back !! I will have a look for further examples in my books but I am dripping on everything deep joy TED

Antony I last came accross a winch of this "general "pattern in 1973 at Akrotiri they came in several versions weight - connecters etc Some fixed into a hard point mount in the bomb bay the cable then passed down and would attach to the bomb or weapon and it would be wound up. Larger ones often used in pairs or 4s they could also be part of the weapon trolley see attached; a winch on each upright member. TED

In 1/72 that would make a great diorama best it joins the queue !! TED

Mike Some of them were a dull red ex RAE Farnborough I believe ?? TED

Ivor I first scraped the rust on these and greased the nipples in about may 1967 at 16 MU Stafford. They were mostly built quite early in WW2 and are still in service today on RAF airfields. The photo taken outside my old hanger posted by me earlier in the thread shows 2 Tracjacs. . The hydraulic ones are called Tracjacs: They would be put under wings normally,. The turntable one is called Trolley Salvage type B Tail, it would go under the tail with the tow bar either to front or rear. The fixed one is a Trolley Salvage Type C Main this could go under the wings with the height adjusted by sandbags or railway sleepers. One method of use would be to get the relevant items into place using normal size towing tractors, having raised the wreck by either crane or jacking. . steel hawsers could be used attached to the eye of the tow bar with a D shackle the other end of the hawsers would be connected to winch equipped vehicles on the nearest hardstanding or sitting on PSP or a row of railway sleepers. Sometimes this would require, a lonfg repetitive operation; winch may be 50FT, then reposition the winch vehicles and so on. Many of the David Brown tractors were winch equipped, as were cranes and some other MT items. each station having a proportion of winch equipped tractors amongst the fleet in case a drag off was ever needed. With the 2 main trolleys either Tracjac or Type C being winched the tail trolley could be positioned with its tow bar at the rear and the front hitch of a tractor attached simply to help steerage. Once onto a hardstanding the wreck would normally then be craned on a 75 ton salvage trailer.. One in your picture is clearly still in traffic blue BS C 69 later renumbered 169. The was the colour used pre IRR Green for items of Ground Support Euippment not categorised as an MT vehicle which at the time would have been in RAF Blue Grey. THese items are all meticulously maintained on RAF airfields and herte at Leuchars sit in a row of the expansion period roller doored garages along with trailers loaded with jacks sleepers tools floodlights etc solely on immediate standby for a forced landing or worse! Remember this kit was designed in a period when many wrecks were salvaged with great care and rebuilt. A more modern method is of course air bags and of course cranes which now have a collosal capacity used with belly band slings. Hope this helps TED

Ah the upper class young gentlemen's special priviledges flying club !!! LOL TED

The places listed Steveton etc were Home Office stores depots. From its final stay at Steveton which is not far from the former RAF Abingdon it went to Marchington. If you look on Google earth you can see the Steveton Depot. I can tell you she operated in London district during Fresco 2002/3 having been delivered to 1st RWF at North Camp Aldershot for training. The FSD 83 may have been after issue to the Army for crew training. In addition to the national strikes Op Burberry No77 to jan 78 and Op fresco 2002/3 there were many smaller strikes involving just one county, Merseyside Essex spring to mind. Plus we were on the brink of strikes at least a dozen times since 1977 and units were issued with GGs to carry out crew training. TED

That isn't too surprising. If the vehicle was not regularly employed on the movement area then it didn't have to be considered for either a yellow top or an all over yellow finish. I recall at Scampton in jan 66 to sept 70 , we had all yellow schemes, yellow tops on Blue /grey and all over blue /grey I would say 50% of vehicles solely used on the movement area had no yellow at all; Much of it was to do with the capacity in terms of manpower and facilities of the painting and finishing section. Its a case of; we know what the regs were but how closely they were followed was another matter. TED