LarryH57

Out of interest Barry, where are your tyres made?

I'm still holding out for some Land Rover Lwt tyres - 6.50 x 16s with a military tread - Goodyear Xtra Grip

When, I bought my Lwt about 20 years ago, I wanted it to look fairly orginal, but liked the splash of colour of the yellow bridge plate, and the Union Flag, but removed the Pegasus badge!

Revisiting a few photos of the RE vehicles on exercise in 1980s in BAOR, shows a  distinct lack of Union Flags, but green bridge plates and in one photo I have there is a number in 2 inches high numbers above the headlight.

When I was in the Army, newly built Series III Land Rovers were delivered to my RE unit in late 1970s , painted in Gloss Dark Bronze Green but with the galvanised parts, like front and rear fenders and tilt hoops left unpainted, and with  yellow bridge plates. In the early 1980s the existing Series LRs were taken to Workshops and were sprayed Nato matt green and black,  including the bridge plates. I never saw any grey coloured ones. A year or two later, the bridge plates were removed entirely.

After that, I dont remember ever seeing a new Series LR delivered in Nato matt green, with unpainted galvanised parts. Am I remembering correctly- did the painting style / instructions to Land Rover change? Did they spray the entire vehicle before deliver, or were British Army units always supplied via a Vehicle Storage / Park type Unit, where they were sprayed prior to delivery?

I do remember an occasion when a new Series FFR  arrived and I painted it with Nato matt black to camouflage it, as it was just green.

My own Lwt, a 1980 built 12v GS, is a bit strange as some parts of it are Gloss DBG, such as the part below the windscreen and aroundthe vent panels, but the rest is Nato green; were manufacturers using up old stock of parts or was this done by the British Army?  My Lwt does show evidence of a collision, possibly with a tree or trees, as the front offside wing has been repaired and the Offside front bumper is slightly bent. On the nearside it appears another collision with a tree has bent the tub, while in use without the doors. Also at the rear, there is a box for the jack in the 'wheel arch' that has been added. There should be one in the nearside engine bay for 'HG' registered vehicles?

And now RAF Armoured Cars

Use of captured equipment hasn't had much attention at MV shows.

Why haven't we seen any 'LR Sdkfz 222' painted as RAF?

I guess France might celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Paris later this year and 'Mesuier Le Mayor' will wonder why no 'vehicles historique' have turned up in Paris, for the 'victory parade'

It will be the same in 20 years but will they ever celebrate 'zero carbon day'?

So I guess, if you go wander off the route to Normandy  you have to avoid cities.

Has that Lwt got a civi cab, with a trunkated tilt behind?

What is required for driving in France, with regard to getting a certificate to show your vehicles emmissions? Apparently the French Police will fine  drivers for not having the correct certificate. Does this affect Historic Registered Vehicles?

How will it hinder those going to D-Day commemorative events?

Has anyone tried to hire a car in Holland with a UK Pink paper driving icence?

I have not moved since the 1980s so my Driving Licence is still current, with no penalty points and none pending

Obviously I will have my UK Passport with me too.

I have decided to remove the faded union flag stickers as they were obviously applied after the Lwt was cast, by 7th Para RHA. I think plain and simple and realistic is probably best.

I'm therefore having second thoughts about fitting an extra red NATO tow hook on the front bumper, a front ammo box and the '58 Webbing, attached to the side and every wing, plus get rid of the idea of 3 metre wip aerials with union flags attached from the wings and side of the tilt, like so many realistic vehicles I see at MV shows.

The Pegasus emblem on a maroon background was taken off years ago, but were Lwts ever used by Easy Company, of 506th PIR, of the 101st Div? 

Clive, when I bought the Lwt about 20 years ago, it had these Union Flag stickers already in place but luckily the previous owner from sometime after it was cast in 1991, had old photos of it which he shared with me

I have therefore sudied these again today, and in its cast condition, the flags were not present!

I have never noticed. I thought Union Flag stickers were standard for most British Army Land Rovers!

The very last thing I need to go with my NATO green paint for my Lwt, is some Union Flag stickers, as the ones on my vehicle are perhaps 40 years old and rather faded. Who supplies these, as I havent seen any since the original WP shows at Beltring.

I just received a supply of Matt NATO Green from Marcus Glenn, and I am pleased with the colour match. He is an MVT member and MVCG before that, so I think he appreciates the problems with 'Pound Shop NATO Green '

Thanks folks

I guess if a 'standard' coil works, then a 3 ohm non ballast coil is correct rather than a 1.5 ohm ballast coil?

Interesting, as my knowledge of Land Rover batteries is nil. What type did they fit at the factory?

Clive, I have some very similar spray paint, which if compared to the original Nato Green looks to have more grey in it.

The restored Control Tower and Museum at Thorpe Abbots is well worth a visit, but do check opening times before your scheduled visit, as it is run by a team of volunteers, so may close early or not open at all,  at less busy periods in the autumn and spring.

In the main building they had a good stock of second hand & some new aviation books, which help provide funding for the site.  I felt duty bound to 'releave them of about 15 books for not much more in the same number of £s.

The Museum is a credit to all who have worked to preserve the site and the memory of those who served here.

Back in the day, when WPR was still going, I used to see NATO Green matt paint in an aerosol can on various stalls.

But it seems now there are many suppliers, who say its 'Nato Green' but it isnt

So can anyone suggest a supplier on the web that can post some to me?

Of course Halfords say on the web that nothing is found for a Series 3 LR - I remember them telling me in person that Series 3 LRs are now too old to list. Even their stock of Carb fuel filters has gone!

Thanks Ruxy.

Out of interest where did you buy your Banner Power Bull battery?

I don't like the idea of paying postage for one delivered from an online purchase.

I am giving my Lwt Land Rover a pre-season service and I noted that the 12 volt coil I fitted with the electronic ingnition has failed. At the time 'simonBBC'  the producer / didtributing agent for the electronic ignition (circa 10 years ago) recommened a new coil to go with the new electronic ignition kit. But was it necessary? A new 12v coil from the spares box works well enough but is there a reason for a special coil to go with their electronic ignition? It wasn't much different in price so I bought one, but I wouldn't want the electronic ingnition to be ruined.

I am not sure if Simon BBC is still trtading?

I bought a Ducellier Battery about 15 years ago and it has done very well considering all the use it has had, but I cant seem to find a Ducellier Battery 069 when I search the net, so what do you recommend?

570 amps for a cold start is essential - see the image of the top.

Is this an Austin K2 ambulance in your colour photos?

In 'WW2' the RAF received just 42 Austin K2s Ambulances in late 1945 so technically not WW2 but postwar Britain.

The last letter looks like an M  but I agree the numbers before the / are hard to interpret

I saw these wheels on an abandoned 'farm made' trailer and they look to be split rim WW2 vintage.

Are they of use to anyone who needs a spare x2?