Erolek

I've one of them. Nice bike to ride around.

Paul from Military-Can Am is fantastic to deal with, and so far supplied me with every part I needed for my Bombardier:

http://www.militarycan-am.co.uk/

Greetings

Eryk

and can camouflage according to the instructions of 1967?

 

Intersting source, but I'm yet to see pre-1993 Polish SKOT painted in camouflage.

Army manual you are quoting was used for very short while in late 1960s / early 1970s in 10th and 12th Armourded Divisions on selected vehicles of reconnaissance squadrons. Mostly BTR-40, BTR-153 and trucks and then it was abolished. Camouflage pattern was never really implemented in Polish People's Army until new Military Markings Act was introduced in 1993, but that's another story.

Greetings

Eryk

Let's start:

Most typical colour scheme for Polish People's Army. Possibly - most iconic in Poland: during Martial Law 1981-1983.

Overall green.

- Registration number on rear doors, and repeated small on front hatch - format: UXX 1234

- National emblem (white and red chequers) either around front hatch or on the turret

- Tactical number on cover in front of exhaust or on turret

- Tactical unit emblem - around front hatch/ or above right front light, rear to the left of the hatch

- Road priority sign - front and rear black triangle on orange background.

Markings in all configurations, sometimes all of the above, sometimes none.

...to be continued.

Greetings

Eryk

looks good! Cant beat a big Russian truck and this one has loads of buttons to fiddle with! Good Luck

SKOT was Czecholovak design and manufactured in Poland.

Any factual information re unit marks/numbers in operation will be gratefully received.

Bob

I have some info on SKOT markings and use. Will post something tonight as soon as I get back home.

There is a book by J. Magnuski 'Wozy Bojowe LWP 1943-1983' ('Polish People's Army Fighting Vehicles 1943-1983') that would have plenty of info on the subject, but unfortunately - I don't have it.

Unit that I remeber from my childhood being equipped with SKOTs was 12 Pulk Zmechanizowany (12th Mechanised Infantry Regiment) stationed in Gorzow Wielkopolski between 1962 and 1995. This was part of 4 Pomorska Dywizja Zmechanizowana (4th Pomeranian Mechanised Infantry).

Tactical marking was:

This was re-formed in 1995 as 4 Brygada Zmechanizowana (4th Mechanised Infantry Brigade) and was disbanded completely in 1999.

Greetings

Eryk

Designation 'SKOT' would suggest ex-Polish. In Czechoslovak service they used designation 'OT'.

Road priority triangle looks Polish as well.

Thirdly: the plate 'WÓZ DOWÓCZO-SZTABOWY' is in Polish. Means: 'Combat Command Vehicle'

Armoured infantry unit using SKOTs was based next to my home in Poland ages ago.

Greetings

Eryk

Thats what he calls the side repeaters

Thanks, that makes sense. Time for me to go and learn some English.

Greetings

Eryk

What about the indicators on the bonnet? They don't seem to be working.

Nice restoration thread. Since I was a kid - I always wanted UAZ and MZ motorcycle. Ended up owning Series 2 Landy and Can-Am bike.

Greetings

Eryk

I thought that the museum might know the "vehicle record book" that you are looking for. I had realised that you aren't looking for vehicle history.

Thanks for the hint. I contacted them - got a phone number to the archivist. Will try tomorrow if I get some spare moment at work.

Thank you all for the invaluable information.

Should anyone have the relevant paperwork and wouldn't mind to part with it - I'm more than happy to grab it.

Greetings

Eryk

I'm not looking for vehicle history.

Just a blank 'vehicle record book' so I can log my own usage and repairs, but in a book that fits the vehicle rather than just a blank notepad.

I don't even know if such a book exists, but knowing MOD's deep love with various forms - there must be such a thing.

Greetings

Eryk

I think 'work ticket' would be more like a once-off docket?

I'm more after a booklet type thing that would be attached to vehicle, where all trips and jobs would be recorded. I'm not even sure if such a thing exist.

It came to my mind yesterday when I was recording daily mileage on the Civil Defence ambulance, that it would be handy to have something like that in my Landy.

Greetings

Eryk

I have a question, that I believe - this might be the right place to find the answer since lot of you have been in the Service.

Was there an official 'record book' or a 'service book' attached to a vehicle in the 1980s? Would someone have a scan or a copy of such an item?

I would like to keep a mileage/service record on my Series 2A Ambulance, but if possible in the way that would be somehow similar to original.

Greetings

Eryk

You have to keep in mind that during WW2 there were two different Polish armies. One was Polish Forces in the West (fought alongside Western Allies since 1939) and Polish 1st and 2nd Army in the East formed in 1943/44 in USSR. This army formed Polish People's Army and had used plenty of lend-lease equipment together with Russian gear, and this was the army that together after 1945 stayed in Poland as official Polish Army. Polish Forces in the West were officially disbanded in 1947 in UK.

The Chevrolet in question originated probably as Lend-Lease gear that stayed with People's Army.

Might get some more info when I get home this evening.

Greetings

Eryk

Check out these guys for the reference photos. Mins you - it's 23 PFA, so it's 80s stuff.

They mention attached RCT and REME as drivers.

http://www.spanglefish.com/23PARACHUTEFIELDAMBULANCE/index.asp

Greetings

Eryk

Welcome from fellow Series 2A Ambulance owner. Mine is 1968 dated.

GReetings

Eryk

Anybody please know which countries wings these are and also just found in one of the pockets these coloured wings as well.

They're current Dutch static line parachute wings. Colour and subdued version.

Greetings

Eryk

One of the previous owners was in the process of converting the ambulance into caravan. Fortunately he didn't get far with this idea as previous owner stopped him in the process.

However - the roof vents are removed and replaced with perspex windows which are neatly sealed and don't leak at all. I've seen replacement roof vents recently on e-bay, but with USD 100 a pop plus shipping, I can live with two rooflights.

There's small solar panel on the roof that charges the secondary battery operating rear compartment's lights. Stretcher brackets were about to be sliced off when the process was stopped (few slices with angle grinder).

Straps on the roof tray are more-less non-exitent. They simply rotted away.

Car will be kept most of the time in dry-ish storage for forseable future. Weekend fun only. Most probably with a little bit of rain. This is Ireland after all.

Greetings

Eryk

I restricted myself to painting 'chalk no.' and tyre pressures. Thanks for all the advice. Of course I forgot to take any photos, and now the Lando is locked away for the time being.

Probably better for me as few professional exams are waiting for me in early January.

I will probably paint over the bridge plate in green, and will do something about the club logo.Don't know what, yet.

On a different note - does anyone have any idea where I could get the stretcher covers for the roof storage? There are two trays, but the covers are gone.

Greetings

Eryk

I perfectly understand your point of view on authenticity. I've been into reenactment for over 30 years and I'm all into research and stitch counting.

However, as the car is part of larger club's collection - some sort of club's stamp doesn't seem out of place. Might as well do the 'subdued' version of logo and have it stencilled black on green... Now, there's a thought.

Greetings

Eryk

Yes, lending and sharing ebooks is tricky field. I didn't research it further in case my head would explode.

I just like my Kindle because I can always have something to read with me wherever I go (and with hand luggage size restrictions it's important factor) and can save valuable shelf space for books with pictures.

Greetings

Eryk

Thanks very much for the info.

I'm relative newbie to MV scene, so all of it has still smell of novelty to me.

As for the bridge plate - our club's logo is black logotype on yellow circular background, and it gives nice club's presence during the shows when all vehicles display the logo, so I will allow for small inaccuracy and leave it yellow.

Also in white above the door on the offside "SHACKLES TO BE USED FOR LASHING PURPOSES ONLY"

 

Sorry for stupid question - This would be above the offside door to the ambulance compartment, or driver's door?

I'll get cracking with the stencils tomorrow.

Greetings

Eryk

OtterBox heavy duty case for Kindle should do the trick...

Greetings

Eryk

I'm trying to use my Series 2A ambulance in small display of 16 Parachute Field Ambulance RAMC. Early 80s.

Car was resprayed by previous owner in nice and tidy green/black BAOR camo pattern.

I just wonder what markings would be used on it? Red cross (well, that's obvious),tyre pressure on wheel arches, bridge plate, Union Flags. Would here be chalk no. patch ?

Greetings

Eryk

I swapped to e-reader about 2 years ago for all non-reference books. All fiction, memoirs, etc. Initially it was due to lack of space for any more books, but it's actually much more convenient to use than the paper book.

Kindle's e-ink display is fantastic. It's actually readable in bright light as much as any book (as opposed to LED screens of tablets), and 2 months life of battery on single charge is decent enough.

I'm partially converted now (I still gather paper editions, though).

Greetings

Eryk

Thanks for the answer. Wildlife is not exactly my thing (city boy all my life), but nonetheless interesting trip. Good luck with it.

Greetings

Eryk

This is my weekend toy.

1980 Bombardier CanAm. Most probably ex-BAOR.

Given my obsession with certain conflict - it's going to compliment my Falklands display.

Does anyone have photos of CanAms from Falklands War? I have 3 or 4, but the more the merrier.

Greetings

Eryk