OZITIM

That is just taking it too far! It looks like something that GI joe would wear.

I did a similar thing a couple of weeks ago with the front right hatch. I had my young son and two of his mates as witnesses. Three blood blisters on three finger tips. Three young boys who stood there bemused as to why I had sprinted into the house clutching my fingers, to frightened to see what damage I had done. Fortunately for me, they were still there (the fingers that is). Its a damn scary experience. Regards, Tim

I think attending the service in memory and honor of your loved ones is a fitting enough gesture! I attend remembrance day each year in memory of a mate who was killed in my company in Somalia in 1993. No one but his spirit knows why I attend the service and no one else needs to know. Anyway, that's my thoughts. I guess its a personal thing. Each to their own. Regards, Tim

Do you know what your getting yourself into! This is a really unhealthy passtime. It starts innocent enough with a really nice honeymoon phase at the start of the relationship, then you invest all your love and attention into her, but she just wont do what you want. You spend your nights thinking about her. She is cold, aloof and takes all your money. But when shes running well, she is the hottest thing on the street, she turns heads and you couldnt be prouder. Walk away now. Thats the only advice I will give you. hahahaha Enjoy the old girl, its a great deal of fun, and welcome to the Ferret club. Regards, Tim

Where abouts are you? Im up in Cairns and have a contact with someone up here that might be able to help you out with those manuals. Send me an email on policepsychology@yahoo.com and I will put you in contact with who might be able to help. Regards, Tim

In Australia, family are permitted to wear deceased relatives embellishments on the right breast only, on remembrance day. Personally I don't agree with this practice. My father died when I was young and I have not felt that I should wear his medals. I earnt my own medals and wear them. I think the practice leads to confusion, as the general public is not aware of official military protocols around medal wearing and can erroneously assume that a person earnt certain medals when they didnt. I think it is just easier to only wear medals that you earnt. Remembrance day can be acknowledged just by your attendance. Sadly their is a growing trend where people are wearing all sorts of tin on their shirts and attempting to 'pimp' up their parade jacket with unofficial medals or medals that they didnt earnt. Just keep it simple. Wear what is yours. Regards, Tim Somalia Veteran

Hi Mark, Where are you currently located. What country. Welcome to the forum! Pictures of what you have are always welcome on this forum. Regards, Tim

Here is another piece of Armour found in Somalia. Im thinking it is something French, but not quite sure what it is. Thats me in the turret trying to work out how I can fit it into my pack and bring it back to Australia. Its would still be located at the Biadoa airfield, for those that are interested in starting a new project at a low cost (very cheap to purchase). Their may be some delivery costs!!!!!

I have some serious military vehicle envy. I am totally in love with your gunbuggy. What an awesome machine. When I was going through Singleton infantry training school in 1991, they were still using them then. One of dads mates came to visit me while I was there. He served with 1RAR at the Battle of Coral with Antitank plt and saw them parked in a shed just near where I was Barracked. When he saw them, it was like he had just seen a ghost. It was quite an unnerving experience for him at the time. I guess he didnt expect to see them after all those years. Again, love your gunbuggy. Regards, Tim

All going well Joe. Im currently working on a cunning plan to acquire a Bren Carrier and restore it over the next 12 months. I will reveal all when that happens. Im building a bigger workshop at the moment, so once that is done, I will switch the ferret motors over and get the ferret back on the road. Other than that, I will be busy setting up the new workshop to hopefully fit the ferret and a new bren carrier project. Regards, Tim

Here is another interesting recovered T34 found in a bog. It seems that quite a few of these are found in ponds and up side down. Im guessing that during the winter of 1944 they probably ventured out onto ice and the ice subsequently cracked and canterlevered, resulting in them flipping upside down. Hopefully the crew were able to escape when they sunk. These tanks have been preserved incredibly well.

I looked at another sites that were selling unrestored halftracks with reasonable tread for 5 and a half K. http://www.halftracks.com/sale/

I just saw a pair of half track tracks that were selling nine years ago for 4k US dollars. Im guessing they have gone up since then.

Thats interesting. So are you saying that they are somehow adapting the halftrack tracks to fit the cletrac. I dont know the exact diameter, but im guessing that the cletrac has a longer track area. So would that involved cutting and rejoining the halftrack tracks? And what would the going rate for a half track track go for in the current market? Thanks, OZITIM

That's a good question. The Russians occupied the Somalia Ethiopia region in the 70s where this T34 now sits. I would have thought that the Russians would have used T54/55s around that time, and their were plenty of examples of those lying about. Somalia was occupied by the Italians during the second war and up until the late 60's. Now, the Italians did have some T34s that they used in the war, and maybe this one was one of those T34s and was brought out with the Italians to assist with the post war military defence. The tracks were laying besides the hull and had been laying there for some years. The local villagers were using it as a pill box. The local terrorists were operating Toyota tray backs with anti aircraft guns. The T34 would have proved too slow in the hit and run tactics that they were using. Unfortunately this T34 had very little markings to indicate its military pedigree. Perhaps the desert sand and wind had long since sand blasted them away.

Ok! I will go up to the yard again next week and take more indepth photos and attempt to put them on flickr. We are currently getting battered by a cyclone so no one is venturing out doors.

Once the bug bites, you never lose the itch!

Does anyone know where the rubber track can be found or who has come up with a suitable alternative. As for the shoes, they can be re-vulcanised, but the actual continuous rubber assembly that the shoes attach too seem to be non-existent. Knowing how to source these tracks or adapt something else might mean that I will consider doing an M2 that is available. The only thing stopping me is the thought of doing the restoration, just to end up with a static display. I have tried to wrack my brain on how I could adapt something, including sandwiching conveyor belt together,adapting a Dunlop product that comes close or taking the extreamly expensive option and seeing if a company could make them from scratch. Any ideas? Regards, OZITIM

I wil go up there through the week and have a look for a tyre pump. I'm certainly no expert when it comes to blitz trucks, ferret and Saracen 'maybe', definitely don't know a lot about blitz. So, how does one tell the difference between ford and chev?

Here is a Landrover series 2A army ambulance. Not many of these getting around now. Its in reasonable condition and complete. This vehicle is for sale for anyone that might be interested in making an offer. As stated in previous posts, these vehicles, including the Mk3 International are surplus to the families needs. I have been given permission to discretely send a few photos around and see if anyone is interested in these potential projects. The Mk3 is in pretty rugged condition, as the cab is mostly rusted, but again, would make a good parts vehicle. The 2A is complete and would require very little cleaning up to get it on the road. I looked for one of these about ten years ago and could simply not find one. But there is one right here. Located in Queensland. If you are interested contact me on policepsychology@yahoo.com and I can take more photos and speak to the owner. Regards, OZITIM

And a couple more. Have a good look at the photos, and if you want more info or want me to discuss something with the owner, let me know.

And a couple more.

And now for that one thing that the other guy doesnt have. I think it is a kitchen trailor. But not many of these getting around.

If you havnt been following my other posts. These are some trucks located on a friends property in Queensland. These trucks are now excess to the families needs and are open ot offers. These trucks have been tightly secured on the family property and have not been subject to souvenir hunters or vandals. Have a good look at the photos. You will not find truck restration projects like these lying around. If you are interested in anything in particular let me know and I can take more photos, and speak to the owner about offers. Please contact me on policepsychology@yahoo.com Regards, OZITIM

And more. Their are also many more than I have shown. Feel free to contact me if you are chasing any parts or want a enough parts to complete a good project.