OZITIM

Sorry about the poor quality of photography. My son can spend hours filming his cat doing nothing, but ask him to film the Ferret was like asking him extract a molar. Ahh, dont you love teenagers.

Proof thats its on the road and registered. Check out the link below OZITIM

Nice job. Good to see im not the only one forced to fabricate parts for ferrets. OZITIM

Bloody hell, I remember the KFS and plastic spoon, and marching to the mess with them in my left hand, while a corporal yelled at me to get my arm up and stop looking down. I must have a photo somewhere

And yes terry, a positive attitude. Its something I am working on. Patients with people isnt my best hallmark. Getting no for an answer is generally something I struggle with. I got told by a colonel once that I was arrogant, I replied, you only think that because Im right and your wrong. hahah! But yes, in this case, good to take a deferential attitude and seek their help, rather than taking the demanding approach. Im sure I would have got a differnt outcome if I went in there with arrogance. Again, many thanks Gents. I need to think of how I can push the envelope next time, maybe a hovercraft! haha

Well gentlemen, I stand corrected. The Department of Transport are the most wonderful people in the the state of Queensland. Thanks Ken and thanks craig for your awesome advice. I went in there armed with the right knowledge and put on my best (non-creepy) smile. I stated that I had an interesting vehicle that I wanted to register. The counter staff remembered me from ten years ago when I caused all sorts of drama with the Saracen, and remembering that the Minister for Transport ended up making the final decision last time, they were nothing but helpful. I went with the Conditional rego option, which thanks to Ken informed me of the L03 option which has the special clause for military road vehicle. Basically I can drive it within 50 klm of my home on any road, except for a freeway. I truck it to an event at a location further than that distance, but can drive 50klm within the vicinity of that event. Basically that covers everywhere that I could possible think of driving. Im totally over the moon. I walked in, and an hour later I walked out with the number plates. They gave me a form to tick and flick the roadworthy, I signed a few declarations, they didnt even sight the vehicle and I paid for the insurance there and then. All done. Ive just finished driving it around the neighbourhood. fourth and fifth brake bands need adjusting and the wheels had flat spots in them from sitting for several years, but other than that, the motor ran like a dream. Its now an easy task to do some work on it and take it for a spin around the block. I will take some action video on the week end and post on here. I should now repost and say I love the Dept of Transport.

Its frustrating that after four years of rebuilding, with the hope that one day I would drive it on the road, that I might not get that dream. ITs frustrating when you see highly modified Type A or model T fords with 454 Big block Chevs cruising happily around the street, capable of doing 250klm an hour down the road with bugger all saftety and thats entirely OK. Surely a Kenwork truck is going to do more damage to a road than a Ferret. What about those Giant 8 wheel cranes that cruise down the highway. Anyway, I will go into DOT tomorrow and see if I can get club rego. Failing that, I will see if I can get conditional rego, with the condition that I can drive on the road, only during the day, without a trailer, with an observer, with internal comms. Maybe throw in a flashing light or two. And not exceed 80klm. Surely that should suffice. I imagine I will have to put a written request to someone up the chain a bit and wait and see what happens. Failing that I will write a story to the State Minister for Roads stating how our school childrne will be deprived of the opportunity to see living examples of military history.

Yes, saw that in SA, Saracens and Ferret are carrying number plates and driving down the road. I ditched facebook after an army reunion. Facebook is evil. my email address is policepsychology@yahoo.com I would love to hear from him to find out how the laws operate in SA.

OK, Im going to go into the Rego office on Monday and roll the dice. As you say, the first step they will do is google it and then advise me that I can only have Conditional Rego. I will then start to negotiate the restrictions with them. I appreciate your ideas, they all sound good. When I got the Saracen registered they were only concerned about it being oversize and required me to put an oversize sign on it. I will keep you advised of what the outcome is. I might mention though, the last time, I ended up getting an exclusive exemption from the Chief executive of the Dept of main roads. Hopefully I dont have to do that again.

Im looking at the 'Special interest vehicle' registration scheme. I am a member of a military vehicle club. Hopefully the Ferret isnt exempt from being registered under this scheme. The advice I got from over the phone from the Transport Department is that the useless registration is the only one I can apply for. Im thinking, if I go into a small country office, with a pile of paperwork attesting to the vehicles participation in a club and call the vehicle a Daimler 4x4 Mk1/2 and whistle a calm melody while the stamping officer processes the paperwork I could walk out with a number plate. 'Special interest vehicles' are permitted to drive on roads for maintenance, upkeep and club runs. Thats all I want.

I can Register my Ferret in Queensland under the 'Conditional Registration' category. This category permits me to drive on my or a designated property and designated private or dirt roads. Basically, I am permitted to drive in areas where everyone else can drive unlicensed and unregistered for free, by I have the additional privledge of paying for Registration to drive where I can drive for free anyway and I must have permission from the owner and police to drive in these unrestricted areas. Under Queensland law I cannot drive the Ferret on any sealed roads. I know their are guys driving Ferrets around Queensland, so how is this done. I registred a Saracen here about ten years ago, and no problem, I drove it on any public road I wanted. Im thinking, maybe I could register it in another state, if Ferrets can be registered there. Please, somone give me something I can do to get around this rediculous registration rules here in crazy queensland. The Queensland police are driving around in a Bearcat. Twice as big and twice as much armour. Why not a little ferret Regards, OZITIM

Ferret number 1 goes for road worthy and registration on Friday.

It's going to be painted in a United Nations theme. Just for something different.

Things are progressing well on Ferret 2. I am making up a set of tunnel shaft covers as I couldn't find a set anywhere. One piece at a time. This is a pic of the template and the copy.

impressive blast damage in the engine bay. Something massive has hit that tank.

The smile on your face says it all. I know what it feels like when that B60 fires for the first time. Its a great feeling. Good work, now put it in the hull and get driving. Tim

After the engine build, I put a brand spanking new carby on today, fired it up and took it for her maiden spin around the block. It ran awesome. Plenty of grunt and just wanted to belt down the road. Ive got a few little loose ends to clean up and then go for the road worthy and rego. I would love to know if anyone has a turret lid for a Mk 1/2. Thats the fix turret with the folding lid. If not, I will have to make one, but if someone had one, then maybe we could do a deal. I will post some video when I take it out next. I tasked my teen age daughter to film it driving down the street. Seriously the worst footage Ive ever seen. She didnt even bother to come outside, so the camera kept focusing on the window screen. Im sure if Justin Beiber was hanging his girlie head out of the turret, I would have someting to post on here.

I heard a little rumour that it might be in Australia!

It might be a bad copy, but its his bad copy, and I bet he is proud as hell of it. Good on him. I say ten points for creativity.

Thanks Richard, I will send him an email now. I thought I had asked him alread, but trolling through my emails, everything but. Its only a matter of time before I start taking work off of Brad Pitt. Regards, Tim

I just watched it now. Looking forward to when they come back. Maybe the tank museum here will purchase the completed Tiger one day. Tiger, Panzer, Hetzer, Im proud of my Ferret. As you guys all know, Ive built every nut and bolt on that little machine. Money is always tight, but it is sites like this that enable the swapping of parts and information and thats worth more than coin. I only dabble in buying and selling the odd artifact, purely for the purpose of funding a restoration. As you guys know, I post a few things on here from time to time, so it was nice for Bruce to take an interest in the little guy too.

Agreed, That is how Bruce is. On camera or off camera. I saw him in private, spending time with his lovely daughter and wife and he is a very genuine bloke. That guy Tim White from Australia, he is a awesome guy too! haha

Good pick up Richard. I was sitting here quietly waiting for someone to make the connection too OZITIM! Yes, well thats me. Tim White from Cairns. I had the best fun with these guys. The footage of us driving to the fort, does it no justice. The road is crazy and at one point the co-producer stated that he thought he was going to die. James, the Vietnam Veteran, was a two time veteran of Vietnam, initially as an M113 driver and then on his second 12 month tour, crew commander. He is an absolute champion and is a good mate of mine. Their was so much footage taken and stories told while they were here, I wouldnt have wanted to be the producer. The whole thing was just adlibbed as we went, so I was surprised it came together the way it did. And most importantly, thats one of my Ferrets. The Twins are genuinely outstanding mechanics. They are really oldschool and have an incredible eye for detail. Bruce, never stops. The man is one million miles an hour. A very nice and funny guy. I tried where I could to give him as much stick about the paras, but he gives as good as he gets. While heading to the forts, the co-producer was coming down the winding road in the pooring rain in the hire toyota van, and some how, in a moment of panic, sliped the auto into park, while the vehicle was doing about 80 klm an hour. The transmission made the most amazing noises. I suppose you get that when your driving expereince comes from the greater London area. All in all, are great experience. I hope it gets good ratings. Tim from Cairns. AKA OZITIM

Can anyone tell me where I can get a Bevel Box bell housing seal. Their must be an equivalent seal somewhere, or someone must know where I can get some. Thanks, OZITIM

OK, I think I can pretty much established that this is a war time manufactured tool, but what the hell was such a large shifter used for?