OZITIM

This is just the sort of stuff that I need to fuel my addictive and obsessive personality. hahahah. But thanks for that, I will have a look. Very interesting

You can see my other purchases from this guy, but have a look at the german made double ended shifting spanner. That is another curious oddity. Has anyone ever seen one of those

I found this meter long shifter in a guys shed in Australia. It is made my the Owatonnatool Co. Made in USA OA36 Pat Pend. I did some research online and saw that the US army purchased a huge amount of tools from OTC during the war. I have never seen a shifter like it, or as big as it. When I saw it in this guys shed, I offered him some cash and had to take it. Has anyone got any idea what it might have been used for, other than as a ships anchor. Regards, Tim

I might have missed something here, but are they making cletrac tracks as well and how much?

Does anyone know where I can source some inner Upper and Lower link pins and bushes. I have tried Empire trading in Australia, Bannisters and Marcus Glen. I have an engineer that will make them, but it wont be cheap. If I could find some, that would be great. Thanks for all your help. Regards, Tim From Cairns Australia

Ive just emailed a guy (Noel Walpole) who was serving with them at the time, to let me know who they are. I will get back to you with an answer. Regards, Tim

fantastic job on the Commanders seat. They are a nasty piece of equipment to pull apart. Very good job.

Ive looked up temando. Very glossy and glitzy website, but I cant make any sense of how to actually just send the freight.

You guys are the best. I will have a look at that freight company today. When is the vintage truck show. Im down in Brisbane this week with work, so could extend my stay. Im coming down in a couple of weeks to pick up a Bren Carrier from Gayndah and will swing by Brisbane. So when I swing past, I will have the Bren on the truck. Tim Vibert has the wheels on a palet and has a fork lift. Many regards, Tim

thats a very nice project. The parts look great. I would encourage anyone to give a ferret a go, and this one looks like a good simple project. Good luck with who ever buys it. If you need any advice in putting it back together, let me know. More than willing to help from here. Regards, Tim

Hi. I know a few members are from Brisbane. I was wondering if anyone had a bit of space to store four Ferret wheels, until I can pick them up in a couple of weeks. The wheels are currently located at Tim Vibert in Wangaratta and I need to transport them to Cairns. The cost of transport is insane. I am transporting a Bren Carrier back to Cairns in a couple of weeks from Brisbane, so was hoping to be able to throw the wheels on the truck with the carrier. That way I would only be paying from transport from Wangaratta to Cairns. If anyone could hold onto the wheels for me for a bit, I would be most appreciative. If your a Ferret owner, I might even be able to repay the favour with helping you out on the Ferret or exchanging some parts. Regards, Tim

The smell of disel fuel always reminds me of 40klm route marches. walking behind a unimog truck for hours on end.

Keep up the good work. It looks as though your internals were in good condition. Im going to sort out my Carby this weekend and hopefully take it for a spin around the block. With a Ferret, their is always something to fix. Regards, Tim

Dont attempt, or be tempted to support yourself while driving a ferret, by placing your hand anywhere around the hatch openings. They will invariably slam shut and take your fingers off. Dont inadvertaently sit under the spent cartrige shut in an M113. When we would pile into an M113 on live fire exercises, we always pushed the new guy into that seat. Dont sleep under an armoured vehicle if your an infantryman, even in the fowlest weather. The vehicle will start up at some unexpected hour and run over you. It has happened many times. If being transported as an infantry section in an APC, dont eat the crews rations. They get very upset about it and fist will invariably fly around. When the rear ramp on an M113 closes, remove limbs, shovel handels, gun barrels or any other equipment you dont want chopped in half.

Yes, Side on, I went leopard straight away. Funny movie. Great visual effects.

I had to watch it again. Loved the bit, where the tractor has to do the bouncing turn. Very impressive machines.

How can anything compete with that! That is simply awesome! Simply awesome.

Some times, late at night, when Im working alone on my vehicle, quietly tinkering away inside the hull, you become aware that others have sat inside the vehicle before you. Its then you realise, that they are more than just vehicles, but are witnesses to the courage and bravery of men, long past.

It was a lifetime ago. 22 years now. But Somalia gave me my passion for historical military vehicles. That place was dripping with them. They are still there, and impossible to retrieve. One day, hopefully the country will see peace and we will hopefully see some old armour appear again. But most likely , it will be sold for scrap metal, at the first available opportunity to make some quick cash. Maybe we should be doing a public awareness campaign, explaining to people the actual value for a a good T34 or MG34 (of which I found many mint examples). But, I guess not too many people would be willing to do a leaflet drop around the country. haha

I would think it was probably fitted to the rear, so that the engine was protected at the front. Also, the rear wheels dont have steering arms that could be damaged by a blast. The only issue would be the internal fuel tank located above the rear and middle wheels. Perhaps that was relocated. The Saracen was designed to drive with only four wheels, so if the two rear wheels became damaged, it would still be able to drive itself home. Regards, Tim

14 in Australia! Im thinking HMVF olympics in the future.

I ended up getting them sent over from Banisters. They fit nicely. Now going around and repairing the hub leaks after finally putting oil in them.

Its been a month and a half since your last post. Have you finished that Ferret yet. haha. Photos. Let me know what parts you are chasing. I might be able to help. Regards, Tim Cairns

As for the twin Bofors (I think), I found those in a Village in central Somalia. Their was three of them, in a triangle formation around the village, and effectively camouflaged by large trees (as seen in the photo). I basically patrolled into the village on foot, having no idea, that I was walking into such a dangerous predicament. The villagers were immensly proud of their gun emplacements, and I was pretty certain, due to the speed in which they could load and unload the gun, many a person had fallen prey to these guns. Fortunately for me though, they spared me on that day.