nz2

Thanks for the book titles. Availability now could be an issue here. I will try the local library for an interloan issue. Hopefully there is a copy in the country (NZ). I was aware of the tank recovery process or otherwise abandonment, however that was again latter in the war. The point I was questioning revolved more as to recovering trucks and other such vehicles. Many photos published show trucks suck in the mud, or in a damaged condition, about the war zone. Our predecessors were a resourceful group and with limited equipment and plenty of time, could move a mountain. From experience solid rubber tyres, on wet or muddy conditions are not good for traction. To try towing out another vehicle would be and interesting exercise with the probability of them both becoming located off the firm ground. Question still is; Where are all the photos of the WW1 recovery units? I find nothing on this forum, or is it something that has been missed to date? Doug

During WW1 what was used by the engineers to recover bogged and damaged vehicles? Traction engines had winches but there ability to operate in softer ground would prevent too much activity as a recovery mode. A few crawler tractors but only a few latter on. Did any trucks become set up for recovery using winches and transporting such vehicles to a repair base? Photos about of trucks for all sorts of other uses in the supply line but I do not recall seeing any recovery vehicle photos. Were hand operated winches used, not being vehicle mounted? Doug

A great story line and set of experiences. I like your method of judging the speed from reading the oil pressure gauge! In many ways the trip would have been no different to a trip out in the vehicle in the late 1920's. The minor type of mechanical breakdowns tend to repeat themselves often accompanied by a new set of problems. Least no punctures. Keep up the experience reports. Doug

My thoughts; What you collect is directly proportional to the space available to store it. Often you collect some parts well before the rest is located! Doug

I don't know the landform of the original airfield used, and Mike's description answers some of my queries. The airfield at Masterton is in a broad valley with the hills along one side( west) . Filming to the south is flat with hills way to the distance to the other points of the compass. This can be best seen in watching You tube photos of air shows at the Airfield. One is a 360 degree image of the airspace. Careful camera angles and covering background features are well know film attributes! Once in the air any camera angle will show rural farming land, the different farming types and building styles could be problomatic involving more masking. I will wait and see! This country(NZ) has no large stone built dams so I wonder where that will be filmed? Doug

Sorry to disappoint you as to claiming a plane to park up, but it's being filmed in New Zealand! Last summer ( ours) thats twelve months ago now there was controversy in Masterton as access to the airfield (a public place ) was restricted while filming for the Dam busters was under way. As for the detail in accuracy towards this film I have to take that it is similar to the exceptional detail used in manufacturing aircraft for the WW1 projects. check out http://thevintageaviator.co.nz Doug

Regards the Landrover sherman; Was the body fibre glass or plywood as two differing comments have been made? What was the drive, did the tracks operate or were there wheels from the orginial Landy still in use? what weight? It would be much easier to transport than an orginal to a show, that is aside from its width. Then again otherwise how would you go about licencing it for the road and Mot? Pleasant thoughts. Doug

I assume these photos were taken during a restoration, with the latter photos in the park being the finished product. They must have been in poor state looking at the cracks requiring welding and the replacement panels being welded in place. If these are static displays then one takes that it is not operational mechanically. May be another full restoration another day! What ever it's good to see the tanks maintained to a state of preservation, rather than decaying. If it is Govt funded, well done. Tim from your comments; Whats the worry with ownership ? I would like a shed of that size, and would have a good go at filling it. Doug

For further images on WW1 aircraft produced by Peter Jackson's crew check out you tube; search, Omaka airshow. Other vehicles are being prepared besides aircraft in readiness for filming. A further search of http://www.omaka.org.nz illustrates the aviation museum with WW1 displays. Doug

Vehicle registration and a warrant of fitness is required over here. Im about to go through the process May I suggest registration as a farm vehicle. If used on the farm for some purpose, then it would be no different to that of a the requirements as a tractor. If capable of greater than 40 kph ond over X tonnes then requires a CoF If under no COF of warrant. Unsure what the weight of your new present is and from memery the new laws on heavy tractors, 40kph+, and CoF's are around 6 tonnes. And as a tractor you can drive it on a car licence. Like the idea of importing a piece in( read as exporting it when in the UK). Reverse of what happens so offen from NZ. If I was to follow the same line it would be to import a WW1 tracked vehicle! Trying to place your location in NZ Land form and vegetation type indicate Waiuku area. Am I close? Thanks Doug

From the front line in the fields of France and Belgium how far back were the respective supply depots located? I realise this is like asking, "how long is a piece of string" as the front would move a the conflict altered as would terrian influence siting. Depots I gather would vary in size and of the type of stores supplied. Like wise first aid stations and medical points were located at what spacings? I have not located much information on the distrubution of depots, I any about? Doug http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/images/smilies/coffee.gifg

As for certification, the key ruling is "As per the period of time constructed" Long as the vehicle is standard inspection should be confirming to that requirement as set out in the rules. Unfortunately there are inspectors who do not wish to follow these inspection rules and only know of the most recent rules as applies to recent vehicles. I look forward to the day when we get a WW1 vehicle on the road and ready for its inspection. Time to show them that brake testing machines do not work on front axles ( with no brakes) and lamp testing machines will not easily record the image of kerosine powered lights. There have been some most laughable experiences told of testing proceedures with some vintage trucks and vehicle testing inspectors. I expect you will get asked to set the APC on to the brake rollers!! Doug

Thats an interesting point as to the origin of the name. So they are British but interstellar, vintage yes, so therefore fit into this forums sections as; arms; British vehicles; and tracked vehicles. ( can't remember if they had tracks underneath them for manoverability outside) And if they floated as well try it in a naval section! Doug

Looking at the photo of the two radiators leads to a series of questions as to how these were mounted. If done the field for neccessity, the resouces available may not have been the largest to draw on. I take from the photos the header and lower tanks are alloy, they appear close together so coupling the inlet and outlet pipes between the tanks would be an interesting job. That is assuming the pipes link directly through between the tanks, rather than having rubber hoses passing around the front tank then joining up . Linking two tanks together means cutting a hole in the tank would then require a suporting flange to mount the other end of a conection piece. With no alloy welding. Otherwise remove tanks from radiator, cut holes and bolt in place flanges from inside the tanks. Mechanics had to be good alround trades people. Doug

Would the hose clips have been used with brass nuts and bolts to pull them up originally?

Progress is slow. In fact dead slow as a few other more urgent jobs have had to be addressed like fixing tractors and machinery, as they earn the money on the property. Still searching for another gearbox for the J Thornycroft, while the engine lies here soaking in oil. My son's Leyland RAF is likewise stalled however now the summer is here its time to get into action again. Will post some photos as work progresses. Doug

The first photo shows Leyland trucks. Number one truck has the holes across the front chassis cross member. A Leyland feature. The front wheel design of the following Leylands again a feature of early Leylands. Some Leylands were produced with disc front wheels having no holes at all where as others have four holes. The body design on these Leylands appear the same but the front truck appears a larger unit based about the radiator and bonnet shape and form. This could be a 3 1/2 ton truck ( 40 hp) while the balance are 2 1/2 tonners. Difficult to be true working from photos. The Thornycroft in the latter photo would be an A3 model, developed from the A1 in 1926 with a bogie axle. Doug

I took the photo and enlarged the area to get the detail. Having a similar truck here in restoration one knows the identifing features. Note also the tins mounted about the foot step. Not a usual postion rather than being under the deck. The next question to be answered in the series is the identity of the truck in the background. ( Left hand truck) The wood work for the deck sides is not the same design as that to the Thornycroft, and appears to be a little shorter in deck length than the Thornycroft. Could be otherwise a different body builder or a subsidy vehicle taken by the army. The right hand truck in the background loses definition upon enlargement. Wheels appear military style however the radiator appears too wide in relation to height for Thornycroft. Radiator shape also more rounded. Could be Albion or... Thanks Doug

May I ask for a copy too? Thanks Doug

Thornycroft J Taken from the design of the radiator side panels, the two vents in the alloy one on the side panel, the other identation on the top tank, then beside the rim of the mans hat can just be made out a T being the end letter on the casting name on the radiator. Wheel pattern are typical Thornycroft miltary issue. Doug

Thank you. KOTR of course King of the Road!! Have a number of KOTR lamps here to go on vehicles Thickness here this morning on my behalf. I will allow the rest of you to add extra comments to my lack of logic!! Doug

KOTR I asume is the manufacturer's initals. What is the company then? I ask this as to date have not come across this label before. How many other manufacturers produced lamps for the WD? Doug

The photos show an form of camouflage to hide objects from a wife! Note the multiple height stacking proceedure. Doug

An aircraft search light; Well its still a lamp, even though the candle power was probably greater than the combined output of the truck fleet. (or was it described as a company of trucks). Doug

The Leyland rear end is a double reduction diff. As suppllied to the WD for the Royal Flying Corp. Rather than a spiral worm drive diff as used by so many other manufacturers Leyland used this format on their heavy weight chassis ( 3 tonner plus range). Lighter trucks retained the worm drive. The Star truck would be intersting to see rebuilt. As a supply of parts well worth collecting, however the cost of getting them home means I will have to leave them to a local collector! Doug