ploughman Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Thought I would start off with a couple of Plant pics I took whilst in the RE's both Regular and TA 52 Sqn Plant yard 1978 Grader training at RSME Chattenden Excavator training Waterbeach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 This group shot shows about 1/3rd of the plant held by the Sqn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry275 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Interesting pics. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Thought I would start off with a couple of Plant pics I took whilst in the RE's both Regular and TA[ATTACH=CONFIG]80344[/ATTACH] 52 Sqn Plant yard 1978 Hi Bryan, The first photo shows a big Michigan 275 loading shovel. I used to work on a lot of RE equipment at REME workshops and we had one in to fit a new engine, Cummins 14 litre. This was before the Falklands war, it appeared back again sometime after the war having been working at the quarry over there when they were repairing the original airfield. The centre pivot bearings were shot and it was no mean feat to separate front and back of the machine to renew them. Six inches in diameter I seem to recollect. I enjoyed working on the heavy plant, very few of the other fitters wanted to work on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 We had 2 of them based at Perham and a further 4 I think stored at Bruggen. I remember giving the local Tyre fitter from Andover a bit of overtime when I ran over 4 short bolts sticking up out of the concrete pad. 4 New tyres for the michy to be fitted on site. First I knew of it was when the cab windows got covered in filthy water, the tyres were water ballasted on the 275. Someone else had cleared the area for use and found no problems. When in 234 TA at Leeming we had 3 Terex 72 - 71s I thought the 275 was big this was bigger still. You could just load a Class 2 Haulamatic with one bucket of clay, the back end of the Terex was feeling a little light though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero-Five-Two Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Nice pics, bringing back a few memories for an ex plant man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthecorner Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Must get a few of my pics scanned. In hindsight it's a real shame (and I'm sure it's different these days with camera phones etc), but 20 years ago as a young sapper, the last thing we were thinking of was taking photos of our kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 Totally agree. Most of the time the only camera I could have with me was a 110 point and shoot job that fitted in my top pocket. No chance of using an SLR most of the time. (unless it was loaded with 7.62) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 (edited) Mentioned in another thread a while back about putting plant in bags for long term storage. Just found 2 shots of putting a Michigan 275 into a bag. First job would be to Wash Down totally, repaint if required. Full service to hours. Fully fuel. Lay out the bag base with plywood panelling above and below the membrane base. Drive on centrally. Some machines more critical on this than others. Barford Tippers the worst. (You only found out if you were right when you try and zip up the bag and you can not get the last couple of inches of the zip.) Place any added supports, such as boxing over the exhaust or panelling between cab and handrails, stops water pooling on the bag. Cover all parts that would rub against the bag with padding and blankets. Place the bag top section over the machine and start to zip up. Jack up the machine and place on axle stands. (easier to do with the bag part fixed already) Remove batteries. Finish zipping up and turn on the dehumidifier. The longest that I know a machine has been in a bag was 6 years. Started first time. Edited August 12, 2013 by ploughman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rog8811 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 In a previous life I designed and built hot vulcanising presses for making butyl vehicle bags for the military. The vehicle to be stored was driven onto rubber covered base with a "C" shaped channel all around the edge. The rubber cover, with bonded in inflatable edges, was hauled into place and once tucked into the channel the edge of the bag was inflated to seal it up then the air was evacuated around the vehicle. I have no idea if the idea took off as once I had delivered the machinery I heard no more about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 (edited) In 1982 we went to a Canadian Army Tank range at Meaford Ontario. Part of an annual trip by RE units under Ex Waterleap, different locations each year. Our tasks were to :- Reconstruct an access track of about 10 km including some creek crossings needing major culvert work. Build a 250 man ablution block. Renovate a 5 km water pipeline and a parallel overhead Powerline. For the works we were provided with 4 Deuce and a halfs as troop transport to get to the various sites. a number of Dodge Power Wagons, plenty of power wheelspin in 4th but useless off road. Some Army tippers and 5 ton flatbeds some with added fuel tanker capability for refueling the onsite plant. A fleet of at least 10 35 ton Mack tippers. Graders, Loading shovels, Dozers big and small. Anyway a few photos from that time. All the military vehicles we had for site transport were going for disposal when we finished with them. In the case of the Dodge Power wagons scrap would be a good description. 2 of the Petrol engined automatic dream machines waiting for the next trip. Slight incident between a tipper and a Fuel bowser cresting a hill. Lone Bucket loader at Cape Rich stockpile. We used all the material in the shot for surfacing. A Champion Grader, not as good as a Barford, Lunch time at Mountain Lake. As the new road was beyond the drop zone for the Tank range we expected to find some overshot ordnance. I found this with the grader blade when I was doing about 40mph Squadron plaques on opening. Wonder if they are still there? Edited August 15, 2013 by ploughman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavy8 Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Great pictures!! I can never get enough greenish plant :-P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 A few more photos from RAF Leeming O and K Excavator in use moving a screed beam. Aveling Barford "Super Grader" Terex 72-71 moving a Class 60 Bomb mat. The workhorse of the job, A Volvo 4400 on a day out at Linton on Ouse open day. I actually drove it there and back via the A19, York Ring Road, A59 and A1. Belated apologies to anyone caught up behind me around 1994 Also added in a shot of the Compactor. 5 ton drop weight dropped from a height makes the ground shake a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 2 more photos just found today. 1 from RAF Bruggen with a Michigan 275 prepared for a road move in convoy. My mate Pete was driving the lead vehicle, basic fact to remember was that if the outside edge of your tyre was about 6 inch from the kerb, then the inside edge of the other tyre was about 6 inch over the centre line of the road. The other shot from Leeming shows the size difference between a Terex 72 71 and a Volvo 4400. The Volvo was more agile but the Terex would beat it on speed. Over 40kph flat out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Grand posting of pictures thanks !..My old Dad was a Royal Engineer in Korea and Malaya and drove / maintained heavy plant...(I did put a load of his old pictures up ages ago on here somewhere ) he'd really love your pictures He eventually ended up owning his own lawnmower shop and workshop... .he always said the reason he went into small stuff such as lawnmowers and rotovators was because nothing on them was heavy unlike big Cats and such Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted January 7, 2019 Author Share Posted January 7, 2019 On 8/15/2013 at 6:40 PM, ploughman said: In 1982 we went to a Canadian Army Tank range at Meaford Ontario. Part of an annual trip by RE units under Ex Waterleap, different locations each year. Our tasks were to :- Reconstruct an access track of about 10 km including some creek crossings needing major culvert work. Build a 250 man ablution block. Renovate a 5 km water pipeline and a parallel overhead Powerline. For the works we were provided with 4 Deuce and a halfs as troop transport to get to the various sites. a number of Dodge Power Wagons, plenty of power wheelspin in 4th but useless off road. Some Army tippers and 5 ton flatbeds some with added fuel tanker capability for refueling the onsite plant. A fleet of at least 10 35 ton Mack tippers. Graders, Loading shovels, Dozers big and small. Anyway a few photos from that time. All the military vehicles we had for site transport were going for disposal when we finished with them. In the case of the Dodge Power wagons scrap would be a good description. 2 of the Petrol engined automatic dream machines waiting for the next trip. Slight incident between a tipper and a Fuel bowser cresting a hill. Lone Bucket loader at Cape Rich stockpile. We used all the material in the shot for surfacing. A Champion Grader, not as good as a Barford, Lunch time at Mountain Lake. As the new road was beyond the drop zone for the Tank range we expected to find some overshot ordnance. I found this with the grader blade when I was doing about 40mph Squadron plaques on opening. Wonder if they are still there? Can anyone identify what breed the Troop carrying 6x6's were? Sorry but the quality is the summit of 1970's / 80's photo equipment. To me they are single wheel deuce and a halfs. But everyone I see at shows all have double rear wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oats and barley Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 studebaker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 46 minutes ago, ploughman said: Can anyone identify what breed the Troop carrying 6x6's were? Sorry but the quality is the summit of 1970's / 80's photo equipment. To me they are single wheel deuce and a halfs. But everyone I see at shows all have double rear wheels. They look like M35 Eager Beavers, made by several manufacturers I think including AMG and Kaiser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwardle Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 (edited) The one with the canvas tilt and lowish headlights in the darker photo is a GMC M-135 from the early 50s which was a replacement for the GMC CCKW. Edited January 7, 2019 by johnwardle Predictive text Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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