jim fl4 Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Hi, I've recently found the ferret mentioned in the title. Its hull number matches the numbers on its data plate and it has the correct turret which I believe confirms it was originally a mk 2/6. I was wondering if anyone can throw any more light on the machine? I am in the process of restoring it and would welcome opinions on if it should be brought back as a 2/7 or, if possible 2/6 guise!! Thanks Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZITIM Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 photos are always good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim fl4 Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 photos are always good sorry, not very clear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guykay Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 That's the interesting. When did they introduce the turret rotating gear? My 2/3 has the usual clamp & support for the shoulders to spin it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 That's the interesting. When did they introduce the turret rotating gear? My 2/3 has the usual clamp & support for the shoulders to spin it It was equipped with Vigilant missiles, hence the need for the rotating gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim fl4 Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Its got the scars on the turret where the welded on mounts for the missile launches were burned off. Has anyone tried making mock up launchers? or, would someone have a set ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Jim I would look in the ISPL as that gives the details of the 2/6 turret. Some 30 years ago I was chasing Vigilant launching bins & followed many leads where I would learn they had been crushed a few weeks before! I did manage to get a cutaway box & an intact box for Clevite, but as that was of historical significance I was loath to cut it to make it like a Vigilant box. In the end I made up two launch boxes that looked fairly realistic I think. (this was on a Shorland not a Ferret though) Although I purchased the Aerolux clamps & webbing had them stitched up. I did later find the proper webbing being sold as aircraft seat belts... yes with a FV number! Be aware that the launching bins required for Ferret were a little different from the original production bin. When I last looked at the Bovington one it incorrectly had a non-Ferret bin fitted on one side & apart from the glaring error of it being a 2/3 with a 2/6 turret dropped on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim fl4 Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Jim I would look in the ISPL as that gives the details of the 2/6 turret. Some 30 years ago I was chasing Vigilant launching bins & followed many leads where I would learn they had been crushed a few weeks before! I did manage to get a cutaway box & an intact box for Clevite, but as that was of historical significance I was loath to cut it to make it like a Vigilant box. In the end I made up two launch boxes that looked fairly realistic I think. (this was on a Shorland not a Ferret though) Although I purchased the Aerolux clamps & webbing had them stitched up. I did later find the proper webbing being sold as aircraft seat belts... yes with a FV number! Be aware that the launching bins required for Ferret were a little different from the original production bin. When I last looked at the Bovington one it incorrectly had a non-Ferret bin fitted on one side & apart from the glaring error of it being a 2/3 with a 2/6 turret dropped on! Thank you Clive, I have kind of been waiting for you . Previous research had you coming up! Your bins look great, do you have any suggestions as to were I can find the ISPL. With regard to the Bovington Ferret, forgive my ignorance but what differences does the hull have, the only difference I was aware of was the turret. Thanks again. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Jim there is reprint if you scroll down on here: http://www.mark.clubaustin.co.uk/new_page_1.htm The most obvious difference is that a 2/3 carries a spare wheel, the 2/6 does not! Instead it carries spare launching boxes. I remember taking part in a SSVC film on the history of AT guided weapons. It was an official film with the script approved by MOD specialists. Well there were some things I disagreed with in the script about the Hornet/Malkara development. But I did take exception to the presenter describing the Bovington Ferret as a 2/6. I pointed out that it was a mock up & anyone with knowledge of Ferrets & ATGWs will see that this is not a legitimate example. So the script was changed to explain that in this particular vehicle there is a spare wheel but there should really be spare missiles carried instead. I have drawings that I made of the boxes. Of the production ones the early ones had a flat rear end that housed the cable separation reel, later ones had a better designed shaped base had a decent cable reel rather than metal spigots to stop the cable coil slipping off. I think there were 256 rivets on the earlier bin that I tried to emulate. These early bins had locking struts to support the bin on the ground at the correct elevation. On Ferret additional security was needed in the form of a strut from the bin support cradle to a hole with a bar to latch onto the front of the bin. When I last looked at it the display Ferret had one early bin which has no such hole & bar. I have had interesting correspondence a member of the Vickers Vigilant sales team & the CO of 20 Trial Unit who rejected Vigilant twice! Yet Vigilant was favoured over Malkara by Gen Carver in trials in Libya in 1962. But it was a manportable ATGW never originally intended to be stuck on an AFV! Despite the reluctance of the MOD to accept Vigilant with its superior (but more complex & expensive) velocity control the world's obsession with acceleration control guidance provided a cheaper & cheerful alternative. However there was one country who saw the potential & was very keen to buy but the MOD blocked the sales. Anyone guess which country that was? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim fl4 Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Great info Clive, thank you for taking the time to enlighten me and others, very interesting! Cheers Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Jim although I sold my Vigilants, bins, tripod, controllers etc some years ago I still have a few curiosities that I have hung onto. Two silver-plated Vigilants 3" long that were mounted on ashtrays to give to defence ministers at arms fairs, an instructors book (civilian one predating any MOD publications), the illustrated design publication before it was named Vigilant & I think I have one sighting monocular. If you are googling also look for "Vigilante" this is the wrong name but often gets misnamed as that. Just as my Shorland gets wrongly called a Shortland or a Shoreland, ggrrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim fl4 Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Jim although I sold my Vigilants, bins, tripod, controllers etc some years ago I still have a few curiosities that I have hung onto. Two silver-plated Vigilants 3" long that were mounted on ashtrays to give to defence ministers at arms fairs, an instructors book (civilian one predating any MOD publications), the illustrated design publication before it was named Vigilant & I think I have one sighting monocular. If you are googling also look for "Vigilante" this is the wrong name but often gets misnamed as that. Just as my Shorland gets wrongly called a Shortland or a Shoreland, ggrrrr good tip Clive, Thanks Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZITIM Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Nice looking machine. I have a pretty comprehensive supply of ferret parts if your chasing something hard to get. Im in Australia though, but if its small, the postage isnt too bad. Regards, OZITIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim fl4 Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 Nice looking machine. I have a pretty comprehensive supply of ferret parts if your chasing something hard to get. Im in Australia though, but if its small, the postage isnt too bad. Regards, OZITIM Cheers OZITIM, although it looks incomplete, I have most of the bits, probably only little things that get lost missing so I might to contacting you in future Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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