NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009
Hi everyone and welcome to this week’s newsletter.
Well we’re very excited here at Miliblog this week. One of our favourite Military Vehicle publications, Military Machines International recently published issue No 100 and we sent their editor Ian Young a congratulations email wishing him all the best for the next 100 issues. Well we just bought issue 101 this weekend and our jaws dropped open to read a lovely response from Ian. To quote, he said ‘I took a look and found it to be packed with information and photos and is definitely worth a look. It’s easy to navigate and features loads of photos and military vehicles of all types that are sure to be of interest to readers’. Similar to say, we also enjoy reading Ian’s magazine and highly recommend people to source it out if they are not already readers. Also their website is www.militarymachinesintl.com if you’d like further info.
OK, that’s got the back slapping done and onto what new photos we have for you this week. We start with a selection of old Bedfords and AEC’s of the 1960′s & 1970′s and two samples are shown below. Firstly a Bedford J Series Luton Van in camouflage, and then an unusual Mandator 4×2 Tractor in use at the HM Dockyards in Portsmouth. Must have been pretty powerful looking at the size of the trailer.
Next for you we have some Unipower BR90 8×8 Bridging System Vehicles. I believe they were made in Birmingham, someone told me and unusual as they weren’t actually given full MoD registration numbers, Rather they were issued with ‘CP’ numbers which stood for ‘Civilian Plant’. Perhaps someone out there may be able to help with some more information on them.
Next is one for our friends in The Netherlands. A nice Marirus Deutz S3500 Fire Rescue, which we are pretty certain is an ex-military fire engine.
And next to keep our friends across the pond happy are two photos of the twenty or so illustrating a junk yard on the I1 or Interstate 10 in the USA. Below are two examples, a US Marine Corps Dodge M37 Cargo and a US Army Kaiser Jeep M715 Cargo. Hopefully someone will rescue these trucks and give them a good home.
So that about wraps up this week’s newsletter. Next week we’ll be digging into our collection of e-photos built up over the years from a number of sources. Not as good as digital or scanned photos, they are very interesting to look at and see the details. Especially useful to those amongst us who make scale models of military vehicles. Whether straight out of the box or some good ideas for conversions. You never know, perhaps amongst us are the guys who work for the actual companies making the models and they might find some ideas for new models for next year. Enough rambling, Simon !
Cheerio !
Simon
Bedford J1 4x2 Luton Van (38 FL 70)
AEC Mandator 10Ton 4x2 Tractor (1493 RN)
Unipower BR90 8x8 Bridging System Vehicle (12 CP 96)
Magirus Deutz S3500 4x2 Fire Rescue (VN-17-38)(Neth)
Dodge M37 Cargo (USMC 306588)(US Junk Yard)
Kaiser Jeep M715 Cargo (US Junk Yard)
From a number of sources we’ve collected e-photos of US WW2 Tanks, either in original wartime situations or indeed in preserved condition. Some are taken at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland USA. Sorry to say that some are not upto the usual high standard we normally bring you here at Miliblog, but nevertheless I still think they’re worth including on the website. See what you think yourself. Remember many were taken with older generations of cameras and not the modern digital cameras we enjoy today.
From a number of sources we’ve collected e-photos of German WW2 Tanks, either in original wartime situations or indeed in preserved condition. Some are taken at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland USA. Sorry to say that some are not upto the usual high standard we normally bring you here at Miliblog, but nevertheless I still think they’re worth including on the website. See what you think yourself. Remember many were taken with older generations of cameras and not the modern digital cameras we enjoy today.
From a number of sources we’ve collected e-photos of British WW2 Tanks, either in original wartime situations or indeed in preserved condition. Some are taken at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland USA. Sorry to say that some are not upto the usual high standard we normally bring you here at Miliblog, but nevertheless I still think they’re worth including on the website. See what you think yourself. Remember many were taken with older generations of cameras and not the modern digital cameras we enjoy today.
NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 5 OCTOBER 2009
Hello and welcome to what’s new on Miliblog this week. Well I’m still as always searching out for new stuff for the website to share with you, my fellow MV enthusiasts. We now have over 3,600 photos on Miliblog to date and adding new items each week. We start with an unusual photo of a Warrior APC which appears a normal standard vehicle, until you look closer to see it’s a sort of recovery vehicle without a turret and some sort of spade device at the back. Anyone got any suggestions ? Some more 1970′s British Army stuff added this week including this lovely M109 155mm SPG, lovely that is if you’re not on the receiving end. Next we have started the Japanese vehicle section with a couple of vehicles, one being the Hino Tractor featured below, which is a very close copy of US WW2 Autocar U-7144T 4×4 Tractor. Also we have added over 20 1980′s modern US vehicles, mainly M35A2 2.5 Ton Cargos and some nice Station Wagons, including the two featured below. The Ford F-100 Pick-Up has a ‘SAC OPS’ sign on the top, which stands for of course ‘Strategic Air Command’ . The other is a Chevrolet Custom Deluxe with a sign saying ‘RAF Bentwaters Fire Chief’ which I think is another photo out of the history books. Next is a cute Austin K2 which I couldn’t resist sharing with you.
Finally on the photograph section, we’ve had a couple of e-mails in asking if we had any aircraft in the collection and to keep our customers happy, we’ve added some nice ones of Avro Vulcan V-Bombers and also some good looking Jet Provost Trainers. Have a look also under the WW2 Original photos and we have a great shot of three Bristol Blenheim Mk1 Bombers in flight, in very early wartime markings.
So my friends I wish you another great week wherever you are in the world.
Cheerio !
Simon
Warrior APC Recovery (00 NC 69)
M109 155mm SPG (00 ED 24)
Hino HB10 4-5Ton 4x4 Tractor (50-0146)
Ford F-100 Pick Up (75B-2688)
Chevrolet Custom Deluxe Station Wagon (84B-2774)
Avro Vulcan V Bomber (XM-651)
Bristol Blenheim Mk1 Bombers
Austin K2 2Ton GS (OMY 181)
NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2009
Hi and welcome to this week’s newsletter and again I’m sorry a little late. However I’ll start you off with a brilliant video I found on You Tube. If you are easily offended by bad language, then don’t watch it ! A lovely old Spitfire flown by the late and great Ray Hanna, giving racing driver Aln de Cadenet a haircut, will certainly bring a smile to you face !
SPITFIRE LOW PASS !
Just a few new photos this week and below we’re featuring three of them. Two are Morris MRA1 1 Tonners, with the first being a Water Tanker version probably in an ex-military auction with Lot No 1185. The other is srill in military service and is the GS or General Service version. Look how tiny the door mirrors are. Next is a nice Austin K2 Fire Tender in RAF colours. We’ve recently bought a collection of photos which includes some more WW2 RAF and civilian fire engines or tenders to give them their official title andwe’ll be bringing them to you in the next few weeks.
So sorry if this week is short and sweet but must get back to the albums !
Cheerio !
Simon
Morris MRA1 1 Ton Water Tanker
Morris MRA1 1 Ton GS (87 BN 18)
Austin K2 Fire Tender (GLC 891)
NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2009
Hello again and welcome to this week’s new items. A little late I’m afraid, as work is taking over my private time at the moment ! Straight down to some of the new photos, but remember by clicking on the ‘Latest Images’ tab at the top, it brings up all the new pictures that have been recently added to Miliblog.
I’ve picked out 6 of the new ones this week to highlight to you a selection of the range of military vehicles available on Miliblog, for you to pass away a sunday afternoon or the lunchbreak in the office. To start with we have a Vixen Armoured Car, which you can see if very similar to the Fox Armoured Car, but without a turret. I think they only got to prototype stage with only a few being made for assessment. The ‘SP’ number plate suggests this, as a Special. I think with the small lights and the high sides it looks a little like a turtle !
Next we have a Standard 10hp Light Utility, but something about it isn’t quite right, and that’s the radiator grill and bonnet, or hood ! The one’s I’ve seen in the past have a flat radiator grill, so whether this was a genuine one or a canibalised one I’m not sure, maybe someone out there can help ? The photo shows it was entrant number J285 on the 1978 National Benzole ( a petrol company, now long gone) Historic Commercial Vehicle Run, with a Canadian Chevvy parked behind it.
To follow is a nice old Fordson 6×4 Signals Truck used by the RAF, and looks like it’s seen better days. Then we have a Commer BF Van, again an example of often long-overlooked support vehicles that work hard behind the scenes in keeping the military machine working.
Finally we come to a pair of Chieftain tanks which need no introduction. Who would believe it all those years ago when like many others heading across Salisbury Plain in the 1970′s and seeing these beauties on exercise that one day we were all able – money permitting – to buy one of these for about £25,000 !
So I wish you all a good week and I’m back to the albums and see what we can muster for next week’s additions for your entertainment !
Cheerio !
Simon
Vixen Armoured Car (03 SP 83)
Standard 12hp Light Utility (Modified)(KPU 237)
Fordson ET6 Thames Sussex 3Ton 6x4 Signals (70 AV 20)
Commer BF Van (14 ET 87)
Chieftain Tank Mk6 (02 EB 21)
Chieftain Tank Mk2 (00 EB 59)
