Kiwi CMP to be restored

[Ian Tozer]

So things keep getting interestinger and interestinger.

Stopped round for a gossip with with of the old Fire Brigade life members, into his 90's and as sharp as a tack he is.

Mr X as we shall refer to him is what is reffered to as "a bit of a character" round here.

Served WWII in the Pacific in NZ Arny saw a few things, including being probably one of the few people who has, in his words "been bloody stupid enough to fall of the edge of a US carrier in the middle of the pacific, swim round for an hour or so and get plucked out by a US destroyer".

He has been working on vehicles, trucks, electronics you name it since he was a young fella, so has probably forgotten a damn site more than most can remember.

Took Mr X for a wee drive to see the truck pictured above. He laughed his head off, yes, new he new about it. I can now say it definetly served NZ Ary North Africa, up through Italy and was returned to NZ post war, sold ex - Waiouru Military Camp 68 and purchased from Gillies in Otago after that.

New it on the farm he did when it was working.

As to the mickey mouse ears and obvious brush marks. All of the die hard Spray Painters can stop now and get your 4 inch brushes out.

The obvious circle patterns of brush marks led me ask Mr X how it was done.

"Crickey Mate" says Mr X "Bloody obvious isn't it? They cut a circle out of plywood and ran the damn paint brush round the inside, then filled the circle, we did it the same way in the islands."

I say "so overlaping circles through a wood template and then brush the gaps?"

"Yup, and shake your bones while your at it, because you have about 10 trucks to do in a couple of hours so don't p!ss about" he says with a laugh.

Some people may call this heresy, but I will do whatever truck is restored by the same method.

"Um silly question" I asked not wanting to appear as a fool "The size of the circles wouldn't happen to match a Kiwis helmet would it?"

"Where the F else where we going to find a circle" answered Mr X as we walked back to my 4x4 so I could take him to the pub for a round.

Where a lot more was discussed and a new level reached in the way we work together.

Funny what happens when you throw a couple of Fireys together for a while, they either break things, or fix them.

[Mike K]

Nice story. Not many of those old timers left now . And, they have the direct knowledge we can only guess at .

When I first got a ham radio license, there were many ex service guys from WW2 on the air pounding away on morse keys . Not many around any more, they are virtually all gone more or less.


The brush painting of camo is well known . I've seen it on two of my vehicles here .

Mike

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Nice story. Not many of those old timers left now . And, they have the direct knowledge we can only guess at .

When I first got a ham radio license, there were many ex service guys from WW2 on the air pounding away on morse keys . Not many around any more, they are virtually all gone more or less.


The brush painting of camo is well known . I've seen it on two of my vehicles here .

Mike

Hi Mike

I used to spend a lot of time with an older mate, Frank Taylor who was a Ham Radio Operator, His call sign was. VK5-TG. I worked with Frank who is now in his 90's, He was in the RAAF in WW2 as a wireless operator in the Pacific. I only wish I had written down the hours of conversations we had over the years, but you don't realize this until you yoursef are getting older. Frank loved Morse Code and preferred it to voice, you may even had contact with him yourself over the years, Check you QSO Cards.

Cheers

Tony

[Mike K]

yes Tony

I did contact a few VK5's years ago... cannot recall your mate . One chap was in the Middle East as a wireless operator. I asked him about trucks and he kindly loaned me a pic of himself in front of his wireless truck..in Syria , which is now in the news !

Here is the pic.. the truck is a 1940 01Y Ford 1 tonner, typically a wireless truck used by the AIF . He said his job involved rebuilding the radio batteries every 3 months . He would use a blow torch and remove the tar and install new lead plates and new acid etc. He said the radio sets were AWA 101 made here in Sydney . I have a few of them .

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I did contact a few VK5's years ago... cannot recall your mate . One chap was in the Middle East as a wireless operator. I asked him about trucks and he kindly loaned me a pic of himself in front of his wireless truck..in Syria , which is now in the news !

Hi Mike

Yep I am sure you would have been in contact with Frank, he spent a lot of time "on air". and I would also go on at times using his set and call sign. I did a course some years ago for a Ham Licence, I still have all the books, but I found Morse code not as interesting, but you could not get your licence with out it. Frank would tell me all about the times under canvas at the air strips and when he was in the Catalinas, he would still well up with tears at some of the stories and terrible things when they were being bombed and straffed by the Japenese planes. His memory is not so good now. Sad..

Cheers mate, thanks for the contact.

Tony