Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Mike K]

Neat sewing there Tony

These are original WW2 examples of sewing, a GMH side curtain I have. The sewing is pretty crappy

[Private_collector]

Crappy alright, Mike. Mine isn't really much better, when you look closely.
Guess that makes my sewing standard 'authentic WW2 quality'. With quality being the little used word to describe something quite shite.

Starting last night, I had a bit more play with canvas and my Wifes sewing machine. Some weeks ago I bought a second hand bookshelf to store my current battalion of R C tanks, and last evening I started making a canvas roll-up front cover, designed to keep the dust off the contents. In the process, I experimented with a range of techniques and processes, conceived mainly to show me what things I can get away with. Oh boy, I sure made some discoveries. Not all were positive experiences. I previously mentioned that my Wifes little sewing machine can sew 7 layers of canvas without problems. Add another layer, and I did get problems. Lots of em. Eight layers was just too much for it to handle, and this was made quite clear when I started hearing some very strange pings and clunks. The crescendo was when I managed to shatter a needle, but fortunately my Wife was outside at the time and I quickly replaced the remains with a fresh one, before any lasting damage was sustained.........to me.
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The cover is approx 3ft wide by 6ft in length. I wanted to try sewing in a length of rope at the top, just to see if it would work. It did, but not to satisfaction. Once I'm using my industrial machine it should be heaps better result, because I have bought correct piping foot for this technique. On my Wifes machine last night, things went badly. I couldn't get close enough to the rope for a good result. Still, at least I know what went wrong.
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To seal the cover I have sewn some Velcro down each side. If you are planning to do this, unless you have an industrial machine, sew the 'fluffy' Velcro piece, NOT the other half with the hard plastic hooks. It's really annoying to sew, and will catch your thread occasionally. I thoutht I would be smart, and used an extremely strong thread. It sounded like a good idea, but is entirely wasted on a standard domestic machine. The thread required adjustable tension increased to limit available, or the sewing looked loose. Problem was, although the thread was super strong, it did start to shear away when travelling through the needle eye. This occured even when speed was low. Once again, probably more an issue Bourne out of my choice of machine, not the thread itself. When I went back to using standard duty thread, things actually went better overall. Go figure! I would want that strong thread when I make the sunshine roof cover thougj.

I did get a little better at making seams straight, though I am still not pleased, and am continuing to improve pining in a way that keeps material in place. One by one the pins are removed as the material moves through the machine. I guess what I'm saying is simply, practice man, practice. Ironically, that's the same piece of advice a Sydney local once gave me when I was lost and asked him how I could get to the opera house! Now that I think of it, he MAY have misunderstood what I meant.

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Oh, and I'm also hoping to purchase this Land Rover Defender from my inlaws estate. It will come up nicely in camo green.

[Mike K]

Your mention of your RC tank collection reminded me of this mornings offering on TV , Combat dealers .

The short wide chap , the boss , was browsing at Kevin Wheatcrofts collection and he bought a small scale model of a WW2 German tank ..cost 4.5K pounds. The model is a genuine prototype built at the factory for the designers/engineers as a concept . He also showed us a 1939 Mercedes , one of a small batch made for Hitler's own fleet , Wheatcroft said the car is worth around 8 million pounds . Armour plated floor, 4 inch thick windscreen and other special things like a supercharged 7 litre engine . Racks for sub machine guns and other delights .

[Private_collector]

I saw that too. That chap has a splendid collection, doesnt he.
Bit overly dramatic for my taste, but thats show business.

[Private_collector]

Well, we're back in Victoria again, for what we expect will be the last time. Tomorrow morning is the Marchout Ceremony that will signify the formal end to Bryces training period at Bandiana, in northern Victoria. His next posting will be back in Queensland, so there will be no further visits to this part of the world, attractive though it may be. We arrived yesterday morning, and had to leave home at 0330hrs to be at the airport for first flight of the day.
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With time to kill yesterday afternoon, we went and took a look at the Hume dam wall. The weir was letting water out in volume, and the lake is completely full, as opposed to 3/4 dry it has been every other time we've seen it until now, and follows considerable very recent rainfall. The other result of that rain was to ruin our initial plans to drive down from QLD, like I did last year when I brought Bryces car to him. Too many flooded areas in NSW to risk the drive, unfortunately.

Met up with Bryce yesterday evening, and gave him his belated birthday presents. One of which was the Selk Bag wearable sleeping bag (in bushland camouflage) I had imported especially from USA. Bryce had seen one of these worn by a British serviceman who, for some reason, went on a bush manoeuvres with his group.......in winter. Bryce was taken with fact he was the only one NOT freezing when in the cold wind at night. Now Bryce won't have to shiver either. I think he likes it.

With time on our hands again this morning, we drove to Yackandandah and Beechworth.
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Beechworth has this old Service Station, that ironically doesn't sell fuel, and I'm still unsure if it's a tourist attraction or a real mechanical repairs place. If you are on a diet, or have dental issues, stay the hell away from the sweets shop in Beechworth. It is a sugar nirvana, that has anything ever made in the way of candy. I type this as I sit here scoffing chocolate coated ginger. Ginger is good for helping an upset stomach....and chocolate CAUSES an upset stomach, so the two should cancel each other out, right! We'll see in about 15 min.

Several weeks ago, Bryce was telling me about a CMP cabin he had seen sitting in the yard of an industrial property in Wodonga. Today I went looking for it.
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Amazing where these things show up, isn't it? Apart from a few moderate sized indentations, this lil beauty should come up nicely, and it is quite complete.

Tomorrow morning, early, we are to be granted access to Bryces base for the first time, to attend the ceremony and take a tour of his training facility. Apart from the ceremony itself, no photos will be taken, but it will be an exciting time for us to see where our Son has been receiving his training for the past 18 months. When we depart the base, so will Bryce. Tomorrow is his final day there also. We hope to spend some time together before we all head off, Bryce to his first 'on the job' training, and us to airport for the journey home again.

Travelling down this way on a number of occasions since we first joined Bryce for his Recruit Marchout from Kapooka in January, 2014, we have had the great fortune and pleasure of meeting several of the MLU folks who call this part of our country home. That, and the humbling experience of seeing our own Son march with his unit in the parade commemorating the ANZAC Centenary in 2015, are the highlights of our visits down here.

Our special thanks go to Robert Pearce, who made a significant journey with his own Son, to be with us for Bryces Kapooka Marchout in January 2015. Rob then made the trip again the following day, allowing us time to actually introduce him to our boy. That made a special occasion even better. Thankyou Rob!

[hrpearce]

Congratulations Bryce, onward and upward. With the birthday present in hand you could do a cultural exchange to NZ next winter.
Tony I understand how you feel having Bryce closer to home, Greg is three hours away and although we don't see each other much it is nice knowing that we can easily visit each other for significant events.

[Private_collector]

Yes Rob, I agree wholeheartedly.

Today was a rather exciting, and moving day. We were met at the barracks gate at 0630hrs, and granted access to the base, under escort by our Son. After nearly two decades of being responsible for his behaviour, finally the roles were reversed under quite significant and stringent circumstances. An irony not lost on me. I'm glad I didn't follow through with an earlier threat to wear farmers overalls and gumboots!
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The graduation ceremony was splendid. In total, there were 10 members who were graduands, and once all ten were called to the front of the ranks, they were individually called to step forward and receive their certificate, and beret or cap (RAAF members received cap). Several graduates were additionally awarded the Senior Instructors Achievement Award for excellence in their studies and practical assessments. That award is given to any student that achieves an overall result in excess of 95%, and I'm extremely proud to say our Son was one of those recipients! We weren't aware of this fact prior to the ceremony. When Bryce was presented with that certificate, composure was very nearly lost by the author. I must add, the parade drill was exceptional. My Wife took vast majority of the still photography, while I took video footage, all 4.5GB of it. In reviewing that footage this evening, the sharp note of scores of soldiers boots striking the ground in unison, features with every manoeuvre. Very dramatic and always impressive!
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The ceremony also included the changeover of the Wings S.M, with S.M Griffin handing over, and giving a short speech to the Wing members, indicating his pride in those under his command. I would very much have liked to shake his hand and thank him for his guidance and support, but unfortunately the opportunity didn't present. At the conclusion of the parade, we had the pleasure of a guided tour through the Vehicle Training Wing training facility. It is a splendid establishment. I believe a training environment has a significant impact on the standard of learning, and having now seen the facility for myself, I can fully understand why Bryce has done so well! I know he will always have fond memories of his time in Bandiana.
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