Christmas 1947 No1 on my wish list was??

[43rdRecceReg]

That looks very like it, Woz. The 'charging' handle was spring loaded, and could be locked in position with a deft right angle turn...not unlike those on the (real) AK47 and Sten (?), I think.
The 25-Pounder was one of the best field guns ever made...

[jarndice]

I was about 7 and my Father took me to a toy shop in London, He said "Choose two toys and one of them will be in your stocking at Christmas",
I chose a Dinky 8 wheeled Guy flat bed lorry and a Yacht,
I hoped for the Truck and got the Yacht,
Scarred for life that's me.
Years later I asked my father why he chose the Yacht ?
Sailing is what people do for pleasure, Driving lorries is what people do for employment he said.
The Class system was being inculcated into me even at the age of 7.
I got my own back later when I joined the service,
Part of the Training included Learning and passing the test on a Motorcycle (BSA M20) learning and passing the test on an Austin Champ, learning but no test(Pre HGV Licence) to drive a Bedford RL,on the road and off, A Thornycroft 6 wheeler with 2 axle trailer on the road and off and an AV432 off road.
Apropos absolutely nothing, I wonder how many people alive today know what a Handbrake Gear change is ?
Shaun.

[ryderbike]

Hi' Ryderbyke, Good to meet you here.

For my sins I was allocated Waterloo Troop, (Black Flash), Next door to Blenheim (Maroon Flash,) both troops were accommodated in all wooden spider blocks at Stanley Barracks at that time, until the building of Balaclava's (Red Flash) new home in brick?

But that was only being built brick by brick when I left for 5RTR.

Much later than you , the Army had already amalgamated us down to 4 regiments , Alma troop , A Sqn , in Stanley Barracks then 2 RTR in Fallingbostel

[alamein]

Bikeryder,a group of us old comrades(guys 'mit' wives) went to Lumsden Barracks Fally, when we were part of an RTR Association weekend trip that visited 2RTR back in 2005.

We had an absolutely fantastic time being entertained as VIP guests, with plenty of interesting stuff for us to view up the tank park.

No more 'cookhouse' to queue at anymore, instead a superb OR's restaurant self service cafeteria.
The Sqn bars entertained us in an exemplary fashion with free drinks, Ouch!!

Back to model Panzers, a Cent' would be fine in fact if it came as a Taigen top off model I'd have one!

For general interest my eldest grandson is a 23 yr old Rock Climbing 'nutter' and an extreme biker too!!!

My youngest grandson is 10.

The '47 Sherman was some sort of composite material with India rubber sweet smelling tracks, not a tin one with wheels on the underside.

[43rdRecceReg]

I was about 7 and my Father took me to a toy shop in London, He said "Choose two toys and one of them will be in your stocking at Christmas",
I chose a Dinky 8 wheeled Guy flat bed lorry and a Yacht,
I hoped for the Truck and got the Yacht,
Scarred for life that's me.
Years later I asked my father why he chose the Yacht ?
Sailing is what people do for pleasure, Driving lorries is what people do for employment he said.
The Class system was being inculcated into me even at the age of 7.
I got my own back later when I joined the service,
Part of the Training included Learning and passing the test on a Motorcycle (BSA M20) learning and passing the test on an Austin Champ, learning but no test(Pre HGV Licence) to drive a Bedford RL,on the road and off, A Thornycroft 6 wheeler with 2 axle trailer on the road and off and an AV432 off road.
Apropos absolutely nothing, I wonder how many people alive today know what a Handbrake Gear change is ?
Shaun.

I remember buses, and other vehicles, having a handbrake style release on the gearstick; runner boards, the curse of cranking a reluctant car engine in Winter with a starting handle... and those old fascinating yellow
indicator arms that popped out of the door panel in lieu of your arms! When I did my test, you could fail if you didn't double declutch your crash, or no-synchro-on-1st gear gearbox properly!...ahh mechanical hell nostalgia.
and I once rode an Army BSA Bomba over an assault course at RAF Wroughton Didnae fall off, either.

[wibblywobbly]

I can remember my Dad having a Ford Popular, he bought it brand new and kept it for about 15 years!! We had a big family and we all used to squeeze in. He wouldn't sell it come hell or high water...but my older brother passed his driving test and...there is a knock on the door one night and a police officer is stood there to inform him that his son has had an accident, put the car through a hedge...and as he was relating events a tow truck goes past the house towing a mangled Ford Popular on its way to the scrapyard. My Dads face was a picture and he never spoke to my brother for months!

[PainlessWolf]

Good afternoon,
I can remember being 6 or so and wanting to drive my Aunt's Packard. I got in the front seat and kicked off the handbrake somehow and that enormous automobile starting rolling backwards. My Uncle Joe ( who was a giant of a man ) ran out of the house and caught the car before it went into the traffic on main street and threw the Driver's door open, shoved me over and hit the brakes. I couldn't sit down for days as I recall once my Mom was through with me.
regards,
Painless

[alamein]

Straight eight Packard or was that the pre-1940 Buick I'm thinking of PW, as I recall a couple of those machines around Luton in about'47, possibly from the USAF base at Chicksands?

Side valve 'Pop' Eh' WW? Pa had one of those classic regulation black bouncers with red upholstery and of course those vacuum operated windscreen wipers?

Dad and Mum drove down to my pass out parade from the JLR's in '57 in that old bone shaker?
Eee'Ooop' chaps, we'll be reminiscing about Wartime Nutty Rissoles and Whalemeat Etc. next I reckon?

[alamein]

Crash gearboxes? Aaargh! 43rd R&R.
As were Cents transmissions as of course you will be aware.

[jarndice]

Centurion Gearboxes PAH
You want pain in the Back gearboxes I offer the Dingo Pre-select matched to a steering wheel that was the reverse of a regular one and then you do have a challenge.
Once was enough for me.
Shaun.