Blitz Buddies visit the collection
On a very sunny afternoon at the end of September the we hosted an open day for all our friends in the Blitz Buddies.
Graeme, Rhoda and William watch on....
A great day. Hopefully we will see the BB back for a spot of camping in the very near future.
Spring is in the air.
With only nine months to go until the Dig for Victory Show, it has been an action packed few months here at the Shopland Collection. With the help of Tom Standeven from the local Imps we have completely stripped and repainted the Morrison shelter which is to take pride of place in the 1940's Home Marquee.
Ken Trego has been busy sign writting signs:
And a massive effort from the set building crew led by Corwin, including Blitz Buddies, Rich, Harry, John, to name but a few turned around our old four wheeled box trailer into the something pretty special for the command centre at DFVS 2014 -the Ops Room.
We still have some way to go but it is all progress.
War and Peace 2013
71 years young, he Beach Master completed over 450 miles last week and didn't miss a beat. In soaring temperatures she cruised to Folkstone and raced back to Somerset six days later. The only problem we had on the way home was the vast amount of dust covering the windscreen and the headlights failed as we approached Bristol.
The show itself was well worth the 6 hour drive and lived up to all our expectaions. A few minor teething problems did nothing to stall a great venue. As always it was good to see so many old friends from all over the globe, even from as far afield as Australia and I am sorry to all those I missed but we'll be back next year. All in all the a fabulous trip to Kent.
Clevedon Flower Show
Vehilces from the Collection were out in Clevedon today flying the flag for Western Branch of the Invicta Military Preservation Society with Tim K and his Willy Jeep. As always the armoured car was a very popular and the Anderson Shelter a real croud pleaser. The vehicles will be on site tomorrow.
October update....
Restoration news in brief:
The Austin engine has be refitted and is running like a dream. (Hopefully not speaking to soon!)
After months of anguish we have managed to get the clutch brake to work on the old AEC tmber tractor. It was getting teribly embaraessing leaving half of your gears on the floor each time you attempted to change gear.
After months of fettling the Jeep chassis was sent off to be shot blasted. The Little Lady will soon be back on her feet.
And finally the Magneto was striped off the BSA and rebuilt. First time the old bike has been running in nearly 15 years.
In the meantime we have also be moving the odd vehicle and trying to get the workshop straight. Never a dull moment!