| Archive for Coalhouse Fort Project Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury, Essex. |
| ArtistsRifles |
She's a big girl - but she's all mine!!!Well - handed over 6,000 of the readies today and now the big girl is mine!!Meet Maude folks: 
Now all I have to do is find a good home to store her in - right now she's still living in her old home in East Sussex. Talking to Stuart at Kelvedon yesterday he seemed to think she might just fit through the Fort gates - shes 8/6" wide at the widest point which is about 12" above the top of the tyres - so he suggested I bring her to the Fort on the next open day (25th June) and see how it looks. |
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| coalhousedave |
 congratulations neil
when are we all going sailing then??? 
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| ArtistsRifles |
When all the drop-side seals have been replaced - now sitting in my garage at home.... 
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| coalhousedave |
ill hold you to that then!!
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| ArtistsRifles |
OK - but don't hold your breath cos its gonna be a while!!!!!
First - I've gotto get her back closer to home and I'm very worried about the gate widths esp. as the insurance policy says she has to be inside a locked compound!! THEN I've got to strip off all the old ones THEN - most likely (you know the laws of S*d) all the metal strips that hold them in place will need remaking - average cost of £200 - so I'll need to save up the £200.... THEN the new rubbers need soaking in a hot bath for a day to get them back into shape THEN they can be refitted THEN I need to find somewhere to dip her and make sure nothing is leaking - esp.not leaking catastrophically (think winch bay) AND THEN we can go for a swim!!!!!!!!
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| coalhousedave |
im sure between us we could take her for a cruise on the forts ponds
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| ArtistsRifles |
Yep - once the seals are done!!
How deep are the Forts ponds??????? 4ft or less and we'll still be driving!!
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| Guest |
THEY ARE MOATS AND 2ft DEEP |
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| coalhousedave |
 i know they are moats
im sure they are deeper than that though 
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| saracenstump |
neil,
nice onehope to see her soon
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| ArtistsRifles |
Well - had a phone call from Tim, the previous owner of the Stalwart tonight - she's been checked out and is ready to roll as and when. He's working 7 on, 7 off so - if I've worked the numbers right - he's free this week end (but I'm not), working the W/E of the 25th and free again the 1st/2nd July.
Any one going to be around the Fort on the 2nd for a lets-try-not-to-remove-the-gates exercise???
Incidentally - here's a memory jerker for those who were at Beltring last year: 
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| safariswing |
1st, that should upset the Wedding guests or could be handy for clearing the rubbish, 2nd at Damyns Hall... | ||||
| ArtistsRifles |
Eh - now I'm confused and worried!!!!!! 
What wedding??? Whats happening at Damyns Hall?? Fort calendar on the website is blank from June 25th to July 30th.... Now you've got me worried about getting her this side of the river
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| safariswing |
1st DD's wedding.. Top secret
1st/2nd Damyns Hall http://www.mvt-essex.org.uk/events.htm coming?? |
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| ArtistsRifles |
Hmm - think I'll pass on the wedding
Damyns Hall is a possible though. Could pick her up up on Saturday and make a late arrival at Upminster then follow on back Sunday!! That has definite possibilities.
And I is a fully paid up member of the MVT too now - I assume a phone call to Colin is required to book her in? Oh - forgot to mention earlier - when talking to Tim tonight I mentioned you guys had been kind enough to invite me to join you and he sudenly asked if that was the group with a John who owned a Saladin. I said it was so he said John should know him very well as they got their vehicles (Saladin and Stalwart) more or less together. Full name of the seller is Tim Haines. In whhich case, apparently, John is also very familiar with the Stalwart already
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| saracenstump |
one question do you have somewhere to keep her if she doesn't fit? |
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| ArtistsRifles |
One (word) answer - Nope!!!!
Been looking all this time but places big enough to take 9.5 tons of Stalwart are scarcer than rocking horse dropppings!!! Only thing right now is if the load bed fits but the hubs are too wide the torsion bars can be cranked up to reduce the track. The only possibiities remaining right now if it's a no-go are: Stable Self Storage Elmshaws Farm, Tye Common Road, Little Burstead, Billericay, Essex CM12 9SB Tel: 01277 658001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakeside Storage Bretts Farm, Romford Rd, Aveley, South Ockendon, Essex RM15 4XD Tel: 01708 866566 Thee's some car storage places out Saffron Walden/Stansted way - but I doubt they could cope with something that big or that their fees would be affordable (they seem to cater for Ferraris. Astons, Mercs and creations of that ilk). |
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| ArtistsRifles |
Oh well.... Best laid plans of mice and men (and MV owners) etc.....
The wife mk1 has just reminded we that we've got something already booked on the night of July 1st...  
Looks like it's going to be a case of meeting every one on the Sunday and in the meantime praying like hell (everyone please - to the deity of your choosing) that it will actually fit!!!! |
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| FV601 |
Neil
I know your Stolly well and can say you have got a good one there. You say you are already booked on the Saturday? When will you be picking the old girl up then? as if it is anything like a normal MVT event it might just be all over time you get there on Sunday if you intend to pick her up then. Might I suggest you do the trip on the Saturday and drop her off at Daymns Hall and we shall keep an eye on her overnight then you can perhaps get the missus to drop you off on the Sunday morning and be able to spend time at the show. |
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| ArtistsRifles |
Could be a plan John - I know we have to be where we're going by 5:00pm so I'll have a word with Tim and make sure he'll be OK with this.
And, more importantly with the Wife
AutoRoute reckons it's a 2.5 hour drive at the Stalwarts road speed of 20mph coming back via A roads until I have to hit the M25 for the tunnel. This means I'll need to be leaving Tim by mid-day, allowing for a couple of check stops enroute to make sure all the oil levels are holding etc. that should get us to Upminster at about 15:30. Time for a quick chat then before heading home to get changed. If this falls through - what time do you expect to be back at the Fort on Sunday ??? I'll have meet you all there...
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| FV601 |
No idea as to return time as of yet Neil but will keep you posted | ||||
| ArtistsRifles |
Cheer John - much obliged. I'm pushing for the Saturday solution still - but one of the lessons learnt from HM Forces is always cover the bases!!!! | ||||
| ArtistsRifles |
I'm sensing a definite theme here in getting this vehicle home!!!
So much so I'm beginning to think the amount of bad karma being visited upon me would fill the Stalwarts load bed to overflowing and have more in reserve!!
Latest sit-rep - had an e-mail from Tim, the previous owner, the other night - he's tied up the planned weekend so now it looks like being the weekend of the 8th/9th July. I've checked both events calendars and nothing is - apprently - scheduled for that weekend so does any one know of any reason why it would not be a good idea to bring her back and try the width problem??? And if she don't fit then - to quote the immortal BlackAdder: "We're in the stickiest situation since Sticky the Stick Insect got stuck on a sticky bun." 
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| safariswing |
We will be at the Fort that weekend... |
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| ArtistsRifles |
Way things are gong Lee you should added "so far" onto that statement!!!
I've just taken the bottom-of-the-barrel step of asking security/HR here at Dunton if they'll let me put her on one of the car parks for a litle while... Knowing what this place is like though - I'm not holding my breath!!!
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| coalhousedave |
i used to work at dunton neil
where are you based??? hr and security are ok had a couple of cars parked myself for a few months this is going back a bit mind
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| ArtistsRifles |
Ground floor in B building - the area where you never know what the weather is like outside 'cos you are so far from any windows
I tried asking security first as the head of department used to work at Aveley as did I but he referred me to HR saying they couldn't do anythig unless HR approved it. So I've written to the name he gave me - and she's off till tomorrow!! Just hoping she's had a good time off and is in an amenable mood - fingers crossed!!!! Got to admit I much preferred the atmosphere at Aveley - it was more of a family plant where everyone knew everyone and all pulled together. Dunton seems to be split with PD, Manufacturing and PowerTrain all pulling in different directions. Roll on early retirement is all I can say. Heard today the Germans are accelerating the rotation of work out to the Fourth Reich such that it will be complete by Q4 2007, not 2010 as planned!!! |
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| coalhousedave |
we beat them in the war but they've won!!
joking aside though i think the country is pretty fuc*ed up the fact that we dont manufacture anything anymore we will be importing everything and no one will have a job. anyway im gonna put my soapbox away now!!
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| ArtistsRifles |
Sadly this is true!!!
However on the brighter side of things I've now found a place as a fall-back if she doesn't fit through the Fort gate. There's a storage firm in Barking called PACU - http://www.pacu.co.uk/ - based down in River Road. Funnily enough I found them on the CASSOA web site whilst looking for something entirely unrelated. Cost is £1.25/day - does that sound reasonable???? For those who know CASSOA - the site has their silver rating for security and facilities. Anyways - fingers crossed that now I've found somewhere that I won't need it..
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| ArtistsRifles |
OK - got the expected response given the type of person working in Dunton HR these days:
This is the sort of thing that makes the ex-Aveley employees regret the closure of the plant even more - had we still been there permission would have been granted to store her inisde the security perimeter.... Ah well.... |
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| coalhousedave |
its because there all graduates now
with no practical experience of life or anything else for that matter!!!
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| ArtistsRifles |
Isn't that the awful truth!!!!!
Roll on early retirement !!
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| ArtistsRifles |
Right - Op. Recovery is now scheduled for this Sunday (15th). Going down Saturday for the hand-over and familiarisation with Tim, the previous owner and to get the spares loaded - either onto the Stalwart or into the wife Mk 1's estate.
Then on Sunday returning with Stuart to bring her back home and try the Fort gates. If that fails then there is a firm called PACU in River Road, Barking, who provide storage for caravans etc who've said they can take her (although yet to confirm the provisional arrangement ) at £1.25/Day. Security there is reasonable as they hold a Silver CASSOA rating! Really looking forwards to this - although a part of me is decidedly nervous as it's been 25 years since I last sat behind the wheel of a 6x6!! Any one else going to be at the Fort on Sunday to make sure we don't dismember the gateway??
Then the following Thursday (20th) I need to get her out again - from wherever she's stored - to go to Dunton and thence the W&P show..... Fortunately for the first bit one of the guys from work has volunteered to be the second pair of eyes
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| ArtistsRifles |
You know - some one up there has REALLY got it in for me!!!
Just had an e-mail from the fall-back storage firm, PACU, saying they DON'T have any room after all 
Don't these <censoreds> ever talk to each other 
All prayers to the diety of your choosing for a successful - if tight - fit through the Fort gates would be much appreciated now!! |
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| saracenstump |
what happens if not as driving to work in it will cost a fortune!!!!!!!! | ||||
| FV601 |
Neil
If it doesnt fit through bring it directly to Beltring on the Sunday. At least you will have a few more days to sort things out and you can always get the other half to drop you off later in the week. Both Lee and myself are there from Friday so it will be in good hands until you arrive. Just a thought |
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| saracenstump |
that would be a good idea | ||||
| ArtistsRifles |
Thanks John - didn't cross my mind to do that!!
I am SEVERELY p**'d off at this bunch though - one of them tells me all is OK, plenty of room etc. so I make the arrangements then virtually at the last minute another member of the same company says no go!! I tell you - I am seriously tempted to go talk to a legal eagle - which is most unusual for me as I usually avoid those parasites like the plague - about whether it's possible to breach unwritten agreements as I've got all the e-mails with the offers of space & price etc.
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| CanadianScottish |
Neil, save your time and money, check for the standard disclaimer on their e-mail. All companies these days have a standard note that says the e-mail isn't worth the paper it's printed on. | ||||
| ArtistsRifles |
Yeah - I know..
Needed to let off steam though - I really do get wound up by unprofessional conduct on the part of people who are quite prepared to take large sums of money off me!!! If I'd used them and mucked them about when it came time to pay then they'd have got on my back big-time!! Spent the day digging around the web though and I think I'm going to be OK, just!! - the Stalwart is only 3.2" wider than Stuarts Saracen according to official figures so - all being equal - all should be well.
If it ain't - then there's going to be a lot of upset people at work come Thursday if I have to take her back to Beltring Sunday afternoon.... |
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| saracenstump |
neil another small problem!if it does fit into the fort there's no-one too let you out as you won't have a set of keys and i'm at work as usual until the weekend.so to be honest you would be better to either take it straight to w&p or find another place to store it for the time being... | ||||
| ArtistsRifles |
Aaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Will nothing ever go right??????? An alternative is now out at least until Monday when I can start looking again and I'm gonna get lynched walking in Monday to tell 'em it ain't coming after all !!
Oh well - at least if we try it Sunday we know it will fit and that will be one less worry.........
If it does then I might be able to find a temp location for 3 days.... Depends on how obliging the couple who run the farm/stables where we store our 'van are feeling....... If I can tell them it's only for 3 days and will def. be going somewhere else after they might let me put it on one of the bays belonging to a van thats out on holiday. Fingers - everything - crossed!! |
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| ArtistsRifles |
Right - I've been on the phone talking VERY nicely to the couple who run the place our caravan is stored at. They have agreed to let me put her there until Thursday morning.
So if she fits in the gates Sunday - all well and good. If she doesn't then I've got till Thursday to find another home for her...... |
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| coalhousedave |
8)fear not young jedi use the force and let it guide your actions!
seriously though i may have a place for you to keep it securely on on a semi/permanent basis i run a small garage (mainly for my fleet) and my landlord has oodles of space and is always on the lookout for a nice little earner (i suggest that you say to him "little" if you know what i mean) will see you at the weekend ask one of the others to point me out thats if the gates at the fort are too small see you soon
MAY THE FORT BE WITH YOU! |
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| ArtistsRifles |
Many thanks good sir!!!!!
We had a GOOD day today - go down to East Sussex about 11:00 - mainly because two cans of oil wouldn't stay still in the back of the car and the wife was a bit panicky (sp?) with them rolling about. Tim arrived about 20 minutes later and we transferred the remainder of the spares into the car. He had to get a party going so I spent an hour familiarising myself with the cab layout/controls and rumbling around the field getting a good feel for the steering.
Once the children's event was running we took her out for a spin on he road to a petrol station whereupon our account dropped another £90 - without much change to the state of the fuel gauge!!. Apologies to all if this sounds like blowing ones own trumpet but I was pleased with myself that the arcane art of double declutching for the gearshifts cane back so quickly And that I got the knack of catching the steering before the rams took over!!!!
Found another two jobs to be done once we find a permanent home for her - the speedo isn't working, I have a new one but Tim thinks it might be the drive from the O/S front bevel box, and the lens has gone from the spot light plus its locked in position and won't rotate. I think she's going to keep me out of rouble (apart from the financial sort) rather well!!!!
Looking forwards now to the drive to get her home tomorrow. One thing I have learnt from today is that having a#2 is more than desirable - esp. when trying to turn left out of side roads..... |
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| Guest |
top her up with another 180ltr and you will be laughing
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| ArtistsRifles |
And bankrupt!!!
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| Guest |
Cheaper than Divorce, so keep her filled up ! | ||||
| ArtistsRifles |
True - but I suspect if I keep draining the main account to put fuel in Maud then divorce might be the next thing heard!!
Will be putting another £90 in on Thursday when I set off for work &the W&P show so that should last me for a while!!!! |
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| CRUSTY |
what land are you living in i think you may need to put more than that in it stu done £150 just going to waltham abbey (no offence) | ||||
| Guest |
Now that gives the game away | ||||
| ArtistsRifles |
Aha! - so I guessed right as to the name of the person behind the ID of Crusty in the appropriate post then
No offence taken - a Stalwart might well be lighter than a Saracen and the gear ratio's could also be different. Also - if memory serves the Saracen has a fluid flywheel with a preselect box whereas the Stalwart has a purely mechanical clutch with conventional 5 speed box. Fluid flywheels and preselectors aren't very fuel efficient - kind of like comparing the fuel consumption figures between the manual and automatic versions of the same car. I worked the fuel calc's from Autotoute using the advised rate of 2.5 MPG from the owners forum (and not the 4 MPG the book says) hence the figures quoted. Tim put £160 in her this time last year and that took him to Belring and back, all the running around at the show and from then till I put the fuel in today. |
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| ArtistsRifles |
Phase 2 of the move is now completed - Maud is sitting in a field beside the home of the owners of our caravan storage site.
We went down to the Fort and she fitted - JUST!! Had to remove the mirrors and the flashy beacon from the back but other than that it went in OK. Definitely a two - possibly three - man job getting her in though!! Didn't have a very auspicious start as the right indicator and the brake lights decided to stop working. Got the indicator fixed somehow but the brake lights went from none to on full time and stayed there... I know what the problem is and, if there's time, will fix it down at Beltring. If not then as soon as we get back from holidays. I would like to say a big Thank You to Stuart for his invaluable help in getting her home - literally couldn't have done it without him. I know he enjoyed he sights from the roof, esp at Bentley!!
Also a big Thank You to young Vicky for lending him to me for the day!! Next issue looks to be finding a#2 from Fords Dunton plant to the W&P show on Thursday as every one today has been telling not to make the run alone!! |
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| ArtistsRifles |
Looks like the filling of the #2 seat to Beltring has been solved - one of the members of the Stalwart Owners Forum currently sans vehicle (but still married so there's a plus!!) has offered to meet me at Dartford, probably in the Thurrock services on Thursday afternoon. | ||||