Thread: The Ultimate FC

While I am at it , somemore Alvis Stalwart history.
As per a previous post the stalwart was developed from the Salamander fire fighter.

This is the first stalwart.

It couldnt float unless it was wrapped in canvas and had no water jets.
This is the next one made which lead the way forward.

It had a single hatch on the roof and a large radiator blast shute for water operations.

The next ones had the fuel filler moved above the water line and the exhaust moved from the rear of the cabin to the rear of the cargo area.

Another interesting version of the salamander was this.

It is set up to test aircraft tyres and landing gear.
You can just see the extra tyre underneath.

The first vehicle of the series was the Saladin amoured vehicle.

Developed from the Saladin was the Saracin APC

They all have similer suspension and drive system.
The stalwart has a bigger motor, with manual transmission , verses preselector box and a locker in the diff with the Stalwart.
Note all the names start with "S"
It also explains why the stalwart has thick plates on the lower part of it hull.
The Saracin and the stalwart were made on the same production line if and when required.

Another interesting fact the Stalwart has a secondary proplosion system when swiming in the drink .
water jets 6.5 knots
Spinning drive wheels 4 knots.???????????
Steering in water is normally done by vetoring the water jets.(each jet can be steered independant of the other and reversed independant)
It can be done by the twin leading steering wheels or both wheels and jets.
it is possible to get a Stolly to crab side ways in the water.

Just a quick up date.
Whisle the passenger seats are being reupholstered I have taken to the seat belt rewinds as they were jamed.
The clock springs were rusted and broken
After some searching I found some forklift seat belt rewind springs that will do the job.



I have moved the stolly out doors as the short winter days limit me to about 30mins work after my 4.00pm knock off time with my job in a shed with no electricity.
The air charge tank is out of it as I wanted to ensure the auto water drain valve is working and the air system is not full of water.
The auto drain valve can be a problem, so I have fitted a Tee piece and a hand drain valve too.
It must be remembered the engine and workings cannot be accessed if the vehicle is loaded and thats why the vehicle is fitted with auto water drains and remote engine oil level sensor.

The charge tank sand blasted of rust and painted.



Charge tank assembled ready for refitting.

The rust in the top of hull needs to be treated as if it is left any longer it will be rusted though.
The problem is of needle gunning the rust will take along time with noise issuses in side the hull and cabin.
Sand blasting will fill the hull with sand.
I am still to work out a answer.
The cabin bolt on side steps have been sand blasted and painted and sealed on the hull with silastic.
I think I can solve my sparkplug problems by using civie sparkplugs which gives me the option of fitting self cleaning plugs and making a adaptor for the military suppressed HT leads.

To fix the rust will require stripping of most body fittings, floor plates, tail gates, cabin access plates etc.
I am not ready to go there yet.
The shed to store it under cover I may soon lose and settting up a ridge pole and body tarp is more important.
Any leaves, dirt, water ect gets collected in the back and ends up in the goo in the bottom of the hull.
A tarp is important.
The Mark 2 Limber stolly with crane had two tall posts to take the ridge pole over the crane.
I was thinking just using one long post at the rear and use the crane itself to support the pole at the front.

Now for some old pics
Prototype water testing.