Thanks for the info everyone 😊

The gate valve makes sense for controlling the water flow, as does the progression of the monitors. The 1st gen monitors I don't think I've ever seen if that's the case. Do you have any documents on that Paul? Or is it only passed on knowledge?

Thanks!
Stephen

Thanks Paul

Roger,
upload button on the left, then choose wherever the pic is on your pc, so for me, its desktop, my folder that contains all the rc stuff, then the specific folder, then click on the pic, and upload! takes a few mins, then its there 👍

HI Paul, how can I upload a photo with a reply
sorry Stephen not trying to hijack your thread but was going to try adding photo of mine!!
Roger

its a bit of brass rod, with a pin board pin cynoed on the end! 😀 at least that's what it is on mine!

So the story is this, there were (allegedly) 3 types of monitors used on 93 and 94. The ones pictured, and represented on my 4 foot boat, small stumpy ones, and the commonly available ones that most people have. These were the last incarnation. Reliably informed by someone who had been on these boats, could be way off the mark, but I like the story! Mine are second gen, the stumpy ones being 1st gen, didn't last long, or so I am told!

Paul

I thought it was a gate valve to control water flow

Roger

HI Stephen
Happy to send a copy, but the plan is bigger than A4. I can scan with my wand scanner but it takes a while. Sorry if I misled you about which was the later type I was using your presumption in my description the plans show the version commonly seen and modelled.

Can't see any detail on the plan but there does appear to be a bit sticking out. Could it be a locking mechanism to hold the monitor secure when in transit. I suspect the monitor would be easily rotated by the operator in use and possibly the lock may have helped keep the nozzle on target. Just my interpretation of a likely scenario. Any firefighters out there may be able to advise from their own experience. 😀

Thanks all. I have had a read of Paul's blog.

Dave, would it be possible to send me the drawing you have and where it shows it as the later type? I naturally assumed it would be an earlier type based on the photo of the 93.

I have a second question too... Just above the handle at the bottom on the centre post there's a part that sticks out. I have a vague recolection of it being a gearbox? Or some kind of mechanism to rotate the monitor?

HI Stephen
I have some detailed drawings kindly supplied by Peter Dimberline. They are called monitors on the official drawings and were as you surmised in two flavours. The drawings I have show the type you refer to as the later type.
The monitors were driven by a single Ford V8 petrol engine driving a Sun Engineering vane pump delivering 2250/2500 g.p.m. of foam or 500/600 g.p.m of water. The two foam compound tanks had a capacity of 50 gals each so I assume this was mixed with water to make the foam.
The pump was connected to both monitors and the two deck connections behind the main cabin.
The pump input was either sea water from a connection in the hull base, a connection in the rear well for the salvage hoses or foam, controlled by a valve system below decks.
Both vessels were originally intended to support the Sunderland (Princess) flying boats but as this project was abandoned they were used mainly as experimental craft by the RAF.
This could explain the changed monitors if more efficient type became available. 😀

I think there is something about them in pmdevlin's build blog.

Alan