Monthly Archives: September 2025

Grenadier build – sealed snorkel

4X4, Aussie made, Australia, , ,

The Doc just paid for the final work on Wally, being:

  1. install the diff breather kit;
  2. add rear airbags for towing the van (Poly Air, the ones also used on the van); and
  3. a bolt on a sealed snorkel. It is a bolt on job, no cutting. GrenX’s final development of the diesel airbox is now complete. Rohan confirmed to me last Friday at the 4WD and Adventure Show.

The Doc has some DIY things to do, but GrenX will do the final work. The Doc needs to book the trip to Melbourne. The Doc organized the final work with GrenX at the Sydney 4WD and Adventure show.

Watching the Grenadiers do water crossings up at Cape York in the Canny Outdoor video was the final prompt.

Narromine Aviation Museum

4X4, NSW, States, ,

On the trip to collect the Vista RV Crossover caravan, The Doc had a short stay at Dubbo and managed to visit the Narromine Aviation Museum.

During WWII Narromine was one of the largest pilot training schools in Australia. Images include the Rolls Royce Merlin engine, from a De Haviland Mosquito, as well as parts of the Bristol Beaufighter used by Australia during WWII.

The Mosquito used a Rolls Royce Merlin Mk25 engine. It had a single stage supercharger for low level missions of 618 RAF Squadron. In December 1944, 618 RAF Squadron was deployed to Australia to use Barnes Wallis’ Highball bomb against Japanese targets – aka a variation of Wallis’ famous dambuster bombs. But 618 were never deployed into combat in the Pacific and the Mosquitos ended up at Narromine and were sold off after the war. De Havilland Aircraft also built Mosquitos at Bankstown Aerodrome in Sydney.

The Dambusters were 617 RAF Squadron, flying Lancaster Bombers using the Upkeep variation of the bouncing bomb.

After towing the Vista RV Crossover to Dubbo, The Doc visited the Narromine Aviation Museum.