any know if he's still about

I believe he moved and changed tel no's and his wife is quite scarey i've heard. Chrisw had a contact for him iirc.. but Bob or Conrod might know as well..

Ned.

I can confirm merlin is alive

Yes neds is correct chrisw did hear from merlin a while back,he has evidently stripped his locost after the mice made a meal of the wiring while in storage(barn)
He is now rebuilding another pile of shite and i think its possible RV8 figures somewhere.

a V8 dutton i seem to remember

I was right then

That ought to bring him out of the woodwork. Very tactful Ned .