Fordson WOT8

[Dusonn]

Few more pictures of the cab, petrol tank with holders, rear fenders and engine parts. As you can see there is a long way to go, but surely worth the effort to save this piece of British history.

Still wonder if anybody could identify where L4574948 could serve. Is there any archive to search in?
Anybody knows who owns the ex-Andrew Morgan WOT8 in the UK?

[Howard]

Great stuff!

[Dusonn]

Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Battalion of the Czechoslovak Independent Brigade help cleaning rubble after the air-bombing of Coventry, UK, spring 1942.

[jack neville]

Lots to start with Dusan.
What is the channel piece to the right of the fuel tank? Is that part of the spare wheel holder?

[Dusonn]

Hi Jack,

thats actually the fuel tank holder platform. I initially wrongly identified it as the spare wheel holder, but it fits on the left side of the chassis just under the tank. So I am also missing the spare wheel holder.

Not sure if you got my email, but I have a spare fuel tank which could be yours. Clean inside, but has a dent on one side and the lid is missing the lever (see picture). It is very heavy however so the transport to OZ might be quite expensive...

[Dusonn]

Found the period pictures of WOT8s are quite scarce on the internet so few for you guys to enjoy.

Fordsons of Czechoslovak Light Field Ambulance, Northampton, UK, April 1944

[Dusonn]

Engineer Company of the Czechoslovak Independent Brigade, Yeovill 1942

[chippyrail]

Hi, I am making the Resicast GS conversion of the ICM WOT 6 kit in 1/35th scale & I am stuck on the petrol tank size. I thought the tank on the WOT 8 & 6 were the same size but the tank in the Resicast kit is so much larger than the one in the ICM WOT 6 kit. Would you know if the two vehicles had the same size tank & would it be possible to let me have the size of yours please?
Regards Howard Robins

[Dusonn]

Hello Howard,

although I haven´t had an opportunity to see any WOT6, the large petrol tanks should be the same. I had two tanks with my WOT8 and a friend has another one on his. All three match. The WOT6 followed up with production after the WOT8 was ceased so they used the same parts on the early types. Even the holders looks the same. Below find the basic dimensions.
To give you a scale for your modell, the wheel rim measures 59cm in diameter.

For those who buy the ICM WOT8 kit and decide to dedicate it to the Czechoslovak Independent brigade in Great Britain, the "lion" insignia they sell it with is wrong. The ICM got probably inspired by some of my period pictures but missed the detail and used a butcher gild lion instead! The brigade badge was used up to June 1943 until it got replaced by the Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade Group badge - white lion on the red cross with blue background. Both should look like these originals here.

[chippyrail]

Hi Dusonn, thanks for the measurements. this tank has the markings as the Resicast model, Which I have mislaid!! Could you tell me what the markings for the WOT 8 would have been for the Czechoslovak Army in the Middle East? Thanks for your help, much appreciated. Howard

[Dusonn]

Originally Posted by chippyrail

Hi Dusonn, thanks for the measurements. this tank has the markings as the Resicast model, Which I have mislaid!! Could you tell me what the markings for the WOT 8 would have been for the Czechoslovak Army in the Middle East? Thanks for your help, much appreciated. Howard

Howard, I do not think the Czechoslovak Army in the Middle East would have had a WOT8, at least there is no photo evidence for this. They used all sorts of vehicles including early CMPs but not many as it was an infantry battalion in early years and when there was a need for long range transfer they used British transport units. No specific Czechoslovak marking was used. From half of 1942 when the Czechoslovak battalion 11 - East got transformed to Czechoslovak Light AA regiment -200, they got Bofors guns mostly towed by Bedford QLs, Morris CDSW tractors etc. An order came in at the time to use Czechoslovak flag marking on the right wing such as below. On 4th July 1943 the regiment was tranfered to Great Britain where they join the Czechoslovak brigade...