Commer Q2: Truck, 15-cwt, 4x2, Van

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Via Steve Wright who shared photos "from the Thompson Brothers archive".

As far as I can tell this water bowser type was not taken into production.

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another nice Commer Q2 photo, not a Van but a Tractor with 8'0'' wheelbase:

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Plus, a photo of the manual for this Tractor:

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

Page from a RAF vehicle data book, courtesy of Ted Angus. He wrote the pre-heater van had a 10ft wheelbase and the heater fan was driven by 3 V-belts driven by a PTO on the nearside of the gearbox.

"Aircraft Pre-Heater Van on Commer Q.2. 4 x 2 chassis"

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[Davdberg]

Does anyone know what the actual difference is between the Q15 and the Q2 GS model?

Seems Q2's have a single glass piece front window, or am I mistaken?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Davdberg

Does anyone know what the actual difference is between the Q15 and the Q2 GS model?

A Q15 had a 4 cylinder engine, and the Q2 had a 6 cylinder engine. Wheel sizes differed too.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Davdberg

Does anyone know what the actual difference is between the Q15 and the Q2 GS model?

Seems Q2's have a single glass piece front window, or am I mistaken?

Hi David,

Like Richard says the Q15 has a 4-cylinder and the Q2 a 6-cylinder engine. Single glass front window was early/mid, the two piece window was a late feature from what I can see.

I have this spare parts list: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...162#post274162, plus a postwar Q2 maintenance manual. Happy to look up info you are looking for.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Does anyone know if there were two different widths of front fenders? Sometimes it looks like the Q15 has narrower fenders when compared with the Q2 and Q4.......or is it just the beefy wheels of the latter two that make it look like the fenders are wider?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Good point Alex. Vanderveen lists a width of 78 inches for both Q15 and Q2, but I have the same feeling that the Q15 is in fact narrower.

Ref. http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...121#post137121

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Does anyone know if there were two different widths of front fenders? Sometimes it looks like the Q15 has narrower fenders when compared with the Q2 and Q4.......or is it just the beefy wheels of the latter two that make it look like the fenders are wider?

Alex,
The Q15 had 7.50-20 tyres and the Q2 had 10.50-16, so front wings are likely to be different due to the tyre widths.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Page from a RAF vehicle data book, courtesy of Ted Angus. He wrote the pre-heater van had a 10ft wheelbase and the heater fan was driven by 3 V-belts driven by a PTO on the nearside of the gearbox.

"Aircraft Pre-Heater Van on Commer Q.2. 4 x 2 chassis"

“Ground crew of No. 3208 Servicing Commando, insert collapsible tubes from a pre-heating van into the air intake and radiator of a Hawker Typhoon Mark IB in the snow at B58/Melsbroek, Belgium. The tubes fed hot air into the Napier Sabre engines, which were notoriously difficult to start in wintry conditions, and required this treatment at regular intervals to maintain serviceability.”

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[KevinHann]

Commer Q2 pickup somewhere in the Western Desert...

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by KevinHann

Commer Q2 pickup somewhere in the Western Desert...

That's a new one to me, thanks!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

As posted over on HMVF: https://hmvf.co.uk/topic/45701-somet...t-follow-amos/

LarryH57: This Commer Q2 has a base coat of M.T. Special Shade No.2, (the RAF version of SCC.2) but instead of Brown Dark (MT) 1A or Paint, P.F.U., Black Matt, it has the camo as Green No. 3

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RAFMT: You need to be very careful trying to judge shade from period colour film as it is notoriously crap actually picking up what is in front of it. Having said that, depending on when this vehicle was painted, and when the image was taken, there could be any number of reasons it doesn't fit right in. For a start, while the paint for canvas and those for wood/metal were colour matched as closely as possible they will weather differently and if the canvas needs to be replaced they wont necessarily repaint the whole vehicle just to match the newly painted canvas.

To me, that's a Brown, Special, No.2 with Black, Quick Drying, Matt Finish, which has, a: fade slightly; and b: the faded colour shows up funny on the old colour film.