AEC gun tractor

[DaveCox]

I'm looking for references for a model truck that I'm working on. In Bart's "Historic Military Vehicles Directory" page 185 it refers to an experimental gun tractor based on the AEC 854/0854 chassis. Does anyone have any pictures of this truck, or any ideas what body would have been fitted? a longer version of the Matador body perhaps, or the same as that used on the postwar AEC Militant prime mover (page 191)?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by DaveCox
In Bart's "Historic Military Vehicles Directory" page 185 it refers to an experimental gun tractor based on the AEC 854/0854 chassis. Does anyone have any pictures of this truck, or any ideas what body would have been fitted? a longer version of the Matador body perhaps, or the same as that used on the postwar AEC Militant prime mover (page 191)?

Dave,

In Bart's original Observers Fighting Vehicles Directory, see page 173 for a photo of the prototype with soft skin cab and one with armoured cab. The engines were larger than the Matador or O854, being an AEC 9.5 litre of 150 bhp. The bodies are low silhouette, unlike the Matador or Militant.

Richard

[DaveCox]

Thanks Richard, unfortunately I don't have that book! By 'low silhouette' would this be more like the Albion FT15N type?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by DaveCox
By 'low silhouette' would this be more like the Albion FT15N type?

Dave,

Yes.....body very similar.

Richard

[DaveCox]

Thanks mate, at least I have pics of that one!!

[Mick Bell]

There is a drawing of the AEC experimental gun tractor on the MAFVA website, resources page.

http://www.mafva.org/

I hope this helps.

[DaveCox]

Thanks Mick,

That's a totally different cab to the original truck, loads more scratchbuilding.... and I'd already started making it!

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by DaveCox
Thanks Mick,

That's a totally different cab to the original truck,

Dave,

The drawings are of the later cab. The early version had very deep windscreen glass, right down to top of radiator, door and quarterlight glass much deeper also. Is this how you are building one?

Richard

[DaveCox]

Due to the lack of other pictorial references (the older OFVD isn't in my collection!) I used the original AEC 0854 (Matador style) cab - I guess I have the makings of a 6x6 truck, but not a gun tractor!!!!:

[cliff]

Originally posted by DaveCox
Due to the lack of other pictorial references

Dave I am sorry to say that I am glad that I am not the only one that has information turn up AFTER starting a model which either means A/ a complete rebuild or B/ making a totally different version of it to the one you accually wanted to make.:

Cheers
Cliff