RAF vehicles

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Alex van de Wetering
I have got two RAF-vehicles on top of my wish-list for scale models. One being the Commer Q2 with Queen Mary trailer and the second being the Fordson WOT1 Balloon truck.

Alex

Here's one in action:

http://www.oldcmp.net/Images/Aircraf...queen_mary.jpg

From one of my Western Desert pages.

[Les Freathy]

Nice photo Keith the desert salvage squad at there best


heres a pre war RAF Ransome mounted crane, still some discussion over here if it is a Leyland or Albion my thoughts go with Leyland

[Alex van de Wetering]

Phil,

Great shot of a balloon truck in action! This is a scene which I would love to replicate as a scale model.


Keith,

Thanks for the great shot of the Commer Q2. I also found these shots in the Australian War Memorial Database:



Source: www.awm.gov.au

Alex

[Allan Hillman]

I quite agree about the site - I actually found a photo of my father lining up for an injection at RAF Ford - taken at the end of May 1944.

As well as RAF squadrons, 125 Wing had an Australian Squadron (453) and the Doc. was an Oz hence the Oz press interest. Amazing finding such a photo from the other side of the world!!

cheers

Allan

[Les Freathy]

One more to help you with the model project Alex, is it 1/35 or 1/76 scale there is a Commer Q2 available i think in both scales probably resin or white metal
Les

[Alex van de Wetering]

Hi Les,

I keep on saying the same thing...."thanks for the great shot"! It is nice to see the markings on this one, which might be interesting for my model.

Yes, I intended to scratchbuild the Commer and Queen Mary, but last year I was able to buy a Resin Commer Q2 from the Belgian firm, Eleni Models (which is actually from Wespe models). The kit is great, but it contains a flatbed trailer and not the Queen Mary. So I am going to scratchbuild the trailer. I do have some basic drawings of the trailer but still lack details on the suspension, coupling, front end and rear panel for an accurate model. A fellow modeler offered me to take some detail shots of a preserved Queen Mary in the upcoming weeks. I hope these pictures will show enough detail for me to start the construction.

Oh.....1/35 will be the scale.

And the trailer will carry......a scratchbuild Lancaster cockpit!

Thanks,

Alex

[Larry Hayward]

Photographic evidence suggests that the Fordson tractor was more common on all RAF airfields, except the Heavy Bomber Stations that used the David Brown tractors that had a bit more pulling power.

Can anyone guess the colour scheme for this Fordson? It looks too dark for RAF blue.

[Larry Hayward]

A David Brown tractor, of which there were several variants, with & without torque convertor. Presumably this one is painted a disruptive paint scheme of green and earth brown?

[Les Freathy]

Well done Larry, the David Brown tractors survived long after the war i came across countless numbers of them during my 37 years in plant being used and parked up in all sorts of places. Its amazing how few are in presevation but i suppose they hold no glamour status. Well into the 1970s two were still held at ferryfield airport at Lydd in Kent i can remember during the 1950/60 period when planes not rumours flew from the airport at least four of them towing the old Bristol freighters around. To compliment your photo heres one bombing up a Hurricane

2 some bomb trailers


3 Fordson tractor towing a runway control van and a surviver at a gliding school near Dover in Kent

[Les Freathy]

A couple more photos of RAF vehicles before the new year
Fordson Sussex in the not so well known GS mode

[Les Freathy]

and afurther shot of the Ford WOT 1 fire /crash tender

[Les Freathy]

An interesting pic of RAF vehicles in France 1940, Albion AM463 tender and a eagle based photographic trailer plus 15 kva generater. What is that French van at the rear

[Les Freathy]

Acouple more RAF photos to keep this one alive
1 2nd TAF coloumn moving inland from the Normandy beaches
2 Crossley Q and Queen mary trailer plus Thorneycroft Amazon

[Keith Webb]

Here are some more, belonging to 3 Sqn RAAF in the Western Desert:







More here.

[Nick Balmer]

Hello,

What sort of truck is this, caught up in the retreat in Greece?

From the IWM
Lorries carrying RAF personnel during the retreat from Greece, 3 May 1941.

Regards

Nick Balmer

[Bill Murray]

Hi Nick:
1939 Ford. Not sure where it came from, cannot tell if it is RHD or LHD. In any case, it is the American style vehicle.
Bill

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Could be a COE Ford assembled by Ford in Alexandria and then acquired by the Air Ministry.

[cliff]

Originally posted by Nick Balmer
Hello,

What sort of truck is this, caught up in the retreat in Greece?

From the IWM
Lorries carrying RAF personnel during the retreat from Greece, 3 May 1941.

Regards

Nick Balmer

Make a nice model. Anyone got some basic measurements of one?

cheers
Cliff

[Nick Balmer]

Hello,

I know that this is not strictly an RAF vehicle but I think the quality of the photo is such that it will interest many.

Apparently it was taken at RNAS Yeovilton in September 1943.

Regards

Nick Balmer

[Erwin]

And once more:
Are there any more Royal Air Foce pics of Dodge D-15s GS body???
Apart from the nice RAAF posted by Keith and the landing in Italy pic posted early in the Dodge D60/D15 thread?

Greetings, Erwin

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
evening guys
thought i would start a new thread on RAF vehicles. i dont see one in the forum but do not know if there has been one in the past. As most of you will be aware the numbers and types used ran into thousands and hundreds including some interesting items used only by the RAF.
les

Try this one on for size Les.

[Les Freathy]

AH yes Derek the old Scammell scarab taken i presume at the Ipswich based museum
Clearing the folder out again acouple that have been there since last year
Crossly Q tractor and Queen mary trailer and
Ford WOT 6 3ton office

[Bill Murray]

A Crossley?? in North Africa. I assume it is RAF
Bill

[Bill Murray]

I imagine this is a Commer Q2 and should be ex RAF according to Bart's books. In this case a beute photographed in Russia according to the ebay seller. From a year or so ago.
Bill

[Les Freathy]

Hi Bill
Your little tippers are Thornycroft WZ/TC4 3 ton 4x2s, they could well be RAF as the airfield constrution side were issued with a number of them. Its a new photo to me
cheers
Les

[Les Freathy]

The RAF used around 500 Matadors during the war and continued to do so right up untill the 1970s, this loverly shot depicts the flat bed and SMT multiwheel trailer loaded with roller and compressor to form part od the airfield construction company

[Les Freathy]

Richard will remember this one a Mat with generator body that would have at one time carried a 50kva generator, at the time it was laid up near Charing Kent but where did it go from there.
Sadly i have had to part with my Matador finally had to admit with my leg injuries, even when healed i would struggle to get in it and struggle more with the very heavy clutch, still the old girl has found a good home in Lincolnshire with two very apt stable mates a Scammell Pioneer and Morris Quad

[Les Freathy]

finally tonight another version of the 6x4 Fordson Sussex this one a searchlight carrier

[Bill Murray]

Thanks Les:

It is probably just me, but I have always considered Sussex to be a very handsome truck. Good lines and good proportions.
Bill

[cliff]

found this while browsing the AWM last night. Not sure if they were RAF vehicles though.

Taken in Plymouth England

cheers
Cliff