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Wow what a beauty! They really are good looking vehicles that ticks all the boxes for me. I would love one but its the keeping of it and upkeep if things go wrong, probably wrong outlook I suppose. Had a look on a website that was advertising one for approx 9000k, it looked really good but all that shines may not be to my eye! Let me know how your getting on in putting the old girl back on the road.

For TM fans!

Here are a few photo's just retrieved from the loft, first one shows mid operation of unloading a rack from the DROPS trailer which may not been seen often if at all at events ? The second one shows two DROPS with the one on the left having S.R.T.E equipment on its back. Last one shows a rack being deployed onto the ground, unfortunately cant see too clearly re the no wheels. Any TM fans I have a few pics clearly showing reg numbers in case you may own one of them!

Hi Nick, great photo's of the DROPS. Worries me when I think I had one of these new out of the box and to look now they are in private hands, with their army working life over, I feel old now ha! Just out of interest have you ever come across the S.R.T.E rack on a DROP vehicle, (Simple Rail Transfer Equipment) I used to operate one of these at railheads some times when on exercise. The rack was designed for picking up loaded flat racks and placing them on or off rail trucks, It could be operated remotely via a plug in 10m length lead which attached to a box of tricks with a joystick and was held around the operators waist for comfort and ease of operation. Alternatively the system could be operated from a small platform just behind the cab via fixed hydraulic levers. The racks were lifted via two big swinging arms hoists front and rear which had chains connected and these fitted into the four corners of the rack, it took a while to get used to get perfect control as you had to swing both beams out or back together in order to keep the rack level and stable. I have yet to see one in private hands probably because of the limited use. I have a video of myself operating one of these as I used to travel around the country as part of a DROP display team just before I left service. Will root out any photo's I have lurking in the depths of the loft and post them on here for all to see. By the way I notice you have a Militant, lovely looking vehicles especially the MK3, a favourite of mine! would love to see pic and a know a little history about it.

Hi Nic, those are really good clear photo's you have taken thanks for that. Ahhh memories..........its been quite a few years since I had my hands on one of those DROPS but seems like yesterday when I see photo's, yeah notice the flat rack wheels but not in my day, it was done the right way ha! I never got my hands on the Foden DROP but colleagues tell me they were not as good as the Scammell/Leyland DAF. I must have a look to see if I have any close up shots of the rack for you to see the difference. One interesting point of note was that we were excused Kevlar camo helmets (the later heavy type) whilst driving on exercise, the M.O was inundated with complaints of neck pain from the lads due to bouncing around in the cab X country............On the point of self recovery with the rack, it was a fantastic asset and remember first time I did this, water up to the doors of the cab, thick mud and all wheels spinning, I deployed the empty rack and true enough out we came very slowly. After about 4 or 5 actions just re-engage the rack back onto vehicle and drive out. One thing to remember though was you never ever entered a river of unknown depth without an empty flat rack loaded!!!!!

Hi Nick, I have added a couple of photo's, first one I am crouching down on right of cab, second one was backloading a L/R that was sick........I found no faults with the DROPS as such and they were a workhorse but I had them from brand new out of the wrapper ex factory don't forget! one test was I used to take them through a river and bog it down, then off load the empty rack and push yourself out using the rack, fantastic piece of machinery. Spent a lot of time in BAOR out on the road for days at a time with a section of 6 or 7 vehicles in my command, we all had trailers and fully loaded with ammunition. Useful for getting the sleeping bag out and grabbing a few hours in the cab behind the seats too. Very interesting to see how we used to load the trailer with a rack, very versatile and fast. Oh there was also a DROP designed for loading/off loading racks from railway trucks, quite a different procedure that was. Hope you find it interesting. Regards Adrian

Ha! very much so (well at least I was on both counts) Used to tie a T key with don ten and suspend it from cab roof in a way so that it hung down and kept banging by the vehicle movement against the engine cover inside the cab, it would help to keep me awake when driving through the night if had no co driver! Imagine that practice today!!! Limiter on the RL's was 100KPH = 60MPH, it would accelerate up to the 60 and then governor would cut in and drop speed back to 50 and then it would accelerate again what a job and what a racket! Robust vehicle though, go anywhere in 4WD but saying that I bogged one down to its axles in mud on exercise once!

I used to train guys on DROPS as an instructor within the RCT, I notice from the video the flat rack is of the later type which is fitted with rollers such as the civilian rack have today, initially the racks had no rollers and the hardest part was lifting the rack onto the vehicle without ANY movement of earth under the rear part of the rack as it leaves the ground. Don't ask me why it mattered but that was the standard of training at the time. We would set the racks down on grass and upon picking up any damage to the surface would result in a fail!!! I hammered these new DROPS at Driffield on the cross country course, instructions were to try to break them to seek out issues before mass deployment.

Hi Tony, your quite correct ha! Years of driving RL left hookers with no heater in the winter and having the front screen open and getting flies in your face in the summer because it was boiling hot, ah the good old days!! When the Fodens arrived it was like driving a Rolls Royce!! Regards Adrian

Thank you Sir!

Hi Robin, thanks for your interest. My army career commenced 1971. I will look to source out a few photo's for inclusion upon the site but like most things of yesteryear I did not think to take many photo's as it was a job and did not give much thought as to the future interest. To whet your appetite into humour "In The Field" I remember helping the REME who had an old 6 wheel Scammell Explorer with some paint from the Suez on show still, we hooked up a Rigid bar to an old Commer (bullnose type) 4 wheeler (34BH07) and as the command was given for the Scammell to pull away for all it was worth it delighted everyone around to see the front bumper and wiring of the Commer going down the road behind the Rigid bar. The Commer driver still had the handbrake applied!!! Regards Adrian

Hi Steve, thanks for the warm welcome! I live close to Warrington/Liverpool/Manchester areas, I do have transport of my own which is helpful. Regards Adrian

Well this is my very first message upon what initially looks to be a very interesting and professional site, I am looking very much forward to "Joining In" as much as I can. Here now follows a brief overview of myself, hopefully I will not bore you! I am 60yrs of age, I am very fit and train at the gym every other day. I am an ex member of the Army, I have served in the Royal Signals (B.A.O.R) and then decided upon a change of direction and took up the challenge with the R.C.T. I hold a current class 1 licence and have been trained to drive numerous vehicles in my time within the Army. As a section Commander Corporal I initially was an outrider on motorcycles (latterly Armstrong 500cc), other vehicles have been, Landrovers (all types), Bedford RL, Bedford TM, CL, MK, Foden MMLC, Leyland DAF (drops with trailer) Scammell Crusader, ERF, and others. I am currently retired and have quite a bit of time on my hands. I have an appreciation for ALL vehicles classed as heritage they fascinate me. My attraction to this site is that I may come across like minded persons who may be able to utilise my heavy haulage skills, I would love to be part of a team or group who have the likes of Antar's or Fodens or similar who could use someone to help with preparation and display of such vehicles at events around the Country. Well that's me, I hope it has not come across too lengthy and hopefully has engaged you rather than turned off! Many thanks and looking forward to meeting up in due course. Sincerely Adrian