Edd

I was hoping no one would spot them.

Ed

Hi Folks

 

Good luck with the restoration of the gun tractor. Very few of the radiators had the Scammell name cast into them, the majority were cast plain. I've got a 1941 Gun Tractor and a 1945 Recovery and neither have the name cast in the radiator. I've also checked several nuseum and other restored Pioneers and have only seen 2 with the name cast into the radiator. It was not common practise during the war as the mould had to be handled with a lot more and time was of the essence.

 

I have the main beam and lifting chain hoist if you want to have a look at them. I took them out of my Gun Tractor as I use the back for sleeping in.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Brian Carter

Sussex

Thanks Brian. My gun tractor is 1938 so should have Scammell cast in the radiator. There were originally 3 Pioneers found together and the third was broken for spares and it had Scammell cast in the radiator. No idea where this or any of the other bits have ended up though. Next time I head up to my brother's I will see if you are free and I could pop in on the way by. He is in Blackburn so not too far away.

Thanks

Ed

I would suggest trying a Landrover specialist or somewhere that works on them. It is the standard oil used on a large number of Landrovers and they normally have it on the shelf. Obviously it might be a bit harder to find a Landrover specialist in Oz but there should be one or two on the net. Otherwise you could ask on one of the Australian Land Rover forums.

Ed

It's a Kraz 255B. Very nice vehicle.

Ed

My two are on the Pioneer thread: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?7256-Scammell-Pioneer-Gallery/page65 post 644.

Cheers

Ed

As there is a Scammell Explorer gallery index I thought it might be interesting to start one for the Scammell Pioneer. So I've made a start, will obviously need a lot of filling in!

This link takes you to the Scammell Pioneer Gallery: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?7256-Scammell-Pioneer-Gallery

No., Post No., Model, Reg, Military reg, name, owner, engine, chassis no.

1/#5, R100, KSU769, 12 RD 69, Ermintrude, Edd, Gardner LW, 2505

2/#7, SV2S, Unknown, 15 RD 62,Ophelia, Hazel, Gardner LW, 5961

3/#8, SV2S, CSV914, Gardner LW

4/#10, SV2S, PSY919, Dewrance, Brian Carter, Gardner LW

I'll add to it when I get a spare minute but feel free to add in the mean time.

Regards

Ed

Just came across this video clip on youtube:

Looks to be the American version of the Scammell recovery video.

Cheers

Ed

Hi Terry,

Looks very nice. Saw it on ebay and thought it looked good value for money. Did you buy any of the other parts/spares he said he had? I've just bought a Pioneer recovery and a Pioneer gun tractor. Both in need of a lot more work than yours and both in need of lots of parts!

Cheers

Ed

Hi SV2S,

That would be very helpful if you wouldn't mind. Popped down to have another look at them today and found that both of them have rebuild plates on the chassis. Also the recovery is 1945 rather than 1944. Now need to find the discussion on here about late ones and the differences.

Cheers

Ed

Will do. Nothing will really get done on them for a few months yet. The Unipower needs finishing and a couple of shows to take it out to. These two pioneers are 2 of the 3 at the start of this thread. Sadly we think the third one was broken for spares. A real shame as it was an earlier one and it would have been better to break the recovery.

Plan is to do the gun tractor first. Parts on the shopping list so far are - rear hoop for body, overhead gantry and chain hoist, correct radiator with Scammell cast in and lots more bits! Also some idea as to what the back should look like!

Cheers

Ed

My new toys finally arrived end of last week:

1944 Pioneer SV2S

1938 Pioneer R100

They are stored with Jerry's tank transporter so we have all 3 main types used by the military in one place. Don't think I've ever seen that before! The gun tractor runs and drives but needs a fair amount of work. The recovery doesn't run and needs lots of work. I have wanted a gun tractor ever since I was little kid and it's taken a lot to find one. Now I can't stop grinning.

A massive thank you to my other half Hazel for arranging the purchase of them and encouraging me to get them. Also to Matt for helping to unload them and acting as power steering! Also a big thanks to Jerry for finding storage for them and the farmer for a lot of help unloading.

Ed

1969 Landrover Lightweight Series 2a - For sale due to below

1958 Unipower Forester Ballast Tractor - Ex-RAF, BAA

1944 Scammell Pioneer SV2S - Not sure what we are doing with this one yet.

1938 Scammell Pioneer R100

Regards

Ed

I think this is the one that was for sale on ebay last year. Saw it driving to it's new home when visiting my other half's sister in Milton Keynes. Did look very nice and was trundling along nicely.

Ed

That makes life a lot easier. Never thought of 633 squadron.

Ed

Thanks Clive! For some reason I had it correct on the e-mails I had but the copying it onto paper failed!

Thanks

Ed

Does anyone have an up to date paint code for the RAF blue grey? The only code I have is BS381C/663 but my local paint place don't have a record for it. It is for my Unipower Forester that was with the RAF from about 1958 to 1962.ThanksEd

I am very very lucky. My other half encourages me! She spent a lot of last year pointing out that I really needed to get a Scammell or similar. When we were looking at Pioneer's she said she liked the tank transporters. Then said that if I got a gun tractor or recovery I'd have to get her a tank transporter to play with! As it is I've now got a Unipower and she is very happy now we have found out it is pre-1960 so she can drive it!It does help that she likes steam toys and has a workshop. We get odd looks when I point out to visitors that the machine shop in one of the downstairs rooms of the house is her's and not mine!Ed

My other half has a prototype landrover and the query over what engine came up. Initially we didn't have the original engine so the choice was a bit more open. We were going to fit a 200tdi to it. The idea being that it would be a bit more useable (it should carry a lot of built on gear so a lot heavier than standard) also that any engine would be wrong. The final point we came to was that if you bolt a 200tdi in and do not permanently modify anything and you keep the original engine then it's no loss. Easy enough to do in this way and it would only take a day to return to complete original with no one any the wiser.

Putting a V8 in or something else where you are going to have to cut panels etc.... is a completely different matter.

Cheers

Ed

I recently purchased a Unipower Forester that originally started life with the RAF. I have the RAF registration - 40AT79. Could someone point me in the best direction for finding out it's history? Most importantly we are trying to work out it's age. Best guess so far is 1950ish.

Thanks

Ed

Finally, I am pleased to say that my new toy has arrived. Some of you may recognise her from earlier on in this thread. She is the ex-RAF, then ex-BAA Unipower Forester ballast tractor. Any info on her history would be very nice. So far we have photos of her on the Unipower stand at the Earls Court Motor Show. Although we do not know the year of manufacture yet. Closest we have got so far is 1950 although not road registered until 1962. The aim is to return her to RAF colours and I will start a restoration thread soon.

Cheers

Ed

Hi,

I was planning on concentrating on the Forester's, Hannibals and other trucks. There's a lot of work in trying to get the details on those for starters. I might consider adding the Unipower GT's at a later date.

Thanks

Ed

I am starting to have a go at putting together a register of surviving Unipowers. If anyone has a Unipower would they mind sending me details to help fill it in. The headings I have so far are:

Model; Chassis Number; Engine Number, Year; Registration; Present Owner; Timber Tractor?; Winch; Spades; Crane; Other; History; Location and Condition

For Present owner I am only putting surnames and for Location just the county rather than anything more specific. Let me know if anyone can think of any other useful columns. Could anyone who can help either reply to this thread or e-mail me at eddnewman at yahoo.co.uk. Ideally a photo of each Unipower would also be helpful.

Thanks

Ed

Does anyone have the measurements to hand for a Unipower Forester? In particular how tall they are.

Thanks

Ed

I've got a feeling the Billy Smarts Mack ultimately didn't sell as it's currently listed on ebay still in Redhill.

Ed