matman41

Great to see another Mat saved for restoration.

Good Luck and keep us updated on your progress.

Regards

Mel :-)

Mel, the windows in the back are plastic, although they have biodegraded, and the canvas gave out when we picked it up, and we had to cut them off at the side of the road :cry:. it's difficult to gauge if they are original or not, as they may have been replaced when it was repainted in the 80's, which would make them 30+ years old anyway! Regarding the rifle rack bottom, if you have a spare you would part with, I'd be happy to take it off your hands - pm me the details please.

 

More pictures in a few days :cheesy:

 

Nick

Hi Nick,

If you PM me your e-mail, I will send you a picture of the rifle rack base.

My friend has a Morris CDSW Artillery tractor which has the original side curtains still and the windows in them have a really fine steel mesh on them rather than plastic and I have always wondered if this was what the AEC's would have had originally too :confused: which is why I asked the question as the ones on yours didn't look like plastic from what I could see of them.

Regards

Mel

Hi Nick,

Great pictures, what an interesting truck, looking forward to seeing more as you progress.

Are the windows on the rear body side screens made of fine mesh or clear plastic??

I think I have a spare bottom for the cab rifle rack if you are interested??

Regards

Mel

Hi All,

One of the injector pipes on 2 of the engines I have is a 19mm spanner size on both ends, but the other 5 are all imperial on both ends.

Not quite sure why this is, if the pipe had been replaced at some point it could explain it but the pipe is in the same place on both pumps/engines??!!:confused:.

Does anyone know or have a picture of the type of jack that was supplied? The bracket and fittings for it's stowage in the rear body would suggest it was quite a tall jack (which is understandable).

I'm sure somewhere in a museum archive there will be a nice period picture of all the tool kit laid out in front of the vehicle for inspection.

Was recovery kit such as ground anchor & pins supplied with the truck or did it come with the gun that was being towed??

Regards

Mel

Hi Ian,

Looking forward to seeing the pictures of the restoration as it progresses :-)

Mel

I have a parts book which lists tools, etc supplied with the first 1100 or so vehicles. Many of these are special workshop tools, others are what one would expect to find in a kit carried on the vehicle. It is not clear to me what would actually be carried in service. If no one has the information to hand I would be able to scan the pages if it would be of use.

Hi Redmat,

If you could copy me the pages that would be of great help thanks.

Regards

Mel

Hi All,

Does any one have a list or even a photo of the tool kit that would have been supplied with a Matador when it was in service??

Regards

Mel

Welcome to HMVF

Welcome to the forum :-D

Welcome to HMVF John

Welcome to HMVF

My brother has one, but is not able to restore it.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]76950[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]76951[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]76952[/ATTACH]

Hello Arjan, P.M sent to you. Regards, Mel

There is one in Denmark http://www.staaling.dk/default.asp?pageload=salgsliste&id=27810, it has been fitted with the engine and gearbox from a mercedes 312.

Hi Niels V, Thanks for the quick reply. It looks good at the front but the rear looks heavily modified for the heavy crane? Cheers, Mel

Hi There, Not sure if this should be in this section or not, but here goes, does any one know of any WW2 era FWD SU COE gun tractors that may be for sale in the UK preferably. The type supplied by the U.S to the UK Military for pulling the 5.5" gun etc, but NOT the GS version which has no winch and front drawbar?? Cheers Mel :-)

Hey no worries. Will see what we can do :cheesy:

Hi James, PM sent. Cheers, Mel

Yes ours is the very same. We dragged her out of the shed on Sunday; I will try and post some pictures later.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]75392[/ATTACH]

Hi James, Great to see it still has the body on the back :wow:. Would love to see more pictures of the whole body and your other Mats, I can give you my e-mail if you'd rather send them that way? Cheers, Mel

Hi Mel, I have to admit I am not sure of the differences. 10542 has no rear window in the cab and had steel window frames. Also I have noticed the doors have a metal strip around the edge but other than that the cab is very similar to the earlier models. I will try and post some more pictures later. Best regards James.

Hi James, yes the cab on mine has the same detail changes as the one on yours. It also has the lower rear drawbar and an air tank mounted under the fuel tank. Cheers, Mel :-)

Hi Mel,

This is the plate on our RAF generator wagon :-)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]75134[/ATTACH]

I think it reads 085310542

Best regards,

James.

 

ps. I think the earliest chassis we have is 0853578

Hi James, The chassis number on my RAF one is 0853 10546, and it's reg was 73 AV 86, so not far off yours at all!! Has the early chassis still got it's early style cab? Cheers, Mel

Hi Ian, There is a company called Truckfix, at Cleckheaton (not too far from Saftek actually!!) they are very good and can re-line brake shoes, clutch plates etc, and they do a lot of old vehicle gear, I get the bits for my Mat done there. Cheers, Mel

Morning Mel, It is always funny how we all say 'half' Matadors We have not list most of our old girls on the web site as they are properly tired. We have one timber tractor and a gun tractor in 'restored' condition and a host of others in various states of disrepair. The RAF generator truck is complete with the exception we have no generator; all it really needs is a good lick of paint. I am not sure we could afford to produce the cabs commercially. Best regards, James.

Hi James, yes it is a bit funny, though in my case, one is just a rolling chassis, though it does have it's old buff log book and about 20 old tax discs!! and the other is just a chassis cab, though half the cab is missing!! It was my plan to make 2 from one but i'm having 2nd thoughts now. I think my ex-RAF one had the same type of box body as yours by the look of it (though it's long gone) as you can see where the paint has gone around the edge of the bodywork onto the bits underneath where it would of been. Did you manage to get the leg clamp open on the 4.5" carriage?? Cheers, Mel

Hi James, 3 complete ones and 2 'half' ones at the moment!!!! :nut: Is the body on the back of your RAF one complete? I had a look at your website over the weekend, the cab frame looks great, have you thought of producing them? Cheers, Mel :-)

Is it like this one.....

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]74519[/ATTACH]

 

Dad says all his generator sets and radar vans were towed by standard tractors.

 

The one above was an RAF Unit. I will try and find a better picture and the serial number

 

Yours etc.

 

ps. Our old girl struggles with the 3.7" HAA Gun. Unless it is on the flat we don't even try these days!

Hi James, I have an ex-RAF one (also a 1950's build) with a similar reg to that one, I'll have a look at what it was and let you know. The one I mean is on the attached pictures, the frame work and ramps can be seen in the rear body. I know 100% it an Army mod, as the truck has only been with one family since de-mob and it's never been touched!! Cheers, Mel

Okay Mel now you are showing off! :laugh: She is a beaut and a fine looking out fit. We are a long way off that. We restored our Matador gun tractor in the early 90's and she needs some work now. I have to admit I like the deep bronze green look; very National Service. My Father served in 56 HAA Rgt RA in 1952 with Matadors, 3.7-inch guns and radar sets all in bronze green. We are hoping to complete another Matador in the near future tow the 4.5-inch but we need to complete the gun first and the a Staghound! lol.....too many toys and not enough time!

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]74481[/ATTACH]

Hi James, Great to see another Mat, it looks great I also have a 3.7" HAA but haven't ever tried to tow it with the Mat, the 5.5" is heavy enough to pull, I don't fancy the extra 3 ton of the 3.7", especially on the hills around here!! :nono: Going off subject a bit here, I have another Mat which is a 1951 build, and it has a frame in the back for what I think was for transporting a generator for possibly a radar unit, could you ask your Dad if he remembers anything like that in the Mats he was on?? Cheers, Mel

Mel you are a legend, thank you. I will try and take a look at that over the weekend but I guess it might be a good idea to get some more oxygen first! :cheesy: Have to admit your gun looks immaculate; I like the deep Bronze Green look! I suspect ours will be painted olive to match the AEC but that is a long way off to be thinking about just now.

Hi James, Let me know if you need any more info with anything. The gun is Bronze Green as it matches my Mat, it's an old restoration and will need re-painting into correct colours at some point!! Cheers, Mel

Thanks Mel, I have not seen any of those pictures of the 4.5-inch guns. They are very impressive when set up. We are currently having issues pulling the pin on the central trail lock that the breech is fixed to, when in travelling mode. All fun and games! Thanks again for posting the photos; you are not alone on the PC illiteracy, I certainly struggle too.

Hi James, Do you mean the pin that I have arrowed on the picture? If so on the arm that swings across to lock the legs, where it goes in the bracket on the opposite leg (where the pin goes through to lock it) there is a small screw blanking plug, when unscrewed there is a spring and a plunger in there that locates in a recess in the pin when it's pushed in. If you can get it out then you can apply heat &/or lubricant into the pin through that hole. I hope that makes sense?? :confused: