Smiler

A crane at work managed that trick a few years ago. Driver lept from it as it went. I seem to remember the jib squashed one of those plastic industrial dustbins. Any Scammell driving hairdresser out there I'm open to offers. I'll even wire in a socket in the glove box for curling tongs (or is it straighteners these days?).

The more I look around this site the more I want an old truck, especially one with a Scammel badge on the front of it. Does anyone want to do a swap with a shiny new Ford Escort Mk3 Convertible?

I have heard that one of the concerns that has quashed it's flying career is it's build. Apparently the CAA were rather concerned that it had not been built by qualified aircraft technicians/engineers. Instead it was manufactured by a team of highly proffessional carpenters/cabinet makers. Given that pretty much every aircraft built in the last 70 odd years has been made from sheet metal and that most of us aircraft mechanics wouldn't have a clue about working a wooden and fabric structures; I know who I'd rather have build the aeroplane!

Ok, if you transfer the required funds into my bank account I'll go up and buy it.

Ta very much. 13,000Lbs is not to be sniffed at but then 8 to 10 MPG doesn't sound as bad as I expected either. And it'll happily run on jet fuel too, that's handy to know working on an airfield. Only joking officer.

It's certainly on the list. So far the most hassle free possible contenders are: Austin K9 Commer Q8 and a couple of others I have forgotten about. extrogg - I saw that truck and have to say it looks a little heavy and thirsty even by my standards. What exactly is it and what nationality is it?

Cheers folks, the back of a Comer Q4 would make a rather large impressive tent. I'm not sure what some of the campsites might make of it mind. I'll keep my eyes peeled whilst saving up. I'll have plenty of time to look judging by the current state of my financial affairs! I'll just have to knuckle down with the present crop of projects and get them moved on. Cheers, Simon.

Now that is an idea. Not only that, but due to the ever present tin-worm, my van has had the bottom foot removed aswell. That scruffy Saracen, would it be a useable scruffy one?

Thanks for the link, there's a few things within budget on the truck side in need of a bit of work. Deffinately worth keeping an eye on closer to the time. Fuel costs are quite present in my mind as I'd like to use the thing as often as I can.

Thanks for the replies, you really are proving to be a most helpfull and friendly lot. Thanks for that list Adam, there's some pretty cool looking stuff there. croc, I've already looked through your thread for your Scammell, very cool. I love the experienced look it has, a nice bit of patina there. I even have a local expert who could help out if I got one. He looks after the immaculately kept one at work. Thanks again everyone, it's fired me with new enthusiasm to get on with my present crop of projects so that I can flog them and make space/raise funds for a serious toy. Should be just in time for a mid-life crisis. Simon.

Yep, that's the other one I mentioned. Ooh, that sounds like a dream come true. I'd be suprised if another could be found though. I also found an AEC Matador on fleabay in need of a lot of work sitting at £400. Looked like a bit too much to take on though and still had a few days to go so might well have sky-rocketed since. I suppose I could always fix up the old VW Campervan and give it Wehrmacht markings.

Oh, by the way, that picture isn't the wrong way round. She went just past 100 degrees of bank. It certainly woke up a few un-informed apprentices who had been watching her carrying out sedate photo friendly circuits.

I like this one of my old aeroplane (well, not mine personaly but I used to maintain her). She was the worlds last flying D.H. Comet and this was at the last decent families day at Boscombe Down. Must have been around 1996. More pics of a more technical nature can be found on my website accessed via my sig.

Thanks very much everyone for the replies, very much appreciated. That Commer is the one I spotted and which awoke me to the possibility of being able to afford something. There's also an immaculate one on there on a classified add for £2500 with spare engine and less than 6,000 miles on the clock. I'm guessing that, as I had suspected, anything WW2 era is going to be beyond budget. That's ok though as I am rather fond of the 50's trucks. I've had a Landrover in the past ('65 2a 88") and although I like them it is a case of 'been there, done that'. There also not big enough. A 101 might be tempting but I'm not sure how long it would be before I started wishing I'd spent the money on a full size truck. As for being handy with the spanners, I am more than confident at my abilities in the spanner twirling department. My bodywork skills however need a bit more practice and I'm hoping that completeing my present crop of projects will improve this. The haflinger requires a bit too much work. Thanks for the link but I want something that although is not in show winning condition can still be used and improved upon on the way (such as that Commer). I don't suppose a ratty but running Scammel Pioneer or Explorer would come under that budget would it? Cheers, Smiler.

Hello all, I'm new to this forum although I have always been into WW2 and had slightly more than a passing interest in old trucks. It's just an interest I never pursued to any great lengths as I always assumed such things were the toys of the wealthier than I. However, after getting bored of old cars and idly trawling through fleabay I came across a couple of old british ex-army trucks that looked to be within my grasp (with a little selling and a little saving). So, my question is, what's out there that can be found in useable condition for under £2,000? I have so far found a couple of Commer Q4's that look pretty impressive and a rather original looking (read ratrher used looking) Morris Commercial 4x4 from the 50's. Any help would be greatr, I'm more interested in british stuff at the moment and it doesn't have to be WW2 era so long as I can drive it on a normal car licence. Cheers for any help, Simon.

Can't argue with that. If it makes the appearances then it has a fighting chance of keeping in the air but if the appearances don't happen the spnsorship deals dry up.

Yep, that's the one. The 'chargehand' for that section has spent years scratch building a fully operational scale model of it that is very impressive. I think he said it's powered by an engine from a Reliant Robin.

That aeroplane, like all large aircraft, will have horrendous running costs. Fuel and insurance alone would be enough to make most people give up. I think you can be pretty sure that no money is being mis-directed to anybodys pockets. They were to be fair beset by a few unfortunate circumstances. Apart from none of the news agancies taking any real interest in it's first flight (pretty disgusting considering all the hard work gone into it over the past ten years including fund raising) who would have thought that it's debut show, the mighty International Air tattoo that attracts visitors the world over, would be cancelled?! I still haven't seen it fly but would love the oppourtunity.

Thanks again for the warm welcome. That Ward Lafrance looks very big and impressive, and also rather expensive. Prehaps I ought to point out that I am a pauper. If I managed to finish and sell my present projects (plan 'A') then I would probably raise £3k tops. From what I have seen that could buy a reasonable 50's commercial or army truck. The 50's Commer Q4 has caught my eye as being a lot of toy for the money and I'm hoping the same is true of similar trucks of the period. As a side note, the airfield that I work at has an incredibly original Scammell Pioneer that I have had the pleasure of driving many years ago. If anyones interested I'll post some pictures up of it. Cheers, Simon.

Ta very much, will do.

Hello folks, I'm another new member on here and am suprised I haven't come here any sooner. I have always been attracted to old large vehicles, particularly military types. In fact my cousine in Kent has been restoring WW2 era military vehicles for as long as I can remember. I instead though turned to old cars and if you click on the link in my sig and visit my website you'll see that I have a number of projects on the go. However, a recent stumble on ebay has shown me that those old trucks I often admired at shows etc... were closer to my grasp than I thought and with a bit of juggling of finances (and a lot of flogging of old parts and projects) I can afford my own piece of commercial or military history! So that's how I ended up on here with you fine people. Cheers, Smiler.