diamond-t-steve

Happy new year all I have just found a model supplier who has 1/87 HO scale military vehicle models that would look good on any ones railway layout. Kits include Diamond T 980, Rogers trailer, GMC, DUKW, Panzer's and many many more. I am nothing to do with the company selling these kit's but I found them while searching Diamond T on ebay and thought the information might be of interest to some on here. Here is a link http://shop.ebay.co.uk/mtwcbear/m.html Regards...Steve.

Hi i'm affraid I can only help you with Hercules engine as I have not had any dealings with the Rolls Royce. The original oil filters were made by a company called Fram, who still exist so filters are not realy a problem as they can be cross matched ect. The fram part number is FR-5294. There is also an oil strainer inside the bottom of the sump pan that is accessed by undoing the ring of bolts around the sump plug. There is also a small fillter in the body of the viscometer sender on the side of the engine block, both the sump strainer and the viscometer filter are just removed and cleaned with petrol or equivelent. When you change the oil filters try not to break the seal on the bottom of the 3 cases as they can be hard to re-seal. as for oil, the manual lists SAE 30 for above 32 degrees F temp and SAE 10 below 32 degrees F. Just get the best that you can obtain from a good commercial parts supplier. Hope this helps and Happy new year.. regards Steve..

Hi all I've been reading through this thread as I had a few hours to spare and was amazed to see pics of this Antar In the late seventies it used to belong to a recovery company called Albert Road Service Station based in Romford Essex. My first paying job was working for this company after I left school and have memories of washing, checking the oil and going around it with a bucket of grease. The boss did intend to fit an engine from a bulldozer into it because as was mentioned the Leyland 680 was underpowered, but much to our relief he accepted an offer from the company that owned it when this picture was taken. They painted it in the colours in the picture as a promo vehicle parked outside there truck parts place at Rayliegh wier next to the A127 in Essex. There is a few pictures posted on the DT thread that was taken at Albert Road Service Station, of a 981 which les described as belonging to A.I.D. wreckers but that was a nick name for the company based on the owners initials (Albert Ivor Davies) We did not get to use the Antar very often but when we did it turned a few heads. When we had it it was painted red. (I think) Happy new year all......Steve.

Hi Adrian/dizzy-t I do very much intend to send you the details of my 2 Diamond Ts to add to the list but at the moment due to circumstances (it's a long story) i'm unable to access all the information needed to answer your questions. But I will as soon as I am able to. Regards ...Steve.

Mine would have to be 1. Diamond T 981 hard cab. (got x 2) 2. Rogers M9 trailer. (got x 1) 3. Diamond T 981 soft cab. 4. Sherman Firefly. 5. T34/85. 6. M16 Halftrack. 7. Churchill tank. (any mark) 8. Centurian tank. 9. MAZ 537 Tank Transporter. 10. DUKW. And my own oil refinery :nut::nut::nut::nut:

Hi all This has got to be one of the strangest re-cab for a DT I have ever seen. I have not posted the picture here as it is not mine to post but here is a link to it. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DIAMOND-T-T-K-CAB-/200551512166?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&hash=item2eb1cd3866

Thanks for posting the great photographs. I have got my fingers crossed that one day somebody will post an "in service" picture of my 981. 193 YHT, 25 YZ 61 or H5292449 it served with the BAOR after the war and stands out as it has a cupola in the centre of the roof. I think it was Graham Booth who told me it was a war time field modification so the drivers mate could observe and shoot back at snipers. There is a picture of it in Wheels and Tracks magazine, in a line of Dt's at Ruddington auctions but that is the earliest photograph I have seen of her. One can live in hope.

If my memory servs me correctly I think when he advertised the T on ebay he said he thought it had a volvo engine and that the starter had been removed for repair. I know that volvo and scania engines will mate with the T's gearbox as I used to drive one with a 110 scania engine fitted for Albert Road Recovery in Essex many years ago. On saying that I am more enclined to believe that it is as you say a 220 cummins.

Here goes. I hope you like them.

A few years ago organised through Pat Ware, John Blackman and CMV magazine, I had the honour and privilage of taking part (with 193 YHT) in an exercise to re-unite Mr Danny Newell, a veteran of both the North African and European campains of WW2 with a Diamond "T". A type that he drove until the wars end in 1945. For me, this day was one of the proudest day's of my life, to be able to bring a tear to the eyes and a smile to the face of such a remarkable man who played his part in a war against tyrany and opression. To be able to do this, is for me, what owning a piece of history is all about, to show my gratitude and to help educate and remind people of the sacrifices that his generation made for us to be able to live as we do. If I can make one persons day it makes the expense and skinned knuckles associated with operating and maintaining these vehicles worth while. Sadly since the re-union Mr Newell has passed away but he left behind a photographic record of his time spent in the RASC during the war which his son Dennis has kindly allowed me to post on this site for all to see. There is quite a few photographs so I thought it best to ask for consent from the moderators and the other members before posting them. Steve.....

I made enq about buying that 980 some years ago and after a very brief discution he said it was built in 1946, also I might add that any truck with the starter removed usualy means the engine is u s and he does not want you to hear it run until it is to late for a refund.

I have 2 981s and a rogers in Leicestershire but I did have them in Staffordshire until i moved. :shocked::-D

Hi all. As this thread has gone a little quiet I thought I would add a pic of one of my 981's and my Rogers trailer. I have had the "T" in the photograph for around ten years now and the trailer around 3 years. The trailer, you may notice has been modified with side raves and pull out steel plates that were added by the army in Belgium. I was told when I collected the trailer they were added to widen the trailer to carry leopard 1 tanks in the 60's but I assume it was never used to carry them as the steel plates are not distorted or damaged at all.

Hi Tony. I have only just joined the site and seeing this photograph promted me to reply. The Diamond in the photograph belonged to a company called Albert Road Recovery that was originaly based in Albert Road Romford. It was indeed fitted with a 110 Scania engine and the power steering was from a volvo F88. The soft top Diamond was painted maroon inside the cab and had a rather loud pair of railway locomotive horns under the bonnet, controled by a lever on the floor to the left of the drivers seat. It did have an home made copy of a tfl extending recovery crane in the back that was removed before Albert (the then owner) sold it. The soft top was replaced after the canvas one rotted with a metal roof that rattled like hell when the engine was ticking over. I have a 15min film of the soft top "T" pulling over part of a disused Tarmac plant in Upminster in 1987 that I paid a budding film maker to shoot as I did the job.. It was good to see the photograph as it re kindled some good memories. Steve..... P.S The truck to the left of the pic is a Leyland Martian and the other side was a 15 tonne Coles crane...