Richard Farrant

hi Radek, As an Austin enthusiast myself, I should point out this last picture is of a K3 3 ton truck. It is longer, with bigger tyres. If I find any more pics of a K2 body I will pass on to you. Richard

Oh goody :thankyou: can I redeem the points at the bar at Beltring ? :tup: Richard

It should read M3A5 :whistle: Richard

Tony, And I seem to think that the Polish forces had a "PL" sign on the rear of their vehicles, like our GB plates. Seen in many photo of the time. Richard

On the set of "Full Metal Jacket" by any chance? (Beckton gas works)

I think the roundel on the side of the carrier is a Belgian symbol. The blue white red roundel used by British forces in N. Africa onwards, was normally on a top surface, for air recognition and quite large. Going by the carrier's census number it is a British built one. Richard

Thanks Clive :tup: Where was the photo taken? Richard

That is correct, many RAF vehicles were painted Eau de Nil inside the cab and also military field ambulance interiors. Richard

OK, they are fuel tanks and it is Land Rover based............................I think that Shorlands had there fuel tanks at the rear, as I seem to recollect filler caps in that area, could be wrong though So, I am guessing it to be a Shorland cut down to a open back truck, as it seems to have a rather crude or basic tailgate. Richard

Andy, That last photo of the open cab Austin is a K30 30cwt truck, when they changed to all metal cab it was then known as the K2 2 ton truck. The K3 was a 3 tonner. Richard

Well, not much response so far, Clive. I will start it off with a wild guess, is it a generator trailer, without the generator. It looks something like some that panniers eith side for the fuel tanks. Richard

I recollect Nigel Watson's carrier was painted in this scheme.

Andy, I used to look after a MW for a customer and take it for its annual MoT test. The weight was written in the log book (V5) and with the added 15 cwt, the Gross weight was a tad under 3500kgs, so it had to have a Class 7 MoT. These tests are not normally done by a lot of garages, there were only 2 in Ashford at the time, one being the waste disposal contractor for the local council. The criteria for this test is that it is a Goods type of vehicle with GVW between 3001 kgs to 3500kgs. Richard

To put it plainly, Gross Vehicle Weight means Unladen weight + carrying capacity. The confusion here, is that the vehicle should not be used laden, to stop people using them for transport. Richard

Rick, Are you able to do Class 7 MoT tests? Richard

Sorry, I have to correct you here. It is 3500 kgs design GVW, that means the unladen weight of vehicle, plus the carrying capacity, which in the case of a Morris C8, is 0.75 tons. On heavier vehicles where the unladen weight is over 3500 kgs, there carrying capacity is immaterial, like my QL which is just a touch under 4 tons. I have been going through the V112G procedure now for 19 years so do know a little bit about it, also for other heavier vehicles under my care. The Post office in the earlier days were "policing" this and I have had to quote chapter and verse to them on occasions, a Sub PO rang DVLA to check and came back full of apologies and I have also seen them going through a massive folder of info before concceding that I was right. Richard

On top of a Saxon?

From the back of a 4 tonner? It looks quite bulky, unless it is mounted on a purpose built trailer chassis.

an assault ladder?

Totally agree Mark, When I was working in REME workshops, back in the 70's / 80's era, there were still a lot of the old 30mph flat out wagons in service, also some newer ones. I rebuilt quite a number of AEC engines where con rods had gone through the block because the driver had freewheeled down hill and let the clutch back in at too high a road speed, mainly AEC Militant Mk1 and Thornycroft / Aveling Barford Dumptrucks. Crazy practice on a vehicle with air brakes, or in fact any vehicle and as already point out, ILLEGAL :police: Richard

British Standard colour chart BS381 - RAF Blue Grey 633 Check out this site to see the colour chip; http://www.e-paint.co.uk/BS381%20Colourchart.asp?pType=&pFinish= Richard

That is quite true, what I should have said was Albion 3ton 4x4 or WOT6.....there was some photos of Albion mobile wksps on this forum recently. As for the 3 ton 4x4 Stores, Binned, that could have been on a QL, as these were used in that role during WW2.

Just go along to your local motor trade paint supplier, with the BS number and get them to mix a litre, in coach or synthetic paint. This can be brushed or sprayed and will cost about £10 a litre mixed.

As already said Courtaulds Areospace.......................advertising their paint perhaps, at a Defence Sales exhibition or Farnborough airshow?

L/Cpl, The Machinery I30 vehicle was actually mounted on a 3 ton 4x4 chassis, at a guess I would say on a Bedford QL or Fordson WOT6 chassis. Its description was; "Plant, battery charging, constant potential, engine driven, 15/30 volts 200/400 amps". The Type I30 replaced Type I, which was mounted on a 3 ton 6x4 chassis and described as "Plant, battery charging, 7.5/15 volts, Board, battery charging" which was in use at the beginning of the War and subsequntly became obsolete. Richard