N.O.S.

First Boely, I think it is a wonderful kit - would like one myself!! Someone was certainly producing a 1/35th scale U.S. plant trailer kit - I've seen an advert last year or so. Second, it seems to represent a British machine because it has a Ruston Bucyrus nameplate on the jib. If a U.S. built machine it would read Bucyrus-Erie? The cab shape is same as British (your RB book will confirm this), but I cannot find any info on the U.S.-built machine cabs. The machines would be identical mechanically, but I thought I'd read somewhere that the US cab design was slightly different, and was later modernised before the British ones changed (I can't find the reference to this at the moment). I could be wrong here, so if anyone can find a pic of a machine in U.S. wartime service that would help! There is a very good U.S. vintage earthmover website if you can find it, someone there will know for sure! I've wondered before if there was ever any interchange of equipment - is it possible that U.S. Engineer units preparing for D Day might have been issued in U.K. with British-built RBs?? Pictures of models please a.s.a.p!

Thanks Mike. I was confused by the body. There was supposed to be one in the yard where Steve's PSA chassis came from - perhaps that was the body he used for Geoff's chassis.

And previously (from me) - "which is exactly what DVLA did with my RAF Constructor...." :confused:

Well done! Can you give us any more info on this vehicle, PM?

That could be very useful for some vehicles. Don't suppose this bit of info would help Artistrifles would it? An OT90 would make a fantastic Heavy Locomotive! Am I correct in thinking you could also describe a wide (+2.55m) vehicle with a winch as a Winch Truck? Surely it would then be eligible to come under Special Types Taxation i.e. outside C+U Regs. (not restricted by width and not requiring testing). And if pre 1974 you could then tax it as historic? Which is excactly what DVLA did with my RAF Constructor (which just missed the 1960 cut-off date!). But then again, you really do need to run your own circumstance by VOSA / DVLA to be certain you are complying with all the legislation :sweat:

"Mum, Mum! I want a GMC truck like those lime spreaders up the road!" It is you, isn't it?

Have a good one! WLFs - nothing else comes close!

Good point John. Jimh - has your Pioneer query been answered to your satisfaction? Just looking at the range of variations for heavy (+7.5t) vehicles, the following is my own understanding (I might be wrong), with purple showing the bits I know I don't know!! Possibly the main area of uncertainty arises with towing a vehicle or laden trailer (whether it be taking a towed or trailed vehicle to a show, or hauling home your latest purchase), and what effect this has on driver licence and vehicle test requirements. I've only put this list up to act as a catalyst for discussion - if anyone wants to challenge what I think I know, or fill in the gaps in my knowledge, please feel free. No offence will be taken if it helps others!! Age of Vehicle A. Pre 1960 B. Pre 1974, post 1960 C. Post 1974 Intended Use 1. Use unladen, towing empty trailer (i.e. recreational) 2. Use laden or towing laden trailer (e.g. taking vehicle to show or collecting new toy) 3. Use for recovery or towing disabled vehicle (not hire/reward) e.g. towing a friend's truck home 4. Use for Hire and Reward work (e.g. recovery, delivering vehicles) Dealing with Hire and Reward up front - It seems that, regardless of vehicle age, if used for any type of Hire/Reward work then some paid road tax is required (e.g. HGV / Recovery), and (unless described as a "Locomotive" or taxed as Recovery) annual vehicle testing too. Pre 1960 - Historic tax - No annual test - Driving licence requirement? - If used laden/towing laden trailer, testing? Driving licence requirement? Post 1960/pre 1974 - Historic tax - Annual testing - HGV driving licence? - Possible registration as Locomotive/special types for no annual testing, but restrictions on use? - Possible simplified annual test if overwidth or cannot roller brake test? Post 1974 - Tax as Private HGV - Annual test required - HGV licence reqd - Possible registration as Locomotive/special types for no annual testing, but restrictions on use? - Possible simplified annual test if overwidth or cannot roller brake test?

A description which fits both Pioneer and Explorer quite well, does it not? I can see that this approach could have advantages for a post 1960 vehicle, but have we not just established that describing a pre-1960 vehicle as a Locomotive gives no advantage over describing it as anything else? :-D:-D:-D

There is no point in calling it a Recovery Truck simply to gain test exemption, as it would already (if pre 1960) be exempt from testing under Historic taxation. The only reason I can think for keeping it as a Recovery truck is to be able to recover with it, in which case it cannot be taxed Historic. At the risk of getting keyboard RSI, I will repeat my suggestion that you can call it what you want - even a Recovery Vehicle - because IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO HOW YOU TAX IT!!!!! I think most of our log books demonstrate that, mine certainly do :-D For example, you could call it a Recovery vehicle but tax it Historic, you can then only use "Historically". By the same token I'm certain you could also register, or describe a vehicle as a Goods Vehicle or anything else and tax it as Recovery in which case you could use it for recovery, but only under the terms of use of that taxation class.

Perhaps Pat Ware might consider posting that wonderful picture of a whole convoy of these Chevys from his book Red Ball Express on here, for the benefit of those across the water? :tup::

On the other hand, I could have been making reference to the successful progressive Scammellisation of your domestic environment :cool2: I can't complain, I haven't done too badly, but Mrs. NOS firmly drew the line at the use of a NOS Explorer radiator as a central heating radiator in the hall - not even the prospect of making it a convector type (by utilising a small electric motor, with original drive belt and fan) was enough to convince her. And what news of Daisy's very young apprentice? He must be strong enough to productively wield a 3/4 W spanner by now, even if only as a hammer. Be sure to take advantage of his ability to access very tight spaces (of which the Scammell has many) before he grows too big :-D

:thumbsup: Wise words. This blog is making my efforts seem a bit tame....

I'm sure they don't see it as a problem Jules, because under Historic taxation I don't think you are permitted to "recover" anything on the public highway (other than possibly to move something as short a distance as possible to clear the highway as has already been suggested). I think the point Grumpy was making was that you cannot operate a Recovery vehicle as a Recovery vehicle under Historic tax - you can only run it around unladen. It seems that the choice of description of the vehicle has no bearing on what you can do wth it on the highway under Historic tax class. Although you would expect them to require you to select from a standard list of body options - they even made their own up for my Autocar in October :-D :-D

If you look at the document Grumpy put up in post 6 it clearly states under Qualifying Vehicles - d) mobile cranes/pumps..... This is because a mobile crane simply travels along the highway unladedn from job to job. The list of body options gives "breakdown truck". This is the same as a recovery truck, but again I think you'll find that you cannot use it to "recover" vehicles along the highway if operating under "Historic" taxation class. Isn't the long and the short of it like this: HISTORIC tax allows you to run an old vehicle around on the highway at zero tax, and if over 3500kg without the need for a test, but - for that most generous concession, do not expect to be allowed to do much else with it!

Jack -you'll need to decide which hand to hold the gun in to spray with, as this will dictate which of your other hands you'll need to use to hold the paint brush to smooth out the runs. (think I'm kidding?) And remember to leave a few of your runs to make the finish more authentic - see pic of new Heil tanker below.

Boely - in that book you will find information on the British-built RB excavators, note the square cabs. These will be the same as your (Accurate Armour?) kits?. I am fairly certain all the U.S.-built examples (from the parent Bucyrus-Erie) had a more modern looking curved cab, and were also supplied to British forces as lend-lease. I think they were pretty much identical mechanically.

Looks like it, large numbers of these artic units ran on the post D Day Red Ball operations. Nice pic!

I am going to seriously wet my pants with laughter when a new member signs on with the name VOSAMAN :sweat:

It says used by American army - certainly WW2, but isn't that a British trailer? :confused:

Should be there again in April or May Bet the GMC looked good parked outside the front door! :cool2:

If you take a vehicle for test which is too wide for rollers or no inter-axle diff (which is effectively what the Explorer is) they just do a subjective brake test on the test ramp and in the yard. At least that is what happened to me about 16 years ago. I would think each test centre has its own way around it.

I just though it might be helpful :-D

That is the interesting bit Grumpy, thanks. I reckon a lot of vehicles were registered as Agricultural Machine etc in the days before the Historic/Test concession, simply as a way around testing. For example my Autocar was registered as an Agricultural Vehicle when I acquired it (first registered 1976 ish). I had to send the Registration document back for a variety of information updates, and declared it as an articulated lorry tractor unit. Yes, the new document just says "Tractor". Oh well I tried :-D I wonder if it really makes much difference what the description says if you are only operating within the confines of Historic tax class :confused: Trying to summarise the position, are the following anywhere near correct? Used unladen and not drawing a laden trailer or broken down vehicle - Historic tax ok (if pre 1974) and pre-1960 test exemption if over 3500kg Used laden and/or drawing a laden trailer or broken down vehicle (not hire/reward) - Historic tax ok (if pre 1974), but testing required (even if pre-1960) Used for any Hire/Reward purpose with/without load/trailer - appropriate taxation (not Historic, even if pre 1974) and plating/testing required (even if pre-1960) Yet again, you can see why Jeeps are so popular :-D:-D

But if they were converted to haulage vehicles presumably they were taxed as such, and not taxed as Recovery Trucks ISTR Antarmike described the registration of his Antar as a Heavy Locomotive, and he runs on STGO2, but I can't find the post. Mike - are you still able to tax the Antar as Historic, and can you remind us what what vehicle testing do you need to comply with, or do you tax, test and and run it as a private HGV vehicle? Jim, if you go for private HGV, you would have to pay £175 odd tax and would you not then need to have the vehicle tested annually, regardless of age?