6 X 6

Mike, Just out of interest, why did the engine blow up ? It's not normally expected to happen. Also, bearing in mind that you had been nursing a defective clutch for many years I wonder why you didn't take the opportunity to renew the clutch while the engine out.

Alright Degsy, I'll give you something to be going on with. Long, long ago in a forgotten time, Mum Cartwons did keep a wild and wondrous beastie by the name of Draig Goch that lived in a cavernous lair hidden deep in the dark, mist shrouded, primaeval mountains of Wales just off the B4577. That's it Degsy. That's all you're getting until Mum Cartwons reveals more.

Due to the large number of inmates on the Land Rover ward a new wing has recently been built onto the Asylum solely to accommodate newly admitted LR owners like yourself. In practical terms, this means that it is no longer necessary to sleep five to a bed although I've noticed that, for some reason, quite a few still are.

Anita will reveal all. (well, reveal all about Draig Goch.) Just be patient.

Bring on the Red Dragon.........

It's not a question of WANTING, you NEED a bigger truck. Everyone does.

Hey Jan, You may find the thread "self-made Campers on military trucks" page 6 of "Other Chatter" interesting. The two most often over looked hazards of campers are condensation from cooking/breathing and carbon monoxide poisoning from gas cookers/heaters. One causes you to wake up damp while the other causes you to wake up dead. Both fates can be avoided if you bear them in mind from an early stage of your design. Good luck.

A brief vid of J.Attlee's Contractor doing it's stuff.

Yes, alright Gritineye, I happen to know where you lifted that quote from: "Diesel engines can help one to find that path" is on page 23 of "The Sayings of Lao-Tzu", The Wisdom of The East Series. Anyway, petrol is for girls.

Gritineye, Thank you for taking the time to give such a comprehensive reply. The L10 does seem to have a lot to commend it. I know of two older Meadows to diesel conversions in 20t Constructors, one a Gardner 180 LXB giving a cruising speed of 25-27 mph plus that gorgeous exhaust note and the other, a Leyland 680 Powerplus, which being slightly higher revving, gives 30-32 mph. Both engines are very reliable with a good spares situation. As far as I know there is one complete Meadows petrol engined 20t Constructor still around with possibly one other in bits. Although I fully appreciate why people do these conversions I'd like to think that some of these petrol engined Cons/Explorers may be able to stay intact until some cheaper, microbe based, petrol substitute becomes available in the future. I'll never understand why unlimited petrol/diesel is not prescribed free of charge to all HMV owners through the National Health Service like the free methadone scheme that enables others to get stoned all day at our expense. N.O.S. What engine is in your MoS Constructor ?

What sort of road speed is your Explorer capable of with the L10 and how does that compare with the Meadows ? Thanks.

Big Chris, Thank you for posting these wonderful 'photos. I'm always amazed how many Explorers have survived. Does anyone know what to total build number was ?

Congratulations Mr & Mrs MadRat ! Good luck to you both.

You may well be right about there being 21 of these tractors built but assuming 21 tractors on the basis of 21 trailers being supplied is not what I would call firm evidence. I've always understood the total number of RAF tractors was 20. I wouldn't want N.O.S. to devote the rest of his life trying to track down one non existent RAF Con. tractor simply because the MoS ordered one spare trailer. Is there any other evidence of there being 21 tractors other than the tally of trailers ?

Is it this type of trailer and have you now solved the problem ?

We're all interested !!! Thank you for sharing 'photos you've already posted. Looking forward to seeing many more when you have the time. Thanks.

Andy, I recommend this one if you don't already have a copy. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Classic-Heavy-Haulage-GIANT-LOADS-ON-THE-MOVE_W0QQitemZ300195834737QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300195834737&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A1%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

This is the 20 tonner while it was owned by Bernie Jones and after he had fitted the Leyland PP 680. PSU 439 was subsequently sold, by Bernie, to a well known commercial vehicle recovery operator. Does anyone know where it is now ?

Please flood this website with photo's.

To savor the knowledge that one day, sometime in the future, the inner secrets of the body will be revealed is quite enough excitement for me to be going on with.

Good idea, earn a bit of cash !

Yes, thank you Mike, you're quite correct. This lorry is actually NGY 593 the ex.MoS tank transporter as shown in the photograph below. John Harrington should know better than to describe this historically important Scammell as a MoS "skip carrier" hence my earlier sarcastic post. At the time when Dave Mobbs was showing this lorry as a driving chassis, with no cab, at Banbury I wrote to him saying I knew of a suitable Constructor ballast body that was for sale but received no reply. Does anyone know if this NGY 593 now has acquired a body ?

The following link shows a very usual vehicle. One of a pair of Constructors acquired by the Ministry of Supply in the early 1950's as part of their thriving skip hire business. Imagine what a thrill it must have been to have one of these lovely Scammells deliver a skip right outside your semi to take all your garden waste away. Not many people know about the MoS trail-blazing the skip business with Constructors all those years ago but Mr.John Harrington seems to and, as military vehicle officer of The AEC Society and vintage Scammell owner, I'm sure he knows what he's talking about. http://ccmv.fotopic.net/p25956379.html

Amen to all that, Les.