6 X 6

There's a live one here.

Who doesn't ?

Ballast Tractor Constructor seen at the CTP Longbridge Deverill "Noggin' n' Natter" 2001.

For anyone out there who doesn't know.....this is what the rear end of a Militant MK 1 gun tractor looks like.

It appears to have a similar wooden body and hoop configuration as the type that were fitted to MK1 Militant gun tractors but the rear end chassis detail doesn't look, to me, quite right for it to be a Militant. I await comment from Les before speculating any further. No mechanical malady Mike ! It was towed back from Ruddington, maybe behind the Constructor, to save on fuel/drivers.

Les, did you also take a photograph of the lorry parked behind the Constructor in post 322 ? Was it a gun tractor ? Thank you.

Les, We're all away with the fairies on here. Thank you for these and the many other wonderful 'photos you've recently posted.

Andy, this is just some of them .... apparently he's got a load more parked up in that shed.

Roland, very interesting photographs, thank you for posting them here.

By the mid 1930's many independent bicycle manufacturers had been absorbed into the Raleigh empire and were hardly distinguishable from one another except by the headstock badge or transfer. There were a number of makes starting with S, Swift comes to mind as well as those already mentioned. The problem is the S lamp bracket may well have started life on a different bike entirely and replaced a broken one. What would be helpful would be a few more 'photos including one of the crank design and chain guard. You really need to go pre-1920 for really distinctive features on bicycles. From the little one can see of this machine it looks late 1930's - 1950's. What makes you think it isn't a Raleigh, apart from the lamp bracket ?

Nick Bullock, who was editor of MV Magazine, has very kindly given us permission to reproduce his photographs of the three Constructors in the yard at Soest in Holland as mentioned by N.O.S. in post 299. These pictures appeared in issue no.26, May/June 2000 of MV Magazine which also had a picture of two "Bedford cab" Constructor ballast tractors on it's front cover as shown below. The first page of Nick's article. The RAF Constructor. The body had been removed but was lying nearby. The following 'photos are of the two FV12102 Constructor semi-trailer tractors that were keeping the RAF type company.

I made only one visit to Ruddington which was when I bought a low mileage Fordson 4 X 4 for £250 and one visit to Vass's to buy spares for it. Both occasions were during the early 1970's. If only I'd had a camera with me. Does anyone have any photographs of the parking area at the Ruddington auction site ? There were hundreds and hundreds of vehicles of all types waiting to be sold. Army lorry heaven.

Well, that does explain it ! Thank you.

Here's a link for Simon's very desirable, non Lager cab variant MK 3. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330256849097&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

That looks nice, someone give it a home ! ( I don't think it's the one with the lager cab which has been listed by someone named Mike)

N.O.S. Thank you very much indeed for taking the time and trouble to compile your superb post regarding RAF type Constructors. I feel we are all very fortunate to have someone posting here who has such good knowledge of these vehicles and their individual histories. I have a copy of the MV Magazine you refer to and will post 'photos of the Soest Constructors in the next few days unless someone else has already done so.

As I've already said this may not be the cause but it's a good place to look first.

Thanks militant-pete for finding out about the history of this Scammell.

Sorry to keep on but this Constructor was originally supplied by Scammell as a 5th wheel tractor to who and where ? The military ? A civilian operator on Cyprus ? For drawing a loader type trailer or what ? Does anyone know ? Does anyone care ? Are these questions even too anoraky for us lot on here ?

He's incorrigible. Does it have a shorter wheelbase than usual or is it all that acid I took in the 1960's that gives just me that impression.

That'll help pin down the location, now what about Scammell ?

Wow, younggun, that's very observant of you. I was so absorbed with looking at the lorries I didn't even notice the trees ! What about Bambury ? Kemble ? It would help if we knew what make of tree they are.