6 X 6

Yo Bellacoola from BC,

There's always room for one more on the Land Rover Ward of the Asylum.

I've just spent a very enjoyable half hour viewing your splendid website, thanks. The first 'photo in the Redneck 2008 series looks just like our local Cheddar Gorge here in Somerset.

 

At the end of the trip: Very sore shoulders, fumey lungs, knackered, but totally satisfied!

I should think the Mat was also totally satisfied to be home again after being in France of all places....France...I still haven't forgiven the French for their behavior during the 100 years war.

It's always better to be the one doing the towing than the one being towed. I've had some very scary moments behind tow trucks who seem to have forgotten I was there. There's a lot to be said for A Bars.

The Matador looks out of scale, almost like a toy, behind the Scammell.

Thank you for posting more fantastic 'photos. You can certainly see just how useful that Militant crane is..... everyone should have one !

and it will be more after that one.

That's what I call having the right attitude.....lets face it, you can't have too many. Looking forward to seeing a few pictures of what you have so far.

Thank you julezee001 for one of the most interesting posts on this thread. What a lovely set of photographs ! I can never understand these people who seem to have a different HMV very time I speak to them. Sticking with a vehicle and getting it just how you want it, as you have done, is, to me, a much more satisfying approach. That's a really nice Militant you have there.

Nothing like this in Somerset.... unfortunately.

Does any one fancy setting up a brief register of the surviving military Constructors on here ?

Although, one day, it would be wonderful if someone were to publish a website devoted to the various Constructor types until that comes about, I was wondering if we could make a small start by compiling a list of the survivors, plus brief details, of what is known about them.

I don't think it is important who the present owners are but any other information related to the vehicles could be included and, where possible, a photograph.

As this is the HMVF I'm thinking we might exclude Constructors that are now bright orange recovery trucks and stick with Constructors that you could drive around W&P without causing too much alarm. I would feel that PGK 887 would qualify, even though we all know it's not 100% original, it does look the part.

If other people think this would be a good idea there remains the question of what would be the best way to go about it. What I had in mind, but I'm very open to other posters better ideas, is that one person (not me !) could act as an "editor" maintaining a single post while anyone with a contribution to make could PM them with the information for inclusion. I'm suggesting this because otherwise this proposed "Register of Surviving Constructors" would just become a hodge podge of different posts rather than a single source.

What do you think ?

Very interesting, thank you. I spent 6 months traveling/hitch hiking around the States when young and met some of your ants. They're mean.

Sadly will remain spares only. An early Explorer, chassis no.7295, reg 01 BD 28. QUOTE

 

Thank you for posting these Explorer 'photos. I always think that when you see restored vehicles at a show it's very easy to forget just how old they really are. Seeing a lorry that has been out in the open for a number of years, as this one has, gives you a much better impression of how much time has past since vehicles like this were in service and also how remarkable it is that any have survived at all.

Thank you very much indeed !:yay::yay::cool2::idea::shake:

There's no stopping me now:rofl::rofl:

If you look a little way down the road there is a farm house right on the road, and theres a GMC CCKW parked in the yard in front of the house.

Happy hunting

That GMC is on my list of 'Wonders of Somerset' and a 'photo will be on here soon. As you will know, it hasn't moved for years and is slowly rotting.

How do you add smilies to your post ??

I'm dragging them across into the message panel but at this, and the posting stage, they stay as code. What am I doing wrong ? Thanks.

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/images/smilies/yay2.gif

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/images/smilies/frown.gif

Like the two above....still just shown as code.

Martin, one of the guys who helped to build this, is also a member of Easy Co, so will ask him when next I speak with him.

 

 

I'm sure I'm not the only one who would find the back ground and story behind the building of this replica rocket and setting it up at W&P very interesting. It would would make a great thread, with 'photos, somewhere on the forum. I look forward to hearing more. Thanks.

What a result for you Mike ! Andy is well over due for some sort of HMV OBE or even a knighthood.

Any sort of Yank very welcome here. The Ford M-20 sounds very interesting, where had it been sleeping for those 40 years ? 'Photos of your stuff would be great to see posted on this forum when you have the time. Cheers.

My favourite picture at Kemble ! :-D

 

Are these yours ?

Maybe some pics of the "Scrapped" one ! :cool2:

Probably the best vehicle to "live" in I have seen at a show ! Wonderfull ! Kemble 2008 !

 

Wonderful 'photos thank you, once again, Andy.

 

Is this the early Militant, originally with a fixed side cargo body, that was in Wiltshire Land Rover's yard for many years ? What would this house type body originally have been fitted on ? it looks too nice to be British. I hope the present owner never regrets not carrying a spare wheel or is there one hidden under the kitchen sink ? Nice vehicle all round.

Anyone know the history behind this one? Could it be a prototype for a gun tractor? Looks like it has a Rolls C6 diesel and 12.00 tyres.

I had the opportunity to view this vehicle in the company of Steve Guest at his yard some years ago. At the time, Steve told me that this Constructor had been rescued from Pound's yards in a very poor state, I think, as a cab and chassis. The original steel "Bedford type" cab was so badly corroded that Steve decided to build a new one into which he incorporated, listen up Gritineye, doors from a Martian gun tractor. From what I understood at the time, everything one can see in the way of cab, rear body and rear mudguards were fabricated by Steve. I don't remember asking Steve if the engine was original, or if he had replaced a petrol Meadows, with a diesel. I may be wrong, and as we all know I often am, but I have always understood that this Constructor had originally been a straight forward 20 ton ballast tractor.

Steve rallied this Constructor for a number of years, I saw it at a HMV show near Southhampton about 12 years ago towing the living van Steve built himself, before he sold it to a friend.

I find at least two points on the owner's description, which I am assuming was displayed on this vehicle when Andy photographed it, a little hard to understand. Firstly, this Constructor is described as a "Heavy Recovery Tractor" that surprises me as I had always thought of the Explorer as undertaking that role. The second detail I find a little odd, is that in relation to other 20 ton ballast tractors, if that is what it was, is that the chassis number 9111 appears to be right out of sequence. Bearing in mind that it is said the original reg. was PGK 887, (is that a MoS number ?) then this Constructor may well have an unusual and interesting history. Until I can learn more about this lorry some things don't quite add up. Maybe Steve Guest, or the present owner, would be kind enough to enlighten us further.

I'm struggling to find an image of this beast, can only find 28cm guns (anyone?), but I can't believe a solitary Scammell Constructor wouldn't manage the whole caboodle.....:whistle:

I think you'll find the Scammell Constructor was designed for a totally different logistics scenario.

Andy, thank you very much indeed ! Talk about thinking big. That was a really wonderful project for someone. I think I can remember reading that the rocket was to be auctioned at the end of that W&P. I wonder where it is now.

While we're on the subject of missiles, does anyone a 'photo to post here of the replica V2 (?) rocket that was at a recent W&P or knows where it is now ?

What an extraordinary machine. I hope someone will be able to tell us what it is and what it was used for.