Richard Farrant Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 This Toad had nothing to do with Catweazle :-D.........it was in fact the unveiling of the latest restoration by RR Services, of a Churchill mine flail, called a Toad. For those that did not see the tv news item of it today, take a look at this link; www.bbc.co.uk/southeasttoday/latest_stories/index.shtml go to the picture at top left, "South East Today"......."see latest programme in full"........and click WATCH NOW it is a 30 minute programme but fast forward to just before 22 minutes. Watch out for the guy in green jacket in opening shot..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Saw that beauty in the workshops a few weeks ago when I was down there about maud..... Impressive job of work!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted May 16, 2008 Author Share Posted May 16, 2008 Impressive job of work!!!! You are right there, Neil. Everyone involved is justly proud of their work in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 To be honest - I think Work of Art might be a better description really Richard!!! (if the camera had been the otherside for the shot of it emerging from the workshop you'd probably have seen Little Maud being rebuilt in the background. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFowler Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 What a pity it has now left to live in U.S.A. ! Don't get me wrong its great to see it restored but I don,t suppose I,ll ever get to see it in the flesh now ! :cry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 Wonderful job. As you say, it is a pity that we will never see it in the flesh, but it is great that it has survived for future generations. Tim (too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 It wont be leaving just yet, if you really want to see it, get yourself down to Mikes and have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 That is incredible. What an amazing piece of history and restoration job. Does anyone know what state/history it was in before the restoration? Does the Wheatcroft collection have one? Reckin we need to ask snapper to do an HMVF Interview with R&R! Would be a great insight. - was that 007 in the green jacket?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 ...erm, I am really over the moon with owning a GMC but may be some folks take the hobby a bit too far...... http://www.milvehtechfound.com/inventory/biglist.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted May 17, 2008 Author Share Posted May 17, 2008 That is incredible. What an amazing piece of history and restoration job. Does anyone know what state/history it was in before the restoration? Does the Wheatcroft collection have one? Reckin we need to ask snapper to do an HMVF Interview with R&R! Would be a great insight. - was that 007 in the green jacket?? Jack, This is the only remaining Toad in captivity. There are no others left. I remember this actual vehicle standing on display in the Junior Leaders Royal Engineers barracks in Dover about 25 years ago and it was rough then. Since then it has passed around a couple of army museums, but the work needed was immense. The history is that they were conversions of old Churchills done in the mid-1950's, and never saw any active service, just training use. As for the state it was in, there was several hundred gallons of water in the hull, with both engines submerged and they were in a bad state. I had a small part in the job and can say that practically every piece of sheet metal on the outside, has had to be refabricated. As the Editor of a certain mv mag was seen there, I guess an article will appear in a future issue. 007.....who is he? Think you will find that person was 071 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 ...erm, I am really over the moon with owning a GMC but may be some folks take the hobby a bit too far...... http://www.milvehtechfound.com/inventory/biglist.html Thats an inaccurate list sir!!! The OT-90 is missing from the list of APC's as well as Amphibians. And the Stalwart is missing from the list of Amphibians. Not that I'm in any way biased in looking for these vehicles there...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted June 29, 2008 Author Share Posted June 29, 2008 What a pity it has now left to live in U.S.A. ! Don't get me wrong its great to see it restored but I don,t suppose I,ll ever get to see it in the flesh now ! :cry: You will get to see it Andy. Apparantly it has not been shipped out yet and is billed to appear at War & Peace Show Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runflat Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Toad on YouTube: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julezee001 Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Thought I'd better add a couple more pictures of the Toad during restoration. It had just been collected from the sandblasters, and was dragged off the low loader and pushed in the workshop using the Berliet wrecker. The tracks then removed for blasting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toadmanstankpictures Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Looks great! I can't wait to see it when it arrives at Jacques Littlefield's place later this summer. I'll be sure to post plenty of pics of it at that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 yes just got my copy of military machines through letterbox .and its saying it will be appearing at the war & peace show ............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.