Greetings all,

Some progress on the Bedford QLD GS (Special) I hope. SMT and Spurlings were contracted to produce 2000 assorted vehicles. At least 10 of these were what was known as 'US Type Steel'. They had a flat steel bed with no wheelboxes and steel sides I believe ,much like the fore runner of the more modern version I've hopped off and onto a few times. This is my attempt at one.











Some update pictures on the 15cwt Radio Truck in the cold light of day, so to speak.















The 15 cwt RT truck has been re-badged and both vehicles now represent support elements of 151st (Ayrshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA (TA) one of the RA Regiments that provided artillery support for 11th Armd Div. They were equipted with 25pdr towed Fd Guns so the third vehicle will probably be a Chevrolet Gun Tractor.

Changing the unit designation alters a little the time frame for Pier 51, as forward elements of 11th Arms Div arrived in Normandy on the 9th June with the remainder of the division arriving by the 23rd June.

This is not a problem but does open up the possibility of some German Prisioners in the dio!!!

There is the possibility of a 4th truck but parked on the pier itself. This might be an RN 15cwt or alternatively another Bedford QLD. I have the chassis and load tray built for a second vehicle, a wooden one this time but am awaiting some more plastic strip and the top part of the cab.

For a bit of interest I though I might have one of the vehicles towing a Fuel/Water Bowser. I have the Belik kit but I need to ask a few questions. Is it in fact a Fuel Tank Trailer or is it a Water Bowser??? Is it correct for the time period ie June 1944 or is it a much later development?

Here's a few pics:









Finally here's a few pics of the vehicles together with a figure for scale:








No load has been set for the QLD, I might simply close the back up or more likely add a figure leaning on the tailgate with the impression of some stores behind him, sort of emerging from under the trarp.

Cheers

Al

Hi Alan,

They look cracking and should add quite alot to the atmosphere of pier 51.

You are certainly being very prolific at this time. So what is next?

John

Morning John,

Idle hands :-) :-) :-)

Thanks for the feedback. I have quite a lot of the 2nd QLD made but am waiting for parts as I mentioned. I will probably start the Chevrolet Gun Tractor. If the Bowser can be used ie it is the right time period then it can be the load. If not I have a 25pdr and limber that I could use.

I'm thinking about an RN Truck for the pier itself, but I was keeping it for a desert scene. Need to get a few of Doug's original drivers and have a look through the figures I have, get a few finished off.

The next item to think about is the crane and either make or source a 'Fisherman's Hut'

I've got a Sherman or two going on in the back ground to fill in the waiting time :-) :-)

Cheers

Al

Not bad!
Why not to add some close-ups?

Hi alan,

I have been watching the BBC 3 part series about Dunkirk on DVD and there are some good views of the internal areas of a wireless set in the first episide.

I dont know how you keep up the speed of building, I only wish that personal issues would allow me to sit each day and just get on with building, like I used to. But hey it is life I guess.......lol

An Rn truck would be good to have in the diorama and I still say that you should look at scratching a WRVS/Salvation Army tea and bun caravan.

You remember how important the NAAFI wagon is to morale even now, I mean the 'Brat Van' even used to get onto 'Senni' and find you in a supposed secure location.

John

Hi John,

I have part of a picture of a Naafi Wagon which looks like a converted Austin Tilly.

Not sure if the NAAFI/WVS would have had a large truck, but I have pictures of the interior of a Field Kitchen. I'll have an ask around and see if I can get a picture of one or two

There will be woman in the dio, both civilian, military and workers. There were a lot of woman welders, and the like around the docks as well as those who worked in the factories and provided other services!!!

Ah NAAFI break, always look forward tio that, tea and spam during the war, maybe a cake if you got lucky. steak pie and a pint of milk :-) :-) :-) well, sometimes several steak pies :-) :-) :-) , mind you I could eat a horse in those days and it wouldn't show.

I'll see what info turns up. Thanks for the input, I hadn't forgotten that you mentioned that before, it's always been my intention to add a few female workers to the scene.

BTW the 250gal tank is a WATER tank, thanks Dave, aka (Grumpy), I though I'd read that somewhere before.

Hi James 84,

WYSIWYG - :-) :-) :-)

Cheers all

Al

Sharp work there Alan, the tarp on the first truck in particular is very convincing.

Super work Alan as allways

Cant wait to see it all come together

Ian

Hi,

Few good looking builds there....

curious like the rest to see how the dio turns out...


Gray

Hi Bill, Ian and Gray,

Thanks for the feedback guys. The Bedford was a challenge that's for sure.

Glad you liked them.

Cheers

Al

I am not 100% sure of the water tank trailers issued to British units, but all the ones I have seen in USA service used the same wheels and tires as the GMC 6 x 6 truck, 7.5 X 20, as the basic unit was based on the 1 ton trailer. The wheels on the kit are from 3/4 ton Dodge, 9 X 16.

Very nice 15cwt! It is good to see the kit built up.

Hi Randell,

Thanks for the feedback on the trailer. I had heard about the wheel issue, but as I don't have any replacements it will have to do as is for now.

I'll see what other information comes to light.

Glad you like the 15cwt, they are a neat little kit.

Cheers

Al

They look superb mate! Can't wait to see it all together!

Hi Karl,

Thanks for that. How's your build going?? - Looking forward to seeing it.

Cheers

Al

It's finally getting there Al! Groundworks coming on well although I'm having trouble drying mud out due to the crap weather at the moment...LOL. I'll try to post some progress pics this week

Hi Karl,

Look forward to it - ha, drying mud, 'just can't get the washing dry in this weather' as my mum would have said :-) :-)

John,

Re the NAAFI truck I see on the list of forthcoming items from Accurate Armour they had a YMCA Canteen on their list of future products!!!!! :-)

Cheers all

Al

Alan,

That will be a great thing to have if you can afford it or do a scratch build.

Have you seen the Plusmodel QRL conversion sets?

http://www.plusmodel.cz/karta_en.php?id=98

http://www.plusmodel.cz/karta_en.php?id=168

They also do some GB boxes. Ration I think.

Might give some more inspiration

Keep well

John

Hi John,

Thanks for that. I had seen their conversions before. I have a Plus Models Cab on order for the 2nd truck, Resicast also do one and Plus Models do a conversion for the Chevy Gun Tractor as well, but I'll build that one as is.

I might do a QLR in the future once I get a bit more practice with the basic vehicle and working with resin LOL, LOL. I have a good reference book for it.

Accurate Armour also do an interesting RN Fordson with 20mm cannon, but a bit expensive, and I was looking at their Austin Tilly and drooling a fair bit LOL, LOL.

Plus Models have a neat Fordson that I think Grumpy built not long ago.

The AA Canteen might well be a possibility given how long this dio will take me, so I should have enought time to save up LOL, LOL.

I must have a go at doing a full resin kit, something I'd been putting off, and see how I get on.

I'll check out their British Ration Boxes.

Cheers

Al

Greetings all,

A question I need to ask:

Would RSC Drivers have been used on RA Vehicles. I'm thinking about the drivers headgear. Would they all need berets for the RA or would their have been a mix of drivers, service cap/beret?


The Scots style beret that comes with quite a lot of figures; was this worn by other units as well?

Cheers

Al

Afternoon Al

Removing the tourie from your Scots headgear would give a reasonable version of the 'Hat, GS' a beret-like piece of headgear issue mid-war to replace the side-cap. Made of khaki serge and issued to soldiers not entitled to wear the beret. Not much liked by the wearer...

The multi-piece construction made it larger and more shapeless than the beret.

All the best

David

Hi David,

Thanks for that, great that will do very nicely.

Cheers

Al