JCB 3C no.2

Very nice but it is of course a Reliant REGAL van. Craig

Apparently MAN can control the engine management systems on these vehicles from Munich !

Sunblest van is looking good, please post the finished article. Sunblest pic is from Leyland FG Brochure I have, should have cut out the blue luton van really. Must admit I would have been tempted to leave dents on the Sherpa as so many vans bear war wounds. . Craig

The Sunblest FG vans were a staple of 70s Britain street scenes . They were always driven through town at breakneck speeds, assume drivers were on some sort of bonus. Looks like they were a rather dull grey in 1960s Craig

I think Atalya has been mentioned but an Ebay seller has all these for sale at moment which could be seen on British Roads ( albeit they need a few mods!) https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/charlieccu/m.html?item=274967559730&hash=item400557fe32%3Ag%3Ahp0AAOSwzNJhVHaz&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 Dunno who made the Sherpa ( with protypical dents ) but it was part of a James Bond themed set. Craig

Odd that no one makes 'em in model form. Looking at the Commercial Motor archive first mention of skeletals being supplied is 1966.

These Commer trucks particularly the fire engines are very good , do you fancy doing them in OO scale? This model of Commer truck ( V Series and C Series) has not been done in small scale by any of the big companies AFAIK. This is surprising as they sold well across all markets and were very common sight in 60's 70's and 80's. They also were marketed with the Dodge badge following Chrysler take over of Rootes They were particularly popular with local authorities across the UK and could be seen everywhere as council tippers, bin wagons, road sweepers and gulley emptiers . In municipal applications they often bore the Karrier name. Councils liked them because of their love of Perkins diesels. The Commer cab would look good with your road sweeper body. Craig

The Datsun 620 pick ups were everywhere in late 70s early 80s . There was no British equivalent ( many companies and all Nationalised co's / Goverment bodies had a rigid buy British policy , how quaint this seems now! ) They were coming over in shiploads along with the Datsun Cherrys and 120Y's ( well priced and totally reliable and with what Brit makes saw as extras as standard, radios, etc ). Downside they rusted quickly but so did Brit makes of that era. ATS Tyres had many in yellow , they had a little canopy with small compressor behind the cab. They used to paint out the D...UN stamped and painted on the tail boards and leave the ATS letters, clever ! Toyota Hi -Lux and Mazda B1600 one ton pick ups also came in at the time but were no where near as popular. Craig

Great little FG breakdown truck. Remember when the wheel fell off my Triumph Herald ( troubles with trunions!) having a suspended tow 10 miles home with a FG truck exactly like this. There was no conversation as I was deafened by the engine noise and the driver wore big ear defenders for the entire journey !

Which Dinky toy Commercials were 1.43 ? Can think of - Bedford TK tipper and flat ERF fire engine AEC fire engine Coles Hydra truck crane Mercedes truck and trailer These were all nice fairly accurate ( and heavy! ) models. Must be others Craig

The Cararama S111 LWB is good and cheap as chips on Ebay , in soft top , hard top, pick up and station wagon forms. Only complaint is to create a hardtop they painted the soft top body colour.

A fine flock of Neals Pelican coal loaders and one Priestman 'Rubber Duck' as they call them in the construction trade ! Note in the first pic they are based on the later Ford 5000 tractor not the good old Fordson Major E1A and the last pic Pelican has Coles badging as they bought out Neals. Photos with kind permission of Steve ( Neversweat) from the CMN Classic Machinery Network. Craig

Nice model but the rear stabiliser legs were never on the outside of the mudguards, that really would have caused some damage on site !

Yes thanks for info , I see Artitec do the Bischoff Polytrac with a slewing grab. https://www.artitecshop.com/nl/bischoff-polytrac-met-grijper.html To most people this would look OK in a British coalyard. But suppose it's not quite right to digger afficianado's i

Shotton steel works in O scale , now their's a project

They seem to be doing three UK versions all same body with loads , other liveries are North West Gas and Raymond Holland Ltd . The airport bus is superb and the fire engine looks really good ,these are all marketed as Ebro-45 's the Spanish designation when licence built there. Their is also a 'Spar' box van and a drinks truck in beer and cola liveries , plus what I think is a naval police truck , maybe more.

Any links to the 'Ugly Brute' supplier. Odd that a front loader has stabilisers as if they were down it could not front load !

If you want a 1/43 O scale Thames ( Ford Fordson ) ET6 in BR livery with left hand drive and Continental style body your prayers are answered ! Actually it looks quite a nice model.

I have read that DER bought estate cars with clip on panels because of the accountants favourite ' residual values'. i.e. they retained much more of their value when sold compared to vans. Their is no way a large company like them would be accounting for them as vans and letting drivers ' convert' them to cars after work. Police and Customs back then were red hot on vans with side windows and used to check the tax discs ( remember them !). The Mk111 Escort Van with little 'opera windows ' was a real pain for Ford and operators when introduced as the law then was quite clear , light vans with windows behind the drivers window were private cars . I believe their was a legal wrangle and Ford possibly due to their commercial might managed to win it.

Brake lights as well !

No experience but it looks a lot more comfortable than its predecessor the Trader .

Double drive with locked diffs , that tipper won't get bogged down Clever work.

Thanks for replies all , I will check out all listed. Craig

It may seem a simple question to many but I notice some of you make your own number plates and other vehicle transfers on your computer printers. How is this done ? Complete novice guide needed ! Craig

For a fine selection of dockside cranes and ships , barges , rail wagons etc this beautifully filmed free to view on BFI half hour film about the Port of Hull in 1963 is well worth a look . Some of the shipping scenes are Turner-esque. Near to the end their is a quayside full of various British sports cars going to Canada. Link- https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-the-port-of-hull-1963-online