RMweb Gold Corbs Posted December 17, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 17, 2017 (edited) A little road vehicle bash for a change. This year I've been making a few customised christmas presents for some friends and family. This one is a miniature version of my friend's unique AEC Matador Timber Tractor, which has been in his family business since 1946. It's been rebuilt by both Automower and Douglas, the chassis has been shortened quite a lot compared to a standard Matador. The model isn't a 100% accurate copy, but I wanted to capture the look of it. I started with the good old Airfix Matador and 5.5" Gun kit. This shows the markings where I took approx. 7mm out of the chassis. The real tractor has the roof hole plugged so a circle cut from card does the job. Shown here with the cab mocked up on the chassis. The base of the WD rear body was used as the rear deck. Sliced in half, then the support struts cut off to give the right angle. Raves fitted, made up from pieces of the WD sides. The raves and the decking were scribed to represent planks. Next up was the jib. The real one is bent but for ease I made this one with straight sides, styrene strip fixed with brass rod at the bottom. The pulley is made from one that came off an old crane kit. It's slightly too large but does the job. A stand fabricated for the jib, and glued together. The windows (none provided in the kit) were made with a mixture of clear plastic and glue 'n glaze. The support cables are just some black wire glued into small holes. I couldn't resist a little bit of weathering powders washed in to the cracks. So there we go! A little automotive diversion, something different and a copy of a real vehicle. I opted not to put graphics on it as it's so small and I didn't want to rush and mess it up. Edited December 17, 2017 by Corbs 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unklian Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Don't forget the ground anchor/spade at the back 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted December 17, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 17, 2017 Ah yes, I've made it, it's in paint before it's attached! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted December 17, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 17, 2017 Also, the pulley wheel is far too big. I think I'll cut it out and replace tomorrow. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad McCann Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Nice work. I remember a place near Rayleigh having a couple of these at work back in 1995. Days a lot for the toughness of the basic design. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted December 18, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 18, 2017 The only drawback with the old Airfix kit is the wheel hubs, especially when compared with the pics of the prototype. Matador models produce resin replacements with the correct centres for both front and rear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted December 18, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 18, 2017 Yeah they are rubbish aren't they? Offset is totally wrong, too. If I do another one I'll correct it. Working up the courage to cut the pulley wheel off at the moment. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad McCann Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Road Transport images can probably provide you with something more suitable too. D4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted December 18, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 18, 2017 Much happier with this smaller pulley wheel. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Have you seen these links before? http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p632364757 http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p82812439 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted December 18, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 18, 2017 (edited) Thanks for the links. Interesting to see another Douglas rebuild but retaining the WD cab (although with single piece front windows). Mr Shopland had requested this from Douglas when it went for the rebuild there. One thing about the shortened wheelbase is it's so much easier to turn in the yard! Having tried both the original and the TT you can see why it was so handy. Have you seen these links before? http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p632364757 http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p82812439 Here it is with the spades fitted. Not too much left to do before it gets mounted in its box and wrapped up! Edited December 18, 2017 by Corbs 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted May 23, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2021 A few years down the line and I'm making 2 more Matador/Douglas timber tractors, one for me and one for Mr. Foster. The venerable Airfix kit is being used again but I'm going to try and use some of the learnings from the older build to improve this one. The chassis is being built up . You can see where approx. 7mm has been taken out, a straight cut this time, I removed the air tank and reattached it. Good old Airfix plastic love the Revell plastic cement. Cab and wheels roughly plonked in place The white bit of styrene is a reinforcement on the join. My plan is to replace the wheels, I looked at Matador Models' site which looked good but I don't have a chequebook and there is no way I'm writing down my card details and putting them in the post, so off to Road Transport Images it is, as they take online payment. On the fence about doing one with the earlier pressed steel cab roof. The Airfix roof requires beefing up anyway as it isn't long enough for the cab. Might remake the hooks with something a bit finer. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Here's a link to a web-site that has a lot of useful photos; there's even at least one fitted with an 'Ergomatic' cab:- https://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p632364757 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 (edited) Nice work - there’s a very good detailing kit for the Matador available from Milicast. I have one to finish from that source - will have to retrieve progress to date from the drawer. Adam EDIT: here’s the link - http://www.milicast.com/shop/product.php?productid=2530&cat=0&page=1 Edited June 13, 2021 by Adam 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted June 19, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 19, 2021 (edited) Thanks Adam! Just before you posted that I had coincidentally got a couple of Oxford donors to give up some parts. Principally the wheels as they are the right pattern AND also have banana tread tyres which is a close enough match! The original Douglas/AEC has 4 mismatched tyres which to be honest is very apt. I will also be reusing the Oxford radiators as the Airfix ones have a bar across the middle. The jibs might also be reused. On my one I find the Airfix roof to be too short so extended it with a piece of styrene sheet. On Tom's one I am trying to replicate as close as possible his friend's one which also has a modified AEC cab - note the roof curve is shallower but still wooden. The front spring also has a bumper bar instead of the exposed hook. The cab rear window was drilled and filed out. Both chassis frames shortened. Precious Oxford components. I've slimmed down the hooks with the swann-morton knife to make them less c h o n k y. To try and imitate Tom's mates one, I've used the Oxford body as a starting point, cutting it down to size with the razor saw and stanley knife. The final pic shows it posed with my cab for size as I debate using the A-frame from the Oxford model. Going to have to get crafty with Tom's roof to mimic the shallow curve. Edited August 7, 2022 by Corbs 4 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted July 26, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 26, 2021 (edited) Done some more work on the Sudrian/Manx timber tractor. The roof is unlike either of the AEC original ones so to get the distinctive shape I used some thin plastic. A raid of the spare parts box provided a pulley and some angle brackets. Drilled a hole for some handrail wire to hold it to the body. Styrene I beam and L section and some bits made up the spades which was attached to the chassis under the rear spring. The spare wheel is from the Airfix set. Repainted the radiator surround. Overall needs a bit of tidying up but pretty pleased so far. Edited August 7, 2022 by Corbs 7 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted August 7, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 7, 2021 (edited) Tom challenged me to make the jib deployable because it looks cool I drilled/carved a trough in the bottom of the jib, glued in some .7mm wire and then cut the support ironwork free. The wire is held captive by two L sections of styrene under the body at the back. Think it may need more winch detail and the jib retaining cables adding. Edited August 7, 2022 by Corbs 7 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted August 7, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 7, 2021 (edited) Only a small update but the tractor is pretty much done now apart from the jib hawsers, then it can go to Tom to be painted and detailed. Hacked a hole in the body to allow the winch cable to run through, and made a rope pulley thing for the winch cable to go over on its way to the jib out of some brass rod and some odd plastic bits. The little headlamps are from RT Models, not a bad match for the AEC ones. Edited August 7, 2022 by Corbs 10 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium AdeMoore Posted August 30, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 30, 2021 Looking good that great work, can’t wait to see what Tom does with it and then on the Scaca Fell Forestry Crossing layout. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted August 7, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 7, 2022 Well it's a year later and I'm finally getting around to doing more with my Timber Tractor (Tom has his one now as he is going to apply the finishing touches). Another Oxford model gave up its wheels and radiator to the Airfix one. The truck was spray painted (the green is a wheelbarrow paint). I had masked the radiator vanes and touched them in with a pen afterwards. I am no figure painter but gave it a go with the driver - this is the Airfix soldier with his helmet removed and replaced with a mop of black hair. I've given him the impression of some work overalls over a brown shirt. He'll be inside the truck anyway so doesn't need to be too detailed. After this pic I went over with a very thin black was to highlight the shadows and take some of the shine off. To imitate my friend's tractor, I took some pics of it when it was last outside, trying to get the camera straight and level with the signwriting. I brought these pics into photoshop, cut out the writing, then copied and pasted into illustrator, using 'image trace' on the 3-colour setting, then deleting the green areas. These were resized and then printed out on the OKI laser decal printer. I did a mix of right-way-round and back-to-front to see what the better result was for the red (back-to-front was better). Decals applied with a bit of micro-set to help them grip. The roof was brush painted red (needs another coat really). Decals applied, driver glued in, then raided the recycling bin for some clear plastic, a piece of phone case packaging did the trick. Once this was glued in the roof was attached. The decals are a lot rougher than off-the-shelf items due to having been done on a laser rather than ink printer, but they do the job. The headlamp is from RT Models again, the passenger side one sadly pinged off the tweezers and now resides somewhere in my room, so I have ordered another. The whole truck will be matt-coated, likely using maskol to protect the windows. 11 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barclay Posted August 19, 2022 Share Posted August 19, 2022 Superb - an inspiration to do something with mine, retired from my teenage-era layout when Coopercraft brought out their AEC Monarch, but recently re-discovered in my Mum's loft ! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted August 19, 2022 Share Posted August 19, 2022 https://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p632364757 has lots of views of Matadors, including timber trucks. There are a few of re-cabbed ones amongst the photos. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted August 19, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 19, 2022 3 hours ago, Barclay said: Superb - an inspiration to do something with mine, retired from my teenage-era layout when Coopercraft brought out their AEC Monarch, but recently re-discovered in my Mum's loft ! The Airfix kit is far superior and far more accurate than the Coopercraft. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barclay Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 I'm sure you're right but the Monarch is a lot more likely to turn up in a railway goods yard. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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