Guest Jack Benson Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 For those of a certain age and background, the NAAFI or YMCA tea wagon* was an essential, working remote from the canteen required that they 'came' to you. This masterful conversion of a Airfix K2 is way beyond my ability, even the flooring is correctly replicated in lino but it does inspire. A static trailer is not suitable as the canteen as they had to travel around the establishment, any suggestion as to what 1:76 vans are suitable for multilation? Please note that the timeframe is very much in the mid '50s. * For me it was the Aggie Weston van, wonderful baked bean pies. Thank you and StaySafe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 7 minutes ago, Jack Benson said: For those of a certain age and background, the NAAFI or YMCA tea wagon* was an essential, working remote from the canteen required that they 'came' to you. This masterful conversion of a Airfix K2 is way beyond my ability, even the flooring is correctly replicated in lino but it does inspire. A static trailer is not suitable as the canteen as they had to travel around the establishment, any suggestion as to what 1:76 vans are suitable for multilation? Please note that the timeframe is very much in the mid '50s. * For me it was the Aggie Weston van, wonderful baked bean pies. Thank you and StaySafe Oxford do an Austin K8 and a Commer, amongst others. Not only did these mobile canteens serve large factories and military bases, bur they were often to be seen at major road and railway incidents. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fodenway Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Road Transport Images do a Bedford K type integral van and a Fordson Thames 2-ton integral, both suitable for your time period, and, being resin mouldings, they are quite easy to modify. John Day Models do a Fordson BBE integral van as a whitemetal kit suitable for 1940s-50s in whitemetal, and the now-defunct Highway Models did a whitemetal kit of an Austin K3 NAAFI (or WVS) tea van, but very hard to find nowadays. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted October 29, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 29, 2021 I have a resin kit obtained many years ago of a Fordson E83W WVS van. I'm not sure of the manufacturer but they produced 00 scale military models. They also made a Humber heavy utility (woody estate car). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy WD Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 11 hours ago, Jack Benson said: For those of a certain age and background, the NAAFI or YMCA tea wagon* was an essential, working remote from the canteen required that they 'came' to you. This masterful conversion of a Airfix K2 is way beyond my ability, even the flooring is correctly replicated in lino but it does inspire. A static trailer is not suitable as the canteen as they had to travel around the establishment, any suggestion as to what 1:76 vans are suitable for multilation? Please note that the timeframe is very much in the mid '50s. * For me it was the Aggie Weston van, wonderful baked bean pies. Thank you and StaySafe Aggie's brings back a few memories...although it was also the start of a few lost ones as well! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Another image of the wondrous YMCA tea wagon Having looked at RTI's integral vans, I am not sure if they capture the 'boxy' shape but the Oxford Austin ATV maybe also be capable of conversion. Or the smaller, slightly more modern Fordson I rather like the Fordson but the K2 has an angular charm. StaySafe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted October 31, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 31, 2021 Actually the Fordson and the Austin K2 are contemporary, both produced during WW2. The Fordson is the one that I have the model kit for but alas is long out of production. Quite a few of the Austin K2 ATV's were converted to canteens during and after the war and I would suggest converting one of the Oxford ones. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fodenway Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 The prototype of the Oxford Austin is more or less the basis of the Highway Models one I mentioned previously, with the addition of a serving hatch on the nearside and an entrance door at the rear. A rudimentary interior was also included in the kit. The photo is of my "de-mobbed" version. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 As I have a Fordson, a K2 police van is inbound, the angularity is delightful, maybe the design department had lost their french curves and used a Helix ruler? Unfortunately, too many stand easies were spent at similar vehicles in the bitingly cold wind, hoping that there was still a bacon sandwich. The fact that our dispersal was at the far end of the airfield meant that a cold cheese sarnie was all too often a poor substitute. StaySafe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted October 31, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 31, 2021 In both cases the roof is raised to give headroom for the staff. The Fordson in standard van form has only about four foot headroom and the K2 ATV not much better with five feet. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Harvey Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 (edited) Kent Fire Brigade raised the height of some of their K2 ATVs by adding a 2foot high clerestory section to the main body, and installing a solid back with a tall part-glazed rear door concealing a better step up from road level. They were used as service vans/mini workshops for fire and Kent ambulance services but could have suited a tea van application. White livery for the ambulance service, and dark green for fire. Edited November 12, 2021 by Mike Harvey correction 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wamwig Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 On 29/10/2021 at 23:15, PhilJ W said: I have a resin kit obtained many years ago of a Fordson E83W WVS van. I'm not sure of the manufacturer but they produced 00 scale military models. They also made a Humber heavy utility (woody estate car). That'll be Bull Models and still available from them I believe. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted November 11, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 11, 2021 22 minutes ago, wamwig said: That'll be Bull Models and still available from them I believe. Yes thats the one, they didn't have a website when I purchased them at a military modelling exhibition about fifteen/twenty years ago. About time to dig them out and build them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted November 12, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 12, 2021 Yes, the 'char and wads' are included in the kit, cast in one piece with the trays. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 My sons are off to the IPMS ‘do’ at Telford, they might find a John Bull kit or their current address….which I will upload. StaySafe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 (edited) I found a K2 NAAFI wagon in whitemetal once offered by Sgts Mess, it looks interesting and wasn’t too expensive except the postage from the USA was not funny. I will post some piccys, if and when it appears. Btw, can anyone help to find Bull Models of Northfleet, run by Peter Bailey, all mention seems to have ceased sometime ago. Thank you Edited November 12, 2021 by Jack Benson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 (edited) 33 minutes ago, Jack Benson said: I found a K2 NAAFI wagon in whitemetal once offered by Sgts Mess, it looks interesting and wasn’t too expensive except the postage from the USA was not funny. I will post some piccys, if and when it appears. Btw, can anyone help to find Bull Models of Northfleet, run by Peter Bailey, all mention seems to have ceased sometime ago. Thank you Is this them? They seem to have moved from Northfleet, to somewhere else starting with an N; Netherlands... https://www.blacklionshop.nl/en/category/bull-models/ Edited November 12, 2021 by Fat Controller Antipodal misdirection... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted November 12, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 12, 2021 3 hours ago, Jack Benson said: I found a K2 NAAFI wagon in whitemetal once offered by Sgts Mess, it looks interesting and wasn’t too expensive except the postage from the USA was not funny. I will post some piccys, if and when it appears. Btw, can anyone help to find Bull Models of Northfleet, run by Peter Bailey, all mention seems to have ceased sometime ago. Thank you They are no longer in production unfortunately. 2 hours ago, Fat Controller said: Is this them? They seem to have moved from Northfleet, to somewhere else starting with an N; Netherlands... https://www.blacklionshop.nl/en/category/bull-models/ This is a trader selling old stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 Phil, Sgts Mess this link should work, they offer some interesting items, unfortunately I only discovered them after ordering from their US dealer. They offer an Austin K2 NAAFI tea wagon. StaySafe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted November 12, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 12, 2021 I think they are solid resin castings not kits. In fact I have the naval steam pinnace model. It came as part of a job lot from E-bay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 The Austin K2 NAAFI Tea Wagon appears to be a WM kit, it was sold as made by Sgts Mess. No idea of the provenance, possibly a bought-in kit or obsolete manufacturer? StaySafe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Hi, Just received a PM informing me of Peter Bailey’s email. The Naafi is still available, Peter seems to be still running Bull Models. I will provide further info, as and when. Please send me a PM, if interested in this excellent range of steam era road vehicles. StaySafe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 Hi, it is rather satisfying to post a successful outcome. Peter Bailey, is indeed, still the owner of Bull Models but has changed address and been rather quiet during lockdown. He used to sell Milicast products in the South and Blacklion in the Netherlands is the only retailer of his range. And he still offers the Naafi van for £15 plus £2.50 postage, payment by PayPal. Thanks to everyone who contributed in any way, I will post again when both version of the van pitch up, an essential feature of the Longridge Camp sidings micro layout described elsewhere on RMweb StaySafe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now