YOUNG ENGINEERS
I would like to introduce my youngest son James, who has a fascination for Mamod steam models, and has built up a fine collection of engines over the last few years . Some of the models are new and some James has restored from wrecks he has been given or bought at car boot sales. I am very proud of James efforts and see him following in my footsteps as my eldest son Daniel has. In today's world of television, computers and electronic games our children are losing out on an important part of there development and understanding of engineering and hand skills for later on in life. Here are a few pictures of James collection and one of his demonstrations at Sherbourne Castle country fair back in May. You model engineers out there, try and encourage your children ,or grand children into you workshop and let them have a go, Our future depends on it!
James in the workshop repairing a damaged crank.
James in the models tent at Sherbourne castle with 8 of his models.
In the middle of one of his popular demonstrations.
1942 AEC MATADOR
Last year I was looking for a new project "vehicle" for taking our displays to the rally fields, As a teenager I remember building the Airfix Matador refueling tanker and since then have always been taken by its looks. So this seemed the perfect lorry for my needs. At the same time a new book came out entitled "AEC MATADOR taking the rough with the smooth" by Steve Richards, and what a masterpiece! I have read it cover to cover and I have become fascinated with them. I have travelled more than 1000 miles looking at several examples before settling on one. I decide from the start I wanted two of them, one which would be restored as a ww2 gun tractor and the second as a drop side painted in our company livery.
The line up, 1941 ex Warner Brothers of Lincoln. This vehicle was sold in the 1950s to "British Thompson Houston" and used as a cable carrier, it later went to Warners who converted it to a recovery truck. from there it went to Bishop Brother, of Avonmouth, near Bristol. It was bought by Hugh Philips who also used it a a recovery truck. She is in good mechanical order but the body work needs a lot of attention.
The blue matador is PGK 885 of 1953. originally ordered by the Ministry of supply then later supplied to the RAF,was to be a radio van but not sure about this. Some years ago she was fully restored but the last few years has been parked out in the open and the weather has allowed decay to set in, she is currently being repainted back to RAF livery.
The green Matador is ESV 875 of 1942. sold buy auction in in 1966 at Ruddington sale. Was fitted with Harvey Frost crane by Deards of Finchley and was one of two recovery trucks used in their business. Work is under way at present to restore her back to a gun tractor, new ash door frames has been lade and the cab is being restored. A large quantity of artillery body parts have been sourced and these are also being worked on.
The last vehicle is a 1946 Unipower "Forester" timber tractor fitted with a Scamell highwayman cab.
The last vehicle is a 1946 Unipower "Forester" timber tractor fitted with a Scamell highwayman cab.
Fresh from our paint shop! 1953 Matador No 085310438 back in RAF livery. This was originally purchased though Ministry of supply who then passed it on to the RAF where it was fitted with a radio shack body. Later in preservation it was fitted with this neat drop side body. I have named it "England's Glory". She has high speed diffs and will go in excess of 40 MPH.