Help needed with RAF Bomber Crew truck transport types..

[Slywolff]

Hi there,

I have been looking at building a suitable Bomber Command airfield transport lorry/truck that aircrew would have been delivered to their aicraft in. I have seen a number of articles in old Scale Models and Military Modelling on converting the Airfix vehicles but no definitive information on 1. what vehicles were used 2. if there are kits of suitable vehicles available.. if not of course I want to scratch build using or hopefull using some of the Airfix vehicles.. nearest I have got so far is using the Airfix Austin K3 ambulance to build a truck body on... there was a good photo of aicrew on a truck at an RAF airfield in the Yorkshire Air Museum guide book. Did they use Fordson trucks at all? any information appreciatedabout what vehicle they would have used!

Cheers

Simon

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/Slywolff/RAF_Bomber_Command_1940_HU104654_zps3363a415.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/Slywolff/v0_master_zps29646171.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/Slywolff/RAFcrewontruck_zpsc10063b8.jpg

Edited February 4, 2014 by Slywolff

[Foghorn Leghorn]

If you've not already gone there, a trip to www.Matadormodels.co.uk might be of interest. There's a Ford WOT 1 RAF Crew Coach and an Austin K6 conversion. Might give you a few ideas. The site is a bit haphazard and you have to go digging around to find what you want.

http://www.matadormodels.co.uk/yairfield3%2076th/lists%20airfield%2076th.htm

http://www.matadormodels.co.uk/yairfield4%20conversions/lists%20airfield%20conversions.htm

Edited February 2, 2014 by neilscrim

[DavidJ]

Here's a couple of options:

B W Models has an Austin K6 aircrew bus in white metal - BW315. I can't link to the site but Google B W Models and you should get there. Note that B W Models is closing down in 5 months.

Oxford Diecast has a RN Bedford OWB bus. I'm not sure whether they were used by the RAF but someone will now. Finally, Oxford is scheduled to release a RAF Commer Commando bus. Again, I'm not sure when this was in service. It will need repainting to depict a WW2 version.

Cheers

David

Edited February 2, 2014 by DavidJ

[Geoff_B]

If you watch 'Appointment in London' filmed in about 1950 about a Lancaaster unit they actually use some Bedford QLT troop Transports which are available form IBG. I don't know if they were a post war slection or used during the war period but it would be a nice easy off the shelf option for you.

[Test Graham]

Almost any of the light 15cwt trucks were used, not least the Bedford MW as modelled in the Airfix Bomber Support set and about to be re-released in the RAF Maintenance Set. It was perhaps a little small for the larger crews of the later bombers, which is why the bigger trucks and dedicated aircrew coach bodies appeared.

The MW and the IBG Bedford are in 1/72 whereas the other ones mentioned are in 1/76, if that matters. Airfix do the QLT in their 2xBedford QL pack, also in 1/76. The IBG kit is very finely tooled and will have to be separated very carefully from the sprues to avoid breakages. The Airfix toolings are chunkier and the softer, slightly springy, plastic makes life much easier.

Edited February 2, 2014 by Graham Boak

[Slywolff]

Hi Neil,

Thank you for your information.. I have been to Matador before still not quite what I am looking for... the crew bus is interesting but am more inclined to scratch build an example. Cheers Simon

If you've not already gone there, a trip to www.Matadormodels.co.uk might be of interest. There's a Ford WOT 1 RAF Crew Coach and an Austin K6 conversion. Might give you a few ideas. The site is a bit haphazard and you have to go digging around to find what you want.

http://www.matadormodels.co.uk/yairfield3%2076th/lists%20airfield%2076th.htm

http://www.matadormodels.co.uk/yairfield4%20conversions/lists%20airfield%20conversions.htm

[Slywolff]

Hi Graham,

Thank you for your response, appreciated. The Airfix Bedford is like you say a bit small for what I have seen in old photos.. since my post I have been thinking of doing an Austin K3... using parts from the Airfix, I think it is from the Emergency set.. Cheers Simon

Almost any of the light 15cwt trucks were used, not least the Bedford MW as modelled in the Airfix Bomber Support set and about to be re-released in the RAF Maintenance Set. It was perhaps a little small for the larger crews of the later bombers, which is why the bigger trucks and dedicated aircrew coach bodies appeared.

The MW and the IBG Bedford are in 1/72 whereas the other ones mentioned are in 1/76, if that matters. Airfix do the QLT in their 2xBedford QL pack, also in 1/76. The IBG kit is very finely tooled and will have to be separated very carefully from the sprues to avoid breakages. The Airfix toolings are chunkier and the softer, slightly springy, plastic makes life much easier.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Slywolff

[Mancunian airman]

Slywolf

Did you every get around to building a crew transport vehicle from scratch ??

 

The Bedford QL-T came late 44/45 as an 'aircrew transport'  . . . .

You mentioned Yorkshire, well, there is a photo showing the K6, in the bomb-flat configuration, as transport at the airfield of Holme-on-Spalding Moor if I remember correctly

Ian

[Kingsman]

According to the old Vanderveen book, the "Truck 3-ton 6x4 Crew Coach" - i.e. RAF crew bus - came in Fordson WOT1 and Austin K6 versions.  There was also a 4x2 adaption on Dodge US VK62B chassis.  He suggests that civilian coaches were impressed for Army use after Dunkirk, but doesn't mention RAF use.  I believe the QLT only appeared in '44.

 

Don't forget that Ace do a couple of small cars and heavy utilities that might be useful in a diorama setting.

 

The diecast and model railway world might have useful offerings, as suggested above.  As well as the more universal and GS types, the RAF used many essentially commercial truck types not generally used by the Army, such as:

Thorneycroft GF and HF "Nippy" 30cwt

Bedford MSC 30cwt

Dennis AM 30cwt

Fordson WOT3 van 30cwt

Standard "Tilly" ambulance version

Commer Q2 van and explosives carrier 30cwt

Dodge (UK) 82 workshop van 3-ton

Crossley Q 3 ton

Commer Q6 6ton

Fordson Thames 7V

Commer Q2 semi-tractor