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EDIT - the scope of this thread has been enhanced to include all types of vehicles that may be found on postwar airfields.  I am hoping to obtain information, including vehicle types; their dimensions and schematics/plans, for scratchbuilding and converting models.

 

I am scratchbuilding an airfield fire engine, like the one below, but can't find any info on the chassis shape, size or the axle and leaf springs arrangement. 

Does anyone have plans or schematics for this vehicle's chassis that they can scan for me please?

thornycroft_mk9_800.jpg

 

Thanks.

 

Mike

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Hi Willie,

 

I've googled all over the place and can only find are images of the bodywork, as in the photo in the first post, but no diagrams or plans.  Could you please provide some links for me to go to?  My googling isn't so accurate.

 

Thanks


Mike

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  • 1 year later...

Hello everyone,

 

I am raising this one again because, after a year, I am still no nearer in finding plans, or indeed, identifying the measurements for this vehicle.  There are loads of photo's on the web but alas I can't find any dimensions,  I really could do with knowing the size and shape of the chassis, just so that I can at least make a start.  I believe there was a metal kit producer who made this model, possibly in 1:76 scale, but I think they've closed down.  I could do with plans showing:

overall length

width

height of chassis off ground

height of body

distance between axles

etc., etc.

 

I really would be grateful if anyone can provide this information for me.

 

Thanks

 

Mike

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For reasons that are unclear, it seems that Surrey County Council has a whole lot of Dennis drawings, listed here:

 

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/36457/Dennis-Drawings-F-to-Z.pdf

 

If you do a search in page for Nubian, you can find several entries for different GA drawings of Airfield Fire or Crash tenders on Nubian Chassis. You'd have to find out how to get copies, though I'd start with Surrey County Councils Library or Archive Service and see where they point you. The listing does at least give you specific "Accession Number" references which should enable the arichive service to locate them (probably in the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet in the third sub-basement toilet behind a sign saying "Beware of the Tiger")...

 

Good hunting!

 

best,

M.

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37 minutes ago, richellis said:

Saw this once, but never again. I can put the feelers out see if it’s still about?

Hi Rich,

yes, please. Even if someone could do a general walk around with a tape measure then that could be a start.

11 minutes ago, cmatthewbacon said:

For reasons that are unclear, it seems that Surrey County Council has a whole lot of Dennis drawings, listed here:

Good hunting!

best,

M.

Thanks Matthew,  I shall make some enquiries but I am a little unsure whether it will be successful.  I don't doubt that they have the plans, or knowledge of how to get them, but recent attempts to get ship plans from such places meant forking out a lot of money; which I couldn't afford.  I am only attempting to build something in 1:76 or even 1:144 so don't need 6ft sheets of plans etc.

Interestingly, whilst looking at that archival listing, I picked up on a couple of items which might be clues to dimensions:

Thornycroft Nubian Major 10ft 1 1/2" chassis

Thornycroft Nubian Major  TMA 300 chassis

Does anyone know what or where these refer to on the vehicle/chassis.  I don't think the vehicle is 10ft 1.5inches wide though.  Also wondering if the Airfix Matador in the refuelling set is of the same dimensions.  Could anyone confirm if that might be so?

Cheers

 

Mike

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Well, if it's 1/76, I assume that this is the same chassis, even if the top part is different:

 

https://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/products/thornycroft-nubian-major-fire-city-of-birmingham-afs-76tn001

 

And according to PG Models "N-Gauge Military Models" page, "This is an un-assembled 1/152nd scale model of a Thornycroft Nubian Major Mk.9 airfield fire vehicle that measures 57mm long, 18mm wide, and is 22mm high", which would make the real thing 8.66m or 28ft 5" long, 2.74m or 9 ft wide, and 3.3m or 11ft high...

 

best,

M.

 

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Excellent! :clap2: I hadn't thought about looking at Paul's site but you've found just what I am looking for.  I already have a fair size collection of his P.G Models and I shall buy one of those and just do some converting of measurements.  Thanks very much Matthew.

 

Mike

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From the info I have gleaned from the above posts (thanks for your contributions), I think that the dimensions are L 28.5ft x W 9ft x H 11ft but I would be very grateful if someone could confirm these measurements please?  Going on those dimensions, I have made a basic cut out of the right hand side.   Once I have confirmation of the dimensions then I'll continue with the rest of the build.

spacer.png

Another query now, as I am intending to build a few Airfield bowsers as well, I have been told that there is a producer out there who copies and sells Dinky vehicles at affordable prices. Does anyone know which producer this is?  I want to get an affordable/cheap version of the Dinky heavy refueller (don't know what it's really called) so that I can also re-scale that and build it.

Any help with either of my queries would be appreciated very much.

 

thanks,

 

Mike

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Mike, 

 

I followed up on Matthews lead and the entire collection is available.

 

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/researchers/guides/dennis-specialist-vehicles/dennis-drawings-and-photographs

 

The codes are all in the catalogue.  

 

 

You should be able to get access to them, according to this extract direct from their contact page:

 

Quote

Surrey History Centre opening hours

Normal opening hours

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 9.30am to 5pm

Wednesday: 10.15am to 5pm

Thursday: 9.30am to 5pm

Friday: 9.30am to 5pm

Saturday: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4pm

The Centre is closed on Sundays and Bank Holiday weekends (including Saturdays).

You will need a Surrey County libraries ticket or a County Archive Research Network (CARN) card to use our collections. If you do not have either of these, you will need to bring something official as proof of ID and address, such as a driving licence or bank statement.

Amendment to Saturday opening times and document orders

Due to a reduction in our public services team, the search room now closes for lunch between 12.30pm and 1pm on Saturdays. The foyer, foyer computers and public refreshment area will remain open.

Please note that from 6 July 2019, items required on a Saturday from our strongrooms (archives and local studies material) will need to be pre-ordered. Saturday orders should reach us by 12 noon on Fridays. We apologise for any inconvenience that this change in our public service will cause.

 

 

I hope this helps you in someway a little further. They have nearly 12,000 drawings and 14,000 photographs.

 

Coops

 

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In The Observers Military Vehicles Directory from 1945 by Bart Vanderveen there are four versions of Nubian described, the first only 4x4.  The three 6x6 are:

 

Truck 5 ton, 6x6 fire crash foam FV14161 Thornycroft TFA/B81 Nubian sun.  Dimensions WB 12'3" x L 22'5" x W 7'6" x H 10'5".  Prime use Royal Navy Air Stations.

 

Truck 5 ton 6x6 fire crash foam Thornycroft TFA/B81 Nubian Mk VII/Pyrene.  Dimensions WB 12'3" x L 23'10 1/2" x W 8'0" x H 10'4".  This looks the closest to your photo but cab front is straight not stepped.

 

These is also a 6x6 Nubian/Gloster Saro but no dimensions.

 

Hope this helps rather than complicates your modelling.

 

Paul

Edited by dcrfan
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8 hours ago, Cooper645 said:

Thanks Coops,  I did notice in the dialogue that it quotes 'visitors' to access the collections. Surrey is a bit far for me, however I shall write to them and ask if they do a print service.

1 hour ago, dcrfan said:

In The Observers Military Vehicles Directory from 1945 by Bart Vanderveen there are four versions of Nubian described, the first only 4x4.  The three 6x6 are:

 

Truck 5 ton, 6x6 fire crash foam FV14161 Thornycroft TFA/B81 Nubian sun.  Dimensions WB 12'3" x L 22'5" x W 7'6" x H 10'5".  Prime use Royal Navy Air Stations.

 

Truck 5 ton 6x6 fire crash foam Thornycroft TFA/B81 Nubian Mk VII/Pyrene.  Dimensions WB 12'3" x L 23'10 1/2" x W 8'0" x H 10'4".  This looks the closest to your photo but cab front is straight not stepped.

 

These is also a 6x6 Nubian/Gloster Saro but no dimensions.

 

Hope this helps rather than complicates your modelling.

 

Paul

Hi Paul,

 

I thought that there must be a publication somewhere that had drawings and dimensions, just like aircraft books, but not normally being a vehicle enthusiast I wasn't sure.  Thanks for this info, it will be of great help.  Now, a question about WB dimensions.  is the wheel base the distance between the centre of the front wheel/axle to the centre of the rear wheel/axle?

 

thanks again.

 

Mike

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No for 6x6 normally centre of front wheel to centre of rear axle pair.  Let me check if the book describes their convention tomorrow.  By the way I have the old Dinky RAF refueller in my childhood toy collection.

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Thank you dcrfan, I could have made a real mess of my build if I went with my idea of what a wheelbase was.  :banghead:It is a pity that you live so far away, otherwise I would have asked if I could pop round and take a load of measurements of your Dinky refueller, just so that I could make a scratchbuild in my scale.  Do you know what type of vehicle the Dinky refueller is and if there are any drawings of it out there?   I did have a couple of Bellona booklets but I don't think that vehicle was in them.

 

Thanks again.

 

Mike

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You’ll find a fair number of photos on Flickr of the real thing.

 

I’ve got a whitemetal 1/76 kit from BW models that one day will form part of a diorama. If it helps, I might be able to measure it up for you.

 

 

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Hi Heather,

 

thank you again, I would appreciate that.  I have been so engrossed with ship models over the past 50 years that I have only recently come back to aircraft.  It is even more recently that I've taken an interest in vehicles, to go with the aircraft on layouts.  As such, I missed out on that wonderful era of BW models.  I used to marvel at them on their stand at Telford over many years, thinking "I'd really like to do some of those", but alas they are gone.   I did treat myself to their Green Goddess as I commanded one during the firefighters strike in 1977.

My main problem with vehicles is not knowing what the chassis looks like and how the bodies fit onto them.  Up until now, I have been using the shape of the Airfix Matador refueller as a template but that would obviously be wrong for any other types.  So, if you could help with dimensions then I would be grateful.

 

cheers,

 

Mike

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50 minutes ago, bootneck said:

:thumbsup:

Mike

I just tipped the bag of bits over my work bench. Ooooh boy! 

 

I will set to and do some measuring, or at least marking up the instructions which have a set of three views to 1/76th scale. Hopefully I’ll get something up here later.

 

Meanwhile, it struck me you might find some useful parts in the Langley Models range. They have a Leyland Hippo 19/H civvie lorry which would yield cab, chassis and running gear.

 

As I understand it, some of the BW Models range went to Matador Models, though I think it was only the transfers. It might be worth seeing if they can help with military pattern wheels. Another source might be Milicast.

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I just love messing around with unbuilt kits, I keep thinking "I could do this, or that, with that part etc.  Thank you for doing this Heather, even using the instruction sheet might be enough. I am just looking through your Western Thunder site, very interesting stuff but too large for me, still, I might learn something from it.

 

Mike

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