Trux Models. 1990 to 2005.

CMP 5J Series bodies.

5J bodies were house type and of Lindsay construction. This used panels which were steel on the outside and Masonite (posh hardboard) on the inside. All on 158" wheelbase chassis.

Body 5J1 was a Dental Surgery. Dental equipment, including a folding dental chair, was carried in cases. Fixed equipment included a generator, two powered fan ventilators and two heaters. A penthouse could be erected at the rear.



There were eleven other 5J bodies, all fitted for various workshop roles. The following are based on the standard Trux Models of 5J10.


Group photo.


5J2. Machinery D1. For instrument repairs. Equipment includes precision bench lathe, drill press, bench grinder, watchmakers lathe and portable drills. Requires power from an external source.


5J7. Signals CZ MkIV. For maintenance and repair of signals equipment. Body supplied empty except for a powered fan at each side near the front.


5J10. Machinery B MkII. For milling and grinding in 3rd echelon workshops. Requires external power source.


5J11. Machinery F. For maintenance, repair and testing of vehicle electrics. Folding bench on left side is for battery charging. Equipment includes generator, bench drill, drying oven, bench grinder and lathe.


5J13. Machinery CZ MkII. For maintenance and repair of radar equipment. Equipment includes a generator, portable power drills and a grinder.

 

Albion BY 3ton 6 X 4 Folding Boat Equipment MkIII body.



This body was only fitted to the Albion 6 X 4. Designed to carry various FBE MkIII loads it carried up to three folding boats. The boats were slid onto a cradle and then winched up by hand winches in each of he four towers. A second boat could then be loaded in the same way and a third could rest on the shelves of the body. The body well carried other components of the bridge. The large locker carried smaller components and boat equipment. Part of the rear of the cab was cut away to accommodate a V shaped cowl to prevent the boats joining the driver in the cab.

Mike

 

Short of time today so I have chosen an item that is easy to dust.



Not a Trux Model but a favourite of mine. Centurian MkI. Armed with 17pdr gun. It nearly saw action in WW2. Six were sent to 21 Army Group but were just too late.

 

I'm really enjoying seeing all these Mike and a lot of your models have inspired me over the years. Thanks for sharing all your great creations with us.

Cheers,

Neil

 

An early war duo.



A Crossley IGL8 3ton 6 X 4 with Breakdown Gantry Body. A versatile breakdown vehicle. The 'tilt' is actually carried on a strengthened structure which supported a gantry which was used for lifting. The gantry itself could be extended rearwards and used to lift engines or other items out of vehicles or to give a suspended tow to damaged vehicles. It could of course tow broken down vehicles or tow the 7 1/2 ton Recovery Trailer shown here. There were toolboxes and benches at the front to allow minor repairs to be carried out and the body well could carry large components or a dummy axle for towing vehicles.

The body was mounted on several 6 X 4 chassis and they were widely used by Light Aid Detachments etc. Initially by RAOC and later by REME.

Mike

 

Two Austin K6 3ton 6 X 4.



In the foreground a K6 GS fitted as Stores. This is a steel GS body fitted with storage racks and bins, desk and filing cabinet for the storekeeper and, on the real thing, wire mesh screens to prevent pilfering. These vehicles were found in REME Light Aid Detachments and workshops.
Behind is the standard K6 GS. This was also often found in LADs and workshops. These bodies were unusual in that the spare wheels were carried in a compartment at the front of the body.

Mike

 

Lesley is now the proud owner of a 1;35 scale model of her fathers Universal Carrier. It has the markings of his unit, 56 Reconnaissance Regiment of 78 Division. He was the driver (driver mechanic I suppose since that was the correct trade for driving a carrier). Lesley is very pleased and I am very pleased that she is pleased.





Mike

 

Mike

Many thanks for your kindness and thoughtfulness in sending me the carrier, and also for finding the 56 Recce markings, a lovely touch - I am indeed very pleased and well chuffed

I can assure you that it has gone to a good home, in fact it is sitting in my fireplace alongside my father's picture - back home where it belongs.

Once again I am amazed by the generosity and kindness of forum members.


Lesley

 

Lesley,

Beware of possible excessive heat in the fireplace though, plastic does not agree with heat too well and you wouldn't want your beautiful little carrier to melt

I agree with you, Trux certainly is a very generous person, even though he'll find all sorts of lame excuses to mask his generosity!

Michel

 

Enough.

Let us agree that the Forum is a splendid institution which engenders a spirit of generous sharing. Thanks to those who created it, maintain it and participate in it.

Mike

 

When France fell in 1940 and the British forces were evacuated, largely without their transport, there was an urgent need for replacement vehicles. Britain took delivery of vehicles ordered by France but not delivered to them. They then sent Purchasing Commissions to arrange for US manufacturers to built vehicles as near to British Army specifications as could be managed.

The Dodge WK60 3ton 6X4 was such a vehicle. It was ordered to supplement the production of British 3ton 6 X 4 lorries. All of this order were delivered without bodies and fitted with Breakdown Gantry bodies in the UK.



Note that this model was assembled as a display model so does not have the canvas sides to the tilt. This allowed potential customers to see the superstructure and interior detail.

Mike

 

A favourite of mine.



Scammel Pioneer R100 Heavy Artillery Tractor. A reliable diesel engined vehicle with a remarkable suspension which allowed a great degree of articulation for cross country work. Equipped with a winch for emplacing and recovering heavy artillery pieces. Body carried a crew of nine men plus ammunition and gun equipment. There was a hoist for handling the heavy shells. There were never enough Scammells.

7.2" Howitzer. This was based on a WWI artillery piece, the 8" howitzer. Numbers of these remained in service in 1939. There was a requirement for a gun with a longer range and so the old 8" howitzers were simply relined with a 7.2" liner and given a new breech to fit the new ammunition. The recoil mechanism could not cope with the recoil unaided so the large scotches were provided. Ideally the gun rolled back up the scotches and then rolled back into position. In fact when used on full charge the gun was likely to recoil over the top of the scotch or fall off the edge. In any case the time taken to reposition and re aim the gun made it very slow. It was usually used with a reduced charge thus having a shorter range which defeated the object of relining the guns. A good looking piece though.

The rather attractive shades of green are the result of lighting and background. The model is not really those colours.

Mike

 

More Scammells.



Scammell Recovery Tractor SV1. Only 43 of this early version were built. It differed from later versions only in the collapsible crane jib.


The definitive version, SV2, with fixed extendable crane jib. These would be responsible for recovery of tanks etc. throughout the war, eventually being supplemented but never replaced by Armoured Recovery Vehicles MkII. They were comprehensively equipped with earth anchors, snatch blocks and drawbars.


20 ton Recovery Transporter. This is not a Trux Model. The tractor is Airfix and the 20ton trailer Matador Models. Two of these went to France in 1940, one came back. There was little perceived need for these with the BEF. Tanks were transported by rail and the few tanks in France could be recovered by Breakdown Lorries and Recovery Tractors. The cruiser tanks of 1 Armoured Division were not scheduled to arrive until later, arriving in fact just before the Germans. Even then it was intended that they should complete their training there before seeing action. Their task would be to pursue the enemy once he had been defeated.

All of the above had the excellent Scammell suspension and winch.

Mike.

 

This was always the very busiest time of year for Trux Models. I always thought that the rush of mail orders in January was the result of men not being allowed to buy things before Christmas and then not having got the presents they wanted they sent big orders to see them through the rest of the winter. Added to this the biggest model show of the year for this type of model was held in Folkestone at the end of February. People came from all round the world. Models had to be cast and packed, display models assembled and painted, catalogues and price lists printed. It was common to work a twelve hour day in February.

Mike

 

Diamond T 4ton 6 X 6.



These were good looking, sturdy and powerful vehicles ordered for the US Army and supplied to other countries under Lend Lease. All were winch equipped. The basic Model 968 (centre and rear) were popular with British and Canadian engineers. Some were used by the RAF fitted with generators or snow ploughs. Model 969 was the Holmes wrecker, used by British and Canadian armies as well as US Army.

Mike

 

Three Canadian Dodges.



Foreground: Dodge D15 Truck 15cwt, 4X2 GS. CMP body 2C1. Widely used by British Army as well as Canadians. There was also a water tanker version.
Centre: Dodge D60/T110 3ton, 4X2 Holmes wrecker. Superficially similar to the Diamond T above but a simpler, lighter set of Holmes equipment on a Canadian body.
Background: Dodge D60/T110-5. 3ton, 4X2 GS. Also widely used by British Army.

Commercial type cab and front end but with detachable cab top for shipping and front wings 'shaved' to clear larger military wheels and tyres. Unmistakably US styling. Often difficult to tell the difference between Dodge, Chevrolet and Ford Civilian styles.

Canadian Dodge also produced the US Dodge 15cwt weapons carrier.

Mike

 

Diamond T 975.



These were produced in the USA especially for the Canadian Army on a 201" wheelbase chassis. This allowed a variety of longer specialist bodies to be fitted. All were fitted with a winch. Bodies were produced and fitted in Canada.


The GS body was the most numerous. Body 8A1 was the first body to be produced. Body 8A2 had slightly lower sides. The main use was for carrying bridging material as shown here (foreground) or for railway signalling equipment.

Second most numerous was the pontoon body (8D1) similar to the British version.


Two early bridging bodies, the Trestle and Sliding Bay in the foreground and the Small Box Girder bridge in the background. The TSB carried components for the MkV Pontoon Bridge which was obsolete by 1944. The SBG bridge remained in service but it was found possible to carry it in the GS body. Both of these vehicles had the bodies removed and replaced by non standard types.


Some of the spare chassis were fitted with cranes. The Coles is shown but Bay City cranes were also fitted. One chassis was fitted as a caravan for General Crerar, commanding Canadian 1st Army. Some spare chassis were used to carry artillery observation towers.


Interior of the caravan body. The rear part was an office with desk and settee. The front part was the bedroom with bed, washbasin, wardrobe and drawers.

Other bodies fitted to Diamond T 975 included a house type MT Maintenance lorry and a Folding Boat Equipment lorry similar to that used by the British.

Mike

 

British 15cwt trucks. Part 1.

15cwts in 1940.
It is so long since that these models have seen the light of day that they were covered in 'the dust of Beltring'. They last went there ten years or more ago. Military vehicle buffs will know about Beltring. For those who don't know it was for many years the worldwide Mecca for those interested in restored military vehicles. Held on land at Beltring in Kent in those days when late July was always hot and dry and one could not escape the dust churned up by 1000+ vehicles. It has now become much more of a family 'destination' and moved to a different site.


Group photo.
There were several manufacturers of 15 cwt truck and several standard bodies to fit on them.


The Bedford MW.
From the front.
Bedford MW GS. Intended as a platoon truck to replace horse drawn transport in infantry battalions it soon became much more widely used. These early vehicles could be fitted with a canvas tilt but there were only very small 'aero' windscreens and canvas aprons instead of doors. No tilts were fitted to the body.
Bedford MW 25mm Anti Tank Portee. A 25mm Hotchkiss gun was carried since it was to fragile to be towed at speed or across country. Loading ramps were carried on the body sides and there were seats for the crew plus stowage for ammunition. Used in Brigade anti tank companies manned by infantrymen.
Bedford MW Water Tank. Eventually found in most forward units to supply drinking water.
Bedford MW 2pdr Anti Tank Tractor. A GS body fitted to carry the gun crew, ammunition and a spare wheel for the gun. Fitted with a sprung drawbar for towing the gun.


The Morris CS8.
From the front.
GS, 2pdr Tractor and Water Tank. Similar in all respects to the bodies fitted to the Bedford MW.


The Fordson WOT2.
A late arrival. Few were in service in early 1940 and probably the only ones to go to France were with 1 Armoured Division. GS version only at this date. The chassis was longer than the other 15cwts.

Mike

 

British 15cwts. Part 2.
15cwts in 1944/45.

By this time 15cwts had windscreens, doors and tilts over the body. Otherwise they were much the same as in 1940.


The group photo.
Note the effectiveness of the camouflage. The house body without the black roof really stands out from above.


The Fordson WOT2H.
From front to rear.
Fordson WOT2H Wireless House. Most wireless house bodies were fitted to the longer Morris C4 chassis but some for special roles were fitted to the WOT2. Most 15cwts were to short to carry this body.
Fordson WOT2H GS. Very common at this time. They tended to be used by forward units unless 15cwt 4 X 4 were available.
Fordson WOT2H Office. These were used in battalion sized units. The roof of tent side extensions was an integral part of the tilt. Side and rear curtains were carried stowed in the body (or often on the roof). The interior had two seats, a desk across the front, a typewriter housing and cupboards. Folding tables and chairs were carried for use in the extensions. This body was only fitted to the WOT2.
Fordson WOT2H Direction Finder. One of the specialist roles for this body. It was used by Special Signals Sections to locate enemy wireless transmitters. A directional aerial was carried on the roof. A No22 set was carried for reporting information.

Office.


The Guy Ant. This was always comparatively rare.
In front is the Guy Ant GS.
Behind is the Guy Ant with Wireless House body and Light Warning set. The Light Warning Set was used by anti aircraft units and the RAF to give warning of approaching aircraft. The set was somewhat basic, giving only a blur on the Plan Position Indicator screen. This information was passed by line to an Operations Room/Control Room and more sophisticated radars would be brought to bear.


The Bedford MW. The GS version was used by everyone. I cannot find my model of it.
Front to rear.
Bedford MW Fitted for Wireless. In this case fitted with Wireless sets No22 and TR1143. This vehicle was used by Royal Artillery to receive reports from Tactical Reconnaissance aircraft on the Air Ministry TR1142 and automatically retransmit them to artillery headquarters on the No22 set. A rare bird in real life and as a Trux Model. It has full interior detail.
Bedford MW Water Tank. An improved design from that of 1940. Now only fitted to the MW.
Bedford MW Fitted for Wireless. Could be fitted with various wireless sets, mainly No19 and No22. Carried a chore horse engine for charging batteries. Spare wheel on the tailboard.

Mike

 

Used to own a Fordson WOT2H GS.. very fast and fun to drive, but not good a stopping!
Morris 15cwts not fast but could pull down a house. Air filter in cab sounds asthmatic!
Bedford MW pleasant to drive, very common and easier to get bits.

If only I knew about Trux when I had it!!!!


Lawrence