1/76 Conversion/Scratch-build AEC Matador Recovery (Field Conversion)

Discussion in 'Modelling' started by Neilie, Dec 8, 2017.

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  1. Neilie

    Neilie Member

    I just completed a model of a field conversion of a Matador Gun Tractor to a recovery vehicle as designed and pioneered by a Lt. G.W.H. Fellows (later Brigadier) RAOC who commanded the LAD of the 3rd Hussars in North AFrica in 1941. The reason for the modification was that recovery vehicles were the high bodied 3 ton gantry types such as the Leyland Retriever which presented as an ample target in the relative sparse terrain of the North Arican desert. His idea was to reduce the silhouette and to that end took an old Matador chassis and chopped the cab in height, removed the gun tractor body and added a 15-cwt body with an I-beam derrick and a winch removed from a wrecked Italian gun tractor. He produced drawings and a detailed description of the modification and body contents of the vehicle and had them distributed to enable others to be built. It is not known how many were actually built but this prototype did serve in the Tobruk bridgehead.

    Dave Rhodes sent me an article on this vehicle including a sketch by Brian Baxter and I knew I had to do a model of it. A call went out to my UK modeling friends and Dave gave some great input on the build itself while Les Freathy provided a copy of the original plan with description and a drawing. Ilian Filipov forwarded some chassis photos of Italian gun tractors for the winch detail. Unfortunately, no photos of this particular mod seem to exist but there are a few of another modified Matador used by the 2nd RTR. Mike Starmer gave me some great suggestions for a colour scheme and as Caunter was in vogue at that time I chose that to be the scheme using Portland Stone as the base on the cab/chassis and Lt. Stone on the body to show the two different donor vehicles and that they were modlified as is. The article didn’t include colour or marking information so using some artistic license I assumed normal unit markings would have been applied which I have chosen to do although in fact, none may have been used. Dan Taylor was a big help here and suggested the correct AoS (100 on Green) and unit marking for the 2nd Armd. Div. to whom the 3rd Hussars were attached at that period. Mike Starmer decals were used and the WD number for the Matador was cobbled from spares box Scammell WD markings in black.

    It is based upon the Airfix Matador with Wee Friends wheels and Milicast figures and all else is scratch-built. My thanks to all these lads for their knowledgeable and generous assistance and I hope you like it.

    Cheers,

    Neil
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 8, 2017
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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Neilie

    Not only great models but the full detailed background as well - where will this end - I'm running out of superlatives

    TD
     
    pensioner1938 likes this.
  3. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Another goodie. Well done.
     
  4. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Beautiful, and an interesting subject choice!
     
  5. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Neil,
    On form as always, excellent job.
    Guy
     
  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Neil fantastic work and info as ever
    they are just superb and really add to the extra detail of equipment used in WW2.
    well done

    regards
    Clive
     
  7. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Neil,
    Wonderful work, as usual, and a nice acknowledgement that not everyone who served could carry a rifle.

    1st Infantry Brigade Workshop, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (R.C.E.M.E.)
    unsung.jpg
     
    CL1 likes this.
  8. Neilie

    Neilie Member

    Thanks to you Tricky Dicky, Dave, Chris, Guy and Clive for your kind comments and to you fellow Canuck many thanks and you are right and the supporting arms and their equipment have always been my passion to model. Here is one I did some time ago that could have been inspired by your wonderful photo.....I may have to do another as a Singer shouldn't be too difficult to scratch-build.

    Cheers,

    Neil
     

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  9. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    He's got his No.4 right behind him, Tim :)

    I like the Diamond T too
     
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  10. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    As long as it has a working treadle. ;)
     
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  11. Neilie

    Neilie Member

    .....well, of course!:lol:
     
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  12. Neilie

    Neilie Member

    .................and thanks to all of you who "Liked" my latest.:)

    Cheers,

    Neil
     
  13. TriciaF

    TriciaF Junior Member

    Impeccable! But not something that comes naturally to women/ladies.
     
  14. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Military modelling has certainly become a little more dynamic since I last practiced the craft. We used to do this, after the fact, with firecrackers.

    model.jpg

    model1.jpg

    model2.jpg
     
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