RNZAF and YMCA trucks

[Dave Homewood]

I am considering building a 1/32nd or 1/35th scale diorama based around an RNZAF aircraft. I've not yet decided whether to make it around a Tiger Moth, or maybe something else like a Kittyhawk, Avenger or Corsair.

It will be an RNZAF scene set in wartime, on a New Zealand station. Probably a maintenance scene I think.

But rather than simply a plane on some grass or tarmac I want to add more character to it and so I think I'll build a model building to background the scene, and I want a couple of vehicles too.

Can anyone advise me as to whether there are any kits available that may be suitable as RNZAF vehicles? Does anyone make 1/35th scale British 1930's or 40's tractors? Like Massey Fergusons, Fordsons or whatever, stuff that would have been in NZ?

Does anyone make any trucks that might be suitable? I know Italeri makes/made the Chevrolet 15cwt flat-nosed trucks, like this one
www.panzernet.com/concursos/concurso2004/m110/m110.html

But what about anything a bit more British? Does anyone actually make any 1/35th scale British trucks or cars?

I find the model companies seem obsessed with making German and Ameriican vehicles and tanks in great numbers, and yet ignore the fact that there are dozens if not hundreds of British types (and other nations) which would make interesting and useful models. The British and commonwealth were in the war almost twice as long as the Yanks, yet there's very little to represent their efforts.

I do have an unmade Monty's Humber staff car kit (Airfix, 1/32nd) which I might make into an RNZAF staff car, but it has no roof. Does anyone make a conversion for this?

Any suggestions or help would be welcome.

[Dave Homewood]

I have done some digging and discovered a little bit so far.

The RNZAF Museum had in its collection by 1993 (and no doubt still does + more) the following vehicles that had served in the RNZAF:

- David Brown Tractor (I assume this is the one sitting next to the Anson?)
- Lister Tractor
- Clark Tractor (This was Little Toot, an aircraft tug, still in use with the restoration team when I was there, possibly still is)
- Landrover (ex Army) not WWII
- Hippo Tanker
- Bedford Tanker
- Fire Tender (type unknown to me)
- GMC Testbed Truck - must have been an engine testbed
- Coles Crane (then disassembled)
- Queen Mary Trailer - no rig at that time
- GMC 6x6 Truck

They also have a Jeep displayed next to the Avenger.

So, these are mostly just names to me. I know what a Queen Mary looks like, and the GMC 6x6. The testbed truck and fire tender are of no use to my diorama.

Does anyone know what a Lister Tractor was like? Was this a brandname? Was there a specific model used in the RNZAF?

I'm also curious about the Hippo Tanker and Bedford Tanker. Does anyone have photos of what these looked like?

As for modelling purposes in 1/35th, you can get Jeeps and GMC 6x6 trucks from various manufacturers. That's easy enough but two problems. All 1/35th GMC's I've seen are the open top or canvas topped cab variety. The RNZAF used enclosed metal roofed cab variants. Did they use the open ones too? And did they use the GMC in NZ, or just the Islands? Same with the Jeep, were they used by the RNZAF in NZ?

I wish i could find just generic Bedford lorry kits or similar, the British type seen everywhere on the roads in the 1930's. They'd have been the type impressed. Even a Ford would do. Does anyone make such a kit in 1/35th though?

[shorty]

Dave, if you find photos of Vampires and Canberras being refuelled in the 60's in NZ you will see Hippo tankers. I can't recall what we used for Daks and Freighters

[30sqnatc]

Dave,

I have all the answers you want as years ago, as a side line to my 1:32 scale RNZAF aircraft collection, I made half a dozen vehicles, some kits and some scratchbuilt, for a series of NZ and islands dioramas. Unfortunately I'm just off to Taupo for the weekend to exhibit at the model exhibition so I will answer your questions on my return.

Paul

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Paul, I'm in no hurry. Have a fun weekend.

[30sqnatc]

Years ago I made the same sort of 1:32 scale diorama you are planning. From memory I made:

- Tiger Moth on grass field with Fordson N tractor (see [www.farmmodels.co.uk/scale-down-farmmodels.html /url] They are whitemetal kits and EXPENSIVE!
- NZ postwar Mustang crashed on sand beach
- Pacific servicing unit with two Kittyhawks on dirt strip - Jeep and CMP C15 truck
- Pacific Corsair on marston steel matting towed by scratchbuilt Minneapolis Moline tractor. Fairly certain I still have the mould made for the matting in one of the kitset junk boxes in the garage.
- NZ Dauntless with GMC truck with crew
- NZ post war Mosquito on apron with scratchbuilt refuelling trailer
I only have these photos taken with a instamatic while I was posing one of the scenes

And a impressed civilian truck made from an LRDG bonnet, GMC cab, LRDG axles and GMC wheels with scratchbuilt body which now resides on an Auckland based model railway. This is the sort of vehicle that was converted into YMCA canteen trucks



As examples the 1:35th kits you can get (examples from Bentleys RNZAF Short History):

pg 93 Jeep
pg 99 CMP 15 Cwt which needs NZ steel body to replace wooden version in kitset
pg 107 Dodge weapons carrier
pg 112 Ford GT Bomb Service (scratchbuilt from GMC parts)
pg 121 Jeep and Ford F60 ambulance (modify CMP 15 cwt)

Paul

[Dave Homewood]

Excellent stuff. Well done.

[smithy]

Yeah nice dios. Shame you don't have more pics, I would've especially liked to have seen the Tiggie and tractor dio.