ralph morton

Google Images has some interesting photos of 60s refuelers

One site in paerticular has some good 60s 70s transport pics, though in black and white

Digital images | Transport Photos | na3t.org

The famous Esso Python refueler ought to be made in various scales.

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Adrian

The Esso Python refueller is my pic posted on 400SH! I have a friend in Spain who has built some of this in card in 1/400 scale and they are superb!

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Adrian

1/400th new mould wish list - you're doing a great job manufacturers, now just these left to do:
Armstrong-Whitworth Argosy,Bristol 170 Freighter,Airspeed Ambassador,Avro York,Breguet 763 Deux Ponts,
Tupolev Tu-104,Tu-114,Tu-134, Ilyushin IL-14, Canadair CL-44, L-1649A Starliner, Curtiss C-46

ralph morton

Adrian
"I have a fwend in Wome" sorry couldnt resist that one..

I have seen your diorama and the models are superb. The later white and red Esso vehicles and the various shades of BP Shell vehicles would all be excellent. On the Continent Shell in yellow seems to be more common while in the States fuelers seem to have been plain white or yellow.

I would love to see vehicles in both 1-200 (I have a small collection of BOAC and Lufthansa plus the odd Russian and an Aer Kingus Carvair) and 1-400 (my main scale for 60s early 70s jets)

miowname

I used to have a matchbox / Lindsay BP 3 axle Fuel truck, I loved that little truck.
The sire you have with the old pics it fantastic, I miss the old stuff, they dont make things like they used to. Thanks for the memories.

ralph morton

Oxford Diecast in the UK made vehicles in 1-160 N guage. If only they would copy the old Budgie Superfuelers in BP and Esso in this scale. At a pinch they woud serve both 1-144 models and 1-200. Even better, Oxford could team up with Western models to do an airport series like Western used to.

Adrian

Ralph, I do research work for Oxford Diecast and have already mentioned this to them. Their answer was that they didn't think that sales would justify the cost of the new tooling with only a couple of liveries they could do. Furthermore, their models are aimed at railway modellers and you don't get too many airport refuelling bowsers on model railway layouts!

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Adrian

1/400th new mould wish list - you're doing a great job manufacturers, now just these left to do:
Armstrong-Whitworth Argosy,Bristol 170 Freighter,Airspeed Ambassador,Avro York,Breguet 763 Deux Ponts,
Tupolev Tu-104,Tu-114,Tu-134, Ilyushin IL-14, Canadair CL-44, L-1649A Starliner, Curtiss C-46

ralph morton

Adrian
Thanks for trying. Oxford know what they are doing, so I don't blame them.

Your cardboard models seem the way to go, as they would be made available online for people to cut out and glue themselves rather like the old book models from the 50s and 60s. They would be a bit fiddly, but if well designed could look very good.

Upkeep

While that is true, many of us would be happy with a fuel tanker of some sort as long as it had one of the major company names on it (Shell, Esso, etc). I don't think anyone will cry crocodile tears if it doesn't have the wings on either side of the gas company logo. Looking at a lot of dios I still see the Matchbox ERF tanker still being used, for lack of anything better. Maybe Oxford could reconsider and 'feed' this market, as the main two bits of GSE collectors really seem to want is a fuel tanker and airstairs, with the tanker being the most requested. At least that is my observations over the last number of years.

Since you are somewhat involved with Oxford, you will be aware of their astounding little 1:72 Dragon Rapide which seems to be (mind the pun) taking off quite well. (I'm in for a few as well) Interestingly enough, Corgi canned that project because they felt there wouldn't be enough demand. Go figure, eh?

Personally, I think this is a missed opportunity.

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Refining a rather modest, yet elegant 1:200 Air France jet set.

Adrian

Actually I was working with Corgi to produce a Dragon Rapide and they were going to do it, until they had a cut in their tooling budget and decided to go with the 1/72 Halifax and Blenheim at the time. I therefore took my idea to Oxford and you now have what Corgi were going to do, but at about half the price Corgi would charge! Brilliant job!

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Adrian

1/400th new mould wish list - you're doing a great job manufacturers, now just these left to do:
Armstrong-Whitworth Argosy,Bristol 170 Freighter,Airspeed Ambassador,Avro York,Breguet 763 Deux Ponts,
Tupolev Tu-104,Tu-114,Tu-134, Ilyushin IL-14, Canadair CL-44, L-1649A Starliner, Curtiss C-46

Upkeep

Interesting, Adrian. See PM.

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Refining a rather modest, yet elegant 1:200 Air France jet set.

Dakota

I am busy making some refuellers to go with my airliner collection. Herewith the Dinky Octopus modified into bowser of Shell Mex BP. Home made decals will be added soon. Scale 1:50 to go with 1:48 planes.

ralph morton

How about this tanker from the German railway scene in Z guage.

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ralph morton

Some more German vehicles in 1:220 from the railway scenery manufacturer Kibri. There are also cars and buses in this scale from German and Japanese manufacturers.
Because these vehicles are used as scenery on model railway layouts they are often available cheaply from sales of old layouts either online or in model shops.

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Dakota

Those German HO (1:87) truck models are a little bit too small for 1:72. But you can modify those tanker units in airport refuellers by making the tractor chassis longer and to put a pump unit behind the cab.

For 1:72 the Oxford Diecast OO (1:76) range is very useful and cheap.

ralph morton

Dakota The Kibri models are not 1:87 but 1:220! This makes them suitable for 1-200 or 1-250 airliners

I attach a picture of genuine 60s refueling vehicle set from the Sears Jet terminal set (see separate thread about the toy itself). I think this is also about 1-200.

For 1-400 and 1-500 we must continue to rely on Herpa and Gemini. Herpa has produced a lot of 60s airliners and may be German collectors will have luck persuading them to enlarge their vehicle range. We also need some 60s airport buildings

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Graham Bridges

I like it....good work there. Great for a 48th vehicle collection. Would also work well as a pattern for a master maker to copy down to 200 scale. As would the 2 Budgie diecast refuellers. Anybody know a man who can ?

Adrian, can I access those Python artworks anywhere. Would like to have a go at making 1 in 200. J seems to be tied up with other work right now.

My 200 scale BEA buses have stalled, but hoping to get somewhere with them soon. Very time consuming project.

Dakota

Maybe these illustrations can be of any help in creating 1:200 scale refuellers.
First the mighty AEC Mammoth, second the Foden.



Happy modelling

dongfanghong

Very lifelike nostalgic feeling, I like it.Can join the old airport scene.

Dakota

Finally I added some home made decals to the Hippo. Next in the pipeline are a Foden and Bedford S.

Graham Bridges

Very nice and very envious....I want one!!!!!!

Did you need to shorten the chassis or just remove the 1 axle, wheels and mudguards ? The modified tank looks closer to the cab. Did you need to add a bit on to it ?

It also looks flatter at the cab end, did you glue on a penel there ?

Dakota

A photo says more than words...

Today in my shop: Dinky Foden ready for Air BP livery. Only the second axle removed similar as the Octopus into Hippo. A plastic Dinky tank was shortened for a trailer.
The Dinky Bedford will become a Shell BP one with pump house. The tank is from Lion Toys (NL).
A spare Dinky Octopus chassis will become a Hippo tractor unit as used at Heathrow for many years. The artic trailer will be home made.
Secondhand models for conversions are easy obtainable via the net!

Dakota

The Bedford S in front of a BALAIR DC-4.