I wonder if someone could enlighten me as to the name of the vehicle shown in the photo below?
They were plentiful when I was young and we always referred to them as Blitz wagons. The one in the photo has a Chev logo on the grille, but they were also made by other manufacturers during WW II.
These were used through the 60’s and a few probably went longer. Commonly in offroad applications like saw mills or country fire trucks.
I tried Walthers, but could not find a model. The Opel Blitz is different. It was on the other side in that conflict.[:O]
Can anyone give me a name to use in a search?[?] Better still tell me who makes a model of it.[bow]
PS. I hope you can see the photo. When I go to “Preview” before posting it is there. However, when normal forum view it is showing the dreaded red cross in a box symbol. Beats me.
Sorry John, I see the red X too. Boy, if you got a pic it would help alot.
Whats the wheel arrangment? I can think of a few that might be it.
Hey Big John,
Thanks for trying. The wheel arrangement was all wheel drive. 4x4 or 6x6.
Let’s try again for the photo. Looks like it was a problem in Village Photos.
There we go! What is it?
Its a WW2 CMP (Canidian Military Pattern) truck. They were the Canadian equilivent of British standard militaty trucks were built in Canada (and assembled in other Commonewelth countries) using US/Canidian parts and technology. Similar models were made by Ford and Chevrolet . Most were 4 wheel drive but 2 wheel drive were also made. There were four standard cab variations No 11, No 12, No 13, and No 43.
They were made in 8cwt, 15cwt, 30cwt, and 3 ton weight classes (British weight classes). Roughly equivilent standard US weight classes are 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1-1/2 ton and 2-1/2 ton or 3 ton. Mostly 4-wheelers, but in addition to 4-wheel 3 tonners, there were 6x4 and 6x6 models in the 3 ton weight range.
While there were some exceptions, the 8cwt and 15cwt were short (101") wheel base trucks. The 3cwt and 3 ton were longer. (134" and 158" respectively).
The 8cwt had enclosed bodies. The larger trucks mostly cab/chassis to which various bodies (cargo/troop, house, dump, tanker, or special equipment) could be fitted.
There were also gun tractors. They had 4-door enclosed bodies to provide seating for the gun crew and protected ammunition storage. They were 101" wheel base but used 3 ton components.
The truck in the photo is probably a 30cwt with No 13 cab. The sheet metal was the same in all weight classes but the 3 tonners have a heftier appearance due to larger wheels/tires and other beefed up componets.
The only models I know of are 1/35 scale. Tamaya - Ford (No 12 cab) gun tractor, Italleri - Chevrolet (No 13 cab) gun tractor, and Italleri 15cwt truck (No 13 cab) this type truck is equivilent of the WW2 US 3 /4 ton weapons carrier.
Hi D Schmitt,
Thanks for that comprehensive explanation. The wealth of knowledge available from members of this forum never ceases to amaze me.
The fact that they were a Commonwealth rather than US pattern probably influences the lack of models. I was not aware of that, but thought that I had not seen them in photos of US forces of the era. However, there is a 1:87 manufacturer in Australia. I will write to them to see if they could make a model. Maybe I will wait a day or two to see if someone comes up with an available model[|)].
Guys,
Thanks for your help. As noted previously I contacted a manufacturer and his reply was as follows:
John
Thanks for email and order, we have all items and will send next week. Thanks for the idea of the Blitz truck, of course used everywhere. I will get my son Nick onto it as he likes all those sorts of trucks.
Best Wishes
Gerry
So with a bit of luck at some time in the future 1:87 scale models of at least one version of that vehicle will become available.[:D]
Oh yes! If you want to watch for it http://www.users.bigpond.com/weicomodels/
That looks like a postwar derivative of what was commonly called a Quad (gun tractor) here in the UK. They lasted well into the 60s and even into the 70s. Robust was not an adequate word. They were used as wreckers and for logging in the UK… probably all sorts of other things around the world. Where british or Colonial troops went they went.
If you look in Walthers cat in the military section… find Heiser’s models and there is a Morris commercial 4x4 I can’t tell from the pic whether this is a Quad variant. I can’t recall who made the original Quads … I suspect it might have been AEC… but it could have been Morris… or Austin. During WW2 they were probably built by whoever had capacity the same way that Jeeps were built all over.
Hope this helps [8D]
Correction… that’s one of the trucks not a Quad… as noted above the Quad was a four door… it also didn’t have the racked spare wheel behind the cab. The Quad carried most of the ammo in a limber between the tractor and the gun. Airfix used to do a 1:72 gun, limber and 25pounder combination… every young schoolboys dream… along with a Spitfire and a Lancaster… (Airfix look like they are finally succumbing to the digital age… soon kids will no-longer need opposed thumbs…)