Support Vehicle

Earlier this year I had given to me a Mazda E2200 panel van. It had one or two problems with it (understatement!) but we gradually fixed it up, got it through an MOT (a miracle!) and fitted it up inside with a second level. The idea is that the 1/6th models of Big Dave (Sherman Firefly and King Tiger) will live on the lower level and mine and Howard's 1/8th models will live on the top. This still leaves a large area available for essentials such as Beer and BBQ's through the side door. I have added extra fluorescent light fittings and cigarette lighter sockets in the rear of the van to facilitate loading and unloading in the dark and the ability to run various accessories (such as my facehugger) from two additional 12v 64Ah Yuasa batteries similar to the one I use with my BergePanther trolley. The piece de la resistance was the re spraying into German WW2 three colour camouflage! We took three Humbrol pots of paint down to our local automotive suppliers where the paint man will mix up anything if he has something to work from. Partco now have registered these colours onto their paint database so that if anybody else requires them they can make them up from stock. We are still deciding whether to spot the camouflage (as with my models) and to sign write it with something, watch this space! My thanks go to Howard (as usual) who gave me a lot of help with this van and did all the spraying himself (I did help with the preparation though!) while I watched. One day when we have the models inside we'll take some more pictures and post them on here to show how everything fits in.


This view from the rear shows the stripey side and the blotchy rear. As is usual when the Humpy and Kalisch team start painting we have no plan on how to do it but just jump in headlong!	After Howard started spraying he announced 'We should have thought about this and drawn on a picture how the camo would look' To which I replied 'That'll be alright!'	Chris Walker calls it a 'Guppy Van'! Don't know what he means! If Mark Spencer wants his nice new Citroen resprayed he's only got to bring it up to the Uckfield Panzer Werks or the Tunbridge Wells Monza Werks!	The rear window had been smashed by some enterprising individuals before we had it so we decided to replace the sheet of wood which had hastily replaced it with some sheet steel from an old cabinet!	This view shows the upper decking. It uses 4x2 wooden (100mmx50mm ish!) supporting scaffolding poles which in turn support the two plywood platforms. The platforms and poles are removable so the van could be used as normal if need be. Excuse the rubbish and the prat in the back but Johnny took the picture before I could get out!

Here we see the three 'parking bays' on the upper level for the 1/8th models. They are tailored for each model, JP on the left, T-34 in the middle and Panther on the right. You can see the bungees that go around the rear of the models to stop them moving around.	And here we see in the roof of the van our 'mother of all ramps' as Peter Shaw so eloquently put it! This had to be long enough to enable the 1/8th models access to the upper level at a reasonable angle and wide enough for the 1/6th models to access the lower.	Mark Spencer was so impressed with the colours on the van that he asked me to get gallons of the stuff to spray the models! And here's the proof!	One recurring problem we have had is with the windscreen wipers. The passenger side drive spindle housing was badly worn causing the wipers to jam. To get to the wiper mechanism we had to remove all of the vans dashboard. Not a problem but then we've got to put all back again!	This is the wiper spindle from the passenger side. As you can see the aluminium casting has nearly worn away which meant the wiper spindle was flopping around like the proverbial whatsit in a well!

This is what the drivers side looked like and what the passenger side should have looked like!	While we had the dashboard out Howard decided to attack the dent in the front with a length of 4x2 and a club hammer! It's not perfect but it's a lot better than it was!	Check out the new painted wheels! The sandy colour is a bit light but they don't do it as standard in the Hammerite range!	Here's the first picture of our new trailer built onto the chassis of our old one. We've got some way to go yet but it will be a useful addition.	For the MOT in May 2004 there was a need for some welding to be done to the offside sill as can be seen in this pic.

So Howard got busy with the angle grinder and removed all the rust...	...and set about welding some new metal into place.	After the metal was welded a sander was used to clean up the welds (seem pretty good to me!).	And then a thin skim of filler was added to blend the old with the new...	...and sanded ready for...

		... some underseal. There, that should do the job!
In the summer of 2004 it was decided that it was time to replace our faithful Mazda van purely and simply because we had outgrown it! We looked at various other vans but realised quite quickly that because of the volume and weight of our models that we would have to go for something a lot bigger than a van and so we started looking at small trucks. After some enquiries we thought that one of the Iveco range of 7.5 Tonners would fit the bill so one was purchased and work started on customising it for our use. For those technically minded it's an Iveco 7.5 E15 truck with a 17 foot box body and hydraulic tailift. It has a 5.8 litre straight six turbocharged diesel engine but whether it's fairly economical or the Mazda wasn't but there's not a lot difference in the running costs (diesel wise at least!).

This picture shows clearly the step up from van to truck! The difference in capacity has to be seen to be believed.	We'd already formulated (well, Howard had!) a design for the racking to place the models on, so an awful lot of 25mm square steel tube was bought and prepared to make the racks.	Here we see the beginnings of one of these racks being tackwelded along the side of the truck.	Now you can see how the rack design fits into the back of the truck...	...and then the right hand side rack as well leaving a central isle for access to the front of the body.

Under the watchful eye of Howard, Humpy tries his hand at welding the racking together!	This is the beginning of the ramp which will allow models access to the second and from there the third level of racking...	...and now you can see how it is to be used. When the tail lift is lowered to the ground, the bottom lift up ram will be lowered enabling the model to drive onto the ramp. The tail lift is raised and then the model is driven off the upper lift up ramp onto the racking. Simple!