Scammell Explorers*

[Jim Bell]

After the excellent thread by Scruff:

http://autoshite.com/topic/14905-exploring/?hl=scammell

 

 

 

I thought I'd have another crack at a Scammells thread.....

 

First up,

 

The mighty Explorer! (though there may be pics and vids of Pioneers and Constructors)

 

Vital Statistics:

Length

6.28 m (20 ft 7 in)

Width

2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)

Height

3.16 m (10 ft 4 in)

Wheelbase

3.50 m (11 ft 6 in)

Winch

15 tons capacity

Crane lift

4½ tons (max)

Engine

Meadows 6 cylinder petrol then Gardner 6LW diesel engine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story:

 

During the early development of the Scammell Pioneer in the 1920s and 1930s, a few six wheel drive versions were produced and others were made experimentally during World War 2. The limitations on the Pioneer's cross country mobility were mainly to do with traction, if the four driving wheels were unable to grip on soft ground. So, soon after the War ended, experiments began with a 6 x 6 recovery vehicle. The outcome was the Explorer which bore a strong resemblance to its predecessor.

The rear axle and transmission layout was virtually the same but a shaft from the main gear box provided power to the driven front axle. In the late 1940s, when Explorer was under development, the Rolls Royce designed ‘B' Series of standardised petrol engines was being tested and the War Office decided that the front line would have petrol engines rather than diesel. The Explorer was fitted with a 10.3 litre Meadows petrol engine. The clearance needed for the driven front axle and the greater height of this engine required a much higher bonnet line and cab. The weight of the front axle dispensed with the need for additional ballast weights at the front.

The body and cab on the Explorer were very similar to those on the Pioneer, but the body side access was repositioned. The jib winch was powered instead of manually operated and a spare wheel carrier at the rear was an original design feature. Later in their lives most Explorers were fitted with additional small lockers on each side of the spare wheel.

Minor variants exist of the basic design of recovery vehicle. Early ones have the front mounted towing hook fixed to a leaf spring whereas others have it bolted to a solid cross member. Some vehicles were fitted with extra cab insulation and one, now in the Museum's collection, had been used in East Africa and was fitted with an air intakes on the cab roof to improve cooling.

There was a ballast tractor variant of the Explorer built in small numbers for the RAF. Another export version of the recovery vehicle was fitted with the more streamlined cab of the Scammell Constructor. Some of these versions were used in the New Zealand Army by RNZEME.

Scammell Explorers remained in service into the 1980s, the last ones with TA units. The intended replacement, the AEC Recovery Vehicle Medium, was itself eclipsed soon afterwards. In the 1960s, the advent of the Leyland, rated as a heavy recovery vehicle, had led to the downgrading of Scammells to the designation of medium recovery vehicles.

 

 

Pics:

 

Looking sad:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the winter wonderland:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Articulating:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Maccano :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And in model form:

 

Link to awesome scratch built model

http://freespace.virgin.net/scammell.man/index2.htm

 

 

 

 

 

Vids to follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

[Jim Bell]

Move over Range Rover:

 

[Jim Bell]

Pioneer with track-chains.

 

[Wilko220]

This is the old Scammell factory, near me in Watford

 

 

 

Sadly, this is what it looks like now:

 

[Jim Bell]

Creeping Explorer:

 

[cort16]

I don't believe there's a man alive who wouldn't want a shot in a Scammell

[Jim Bell]

Gear change:

 

[rml2345]

Shifting with a Scammell gate change gearbox is something of an art form. I think it was designed in 1932 and used for something like 35 years in production models. There was a firm using Highwaymans so equipped with centre axles to work at 38 tonnes well into the nineties!

Those Explorer cross country vids are excellent.

[Jim Bell]

Petrol 1953 Explorer

 

 

[Jim Bell]

The Salvage Squad: Scarab Edition.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y93t44AhsEQ

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g24GhKPkH30

[Jim Bell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Wj4-o6pPs

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK4e2B2GIX8

[daveb47]

Used to drive one of these,cant remember which model at Colchester Corporation bus depot in the 70,s when i was breakdown mechanic there.

Loved driving it but they wouldnt let me try it offroad.

[Jim Bell]

Used to drive one of these,cant remember which model at Colchester Corporation bus depot in the 70,s when i was breakdown mechanic there.

Loved driving it but they wouldnt let me try it offroad.

 

You dont have any period pics do you man?

[daveb47]

You dont have any period pics do you man?

 

I dont,wish i did but never thought to take any.

I will see if i can contact a lad i knew then,he had a large album of them.

Not heard from him for years so bit of a long shot.

[doug]

Aye, love them.....

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Services content:

 

About 500 tractor-trailer units were provided to the British Army and they were effective recovery vehicles. One problem was found when carrying American tanks on British roads. The higher profile of the US tanks meant that on occasions the vehicles could not pass under bridges. This meant that the trailers were undesirable post war and most were scrapped while the tractors were retained for use with other trailers or sold into civilian use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vulgalour]

My fancy for a Scammell is gradually becoming a full on want.  They look like the can go and do anything and if I had kids I'd absolutely buy one to do the school run in.

[sutty2006]

This thread is amazing.

 

The 45 degree articulation on the front axle is so unbelievable and hideous, that its cool and awesome.

 

The saying goes "they dont make um like they used to!"

[Jim Bell]

Theres apparently 1 metre of suspension travel on each wheel?

 

Which is amazing.

 

Must be hard to tip over...............

 

 

 

Unless you try VERY hard.

 

 

Which begs the question, what do you call for to recover a Scammell??!!

[rml2345]

A bigger Scammell?

[sutty2006]

You'd need an AUTOBOT. Fact

[brickwall]

So, it begs a question - When are you guys having a whip round to buy be one?

[vulgalour]

If there's a community Scammell I might not be able to put up cash to help, but I'll add my share of blood, sweat, tears and swears to keep it running.  I don't even care if I don't get to drive it.

[scruff]

You HAVE to drive it, they are the bollocks

[Jim Bell]

Anybody got a huuuuuge empty garage?

 

And looooads of money?

 

 

 

 

 

£15,000

 

http://www.milweb.net/webvert/69400/

 

I could chip in £400. But Id want a shot once in a while.

[sutty2006]

£400 gets you a flick of the wiper switch.

[vulgalour]

Maybe we should weld one and a half Range Rovers together to make a kit Scammell?

[Tayne]

If there's a community Scammell I might not be able to put up cash to help, but I'll add my share of blood, sweat, tears and swears to keep it running.  I don't even care if I don't get to drive it.

 

You can clean it.

[scruff]

You will find one for £10,000 less if you are patient.