Astran / Middle East Drivers

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS OLD TIME LORRIES, COMPANIES AND DRIVERS (INTERACT
4761

Ah well, with all these cut backs and mergers around I suppose that it was only a matter of time before Trucknet joined The Astran/Middle East page with The Health And Family ( Interactive ) Forum :cry: .

4762

OK for those of you uninitiated…those in the picture are as follows.
Going clockwise.
Gavin Smith ( GS OVERLAND)
Ludlow Hensly Hall ( Black Billy)
Alan “Red Leader One” Wood “Woodsy”, No I’m not I’m Alan Wood!!! Heh Heh Heh.!!!..
Derek “Hoss” Horsley
Canadian Larry
Out The F89 Window Roy Haxell
David " Golden ■■■■■■■■, never loaded Rumo" Button
Phillip “Young Phil Houghton” McEverley
Sitting down Bobby Butler
Behind him Alan “Lenin” Bremner
Chris “Hooperman” Hooper
■■■■ " Diesel ■■■■" Alder .RIP.
Neville “Iss awlright innit” Adams

There were others but Johnny Neville never got their photos so he couldnt draw them in the pic. Come to think of it, he never drew himself “innit” either…
For those of you that would like to,please feel free to take a copy and print it. All credits to Johnny Neville. I just managed to keep hold of the original.
GS

4763

sinbin31:
Ah GS wondered who had that great drawing wanted a copy some time ago but never got round to it .how are you anyway my bloody knees are giving me a bad time at the moment.I am off to buy a house in Sweden soon its where all ME drivers should retire sod the Sand and sun seen enough of that peace and quiet and some good fishing, a sauna and a Swedish blonde walking on your back to ease the years of driving pain.O Well thats got this tread back on the top where it belongs :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Roger Haywood

Hi Roger
I am fine thanks, just had a trip to UK to catch up with some family and friends!! Animal send his regards. I can scan a copy of Johnny"s drawing if you want and send it to you or you can try and pull it off of here.
Which part of Sweden are you looking at ? I have some fond memories of going to Sweden, I used to stay with some of our " driving collegues" Magnum", (Helsingborg) Dennis (Lyseskill), Ginger Chris & Lasse ( Maroon Transcon) Hjo,
Gunnar " Glidlagar"( Umika) I used to go for midsummer night, drink Vodka, eat fresh fish and dive into freezing cold lakes !!! ■■■■■■ great. Im sitting here dripping sweat writing this…theres no breeze at all, but I did just have a nice piece of grilled king fish, casava, broccoli and chips washed down with a flask of extra old rum…mmmmmmmmmmmm
GS

4764

GS OVERLAND:
OK for those of you uninitiated…those in the picture are as follows.
Going clockwise.
Gavin Smith ( GS OVERLAND)
Ludlow Hensly Hall ( Black Billy)
Alan “Red Leader One” Wood “Woodsy”, No I’m not I’m Alan Wood!!! Heh Heh Heh.!!!..
Derek “Hoss” Horsley
Canadian Larry
Out The F89 Window Roy Haxell
David " Golden ■■■■■■■■, never loaded Rumo" Button
Phillip “Young Phil Houghton” McEverley
Sitting down Bobby Butler
Behind him Alan “Lenin” Bremner
Chris “Hooperman” Hooper
■■■■ " Diesel ■■■■" Alder .RIP.
Neville “Iss awlright innit” Adams

There were others but Johnny Neville never got their photos so he couldnt draw them in the pic. Come to think of it, he never drew himself “innit” either…
For those of you that would like to,please feel free to take a copy and print it. All credits to Johnny Neville. I just managed to keep hold of the original.
GS

Gavin,
Is that “Canadian Larry”, the guy that used to be a subbie o/d for Simon International?,bit of a tasty geezer but a good laugh.Ran back with him on his last trip before he went to Canada,about 1980.
This is the blue Scania that this Larry drove,seen here parked up with a couple of us on “Pauines” at Golling.
See there is a “Promotors” Scania there also,extreme right.

4765

Hi Colonel, I know this is’nt a nat health forum but it was my right knee I had done as well must be something to do with brake and accelerator
chazzer

4766

NO LARRY THE LAMB WAS STILL THERE IN THE LATE 80,S ON LAWRABIAN HE DROPPED A PISTON AT THE LOG CABIN AND I TOWED HIM AND HIS TRAILER BACK .WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE NIGHT IN GERMANY WHEN WE GOT TO THE TRUCKSTOP IN VENLO HE TRIED TO OVERTAKE ME AND HIT A CAR HE DIDN,T REMEMBER HE SAID HE,D BEEN ASLEEP MOST OF THE WAY.ABOUT 92 HE GAVE ME A LIFT BACK FROM BUCHEREST WHEN MY SCANIA WENT UP IN FLAMES

4767

Hi Gavin not to far up, near to falkenburg.about 30 klm inland over to oskarstrom nice wooded area house im looking at is about 55k fully detached with its own part of a lake hope to get over next month to check out the regulations on purchace ,and Chazzer thats one reason to go to Sweden get my knees done properly :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: and get away from this country with all its dodgy politicians :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: and retire on all that money I made driving to the ME :wink: :wink: :wink: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Roger Haywood

4768

Just received some photo’s from Rick Ellis, posted on my site.
here are just a few to look at.

Rick Ellis

Harry Woffenden

Leo Smith

to be young again.
Dave.

4769

Hi Roger, you’re not wrong about wanting to get away from dodgey politicians but where do you go to find somewhere that has’nt got someone trying to line his pockets, do’nt forget thats what made the world of m/e haulage go round. If it was’nt for the ''grand cafe’s ‘’ and the baksheesh we would probably still be sat on a border somewhere. Maybe with your gift for diplomacy you might want to think about a career in politics, lets face it you could’nt get us any deeper in the crap than this lot have done. I’m off to the states in about 3 months, be nice to think the wife will get a job and support me (wishful thinking I suppose) any way I’ll still be on trucknet but does that mean I’ll have to go on the ex-pats forum
Charlie

4770

I am kinda hoping you ex Middle East drivers can offer an opinion on a 1/24 scale Astran truck model I am currently building.
Its going to be on a “G” reg scania which was belonging to Chris Hooper, and I want the truck/trailer to look as authentic as possible.
I have several pics from this site as the guide for the build.

Here are some pics where it has an additional tank on trailer chassis and a large storage box across the chassis, along with spare wheels and tyres.
For the year would you consider this to be close to being right? If not, please advise what in your opinion is missing to make it authentic.

where would the towing bar usually get stowed on the trailer? across the top of the storage lockers?

Secondly, on the front of many truck pics there is a yellow transit plate written in arabic and then the word transit underneath, are these only on the front of the unit, or would you also find one on the back of the trailer?

heres some others recently built to give an idea of why I want it to look authentic.

Any guideance from you guys would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

TC

4771

hi tc trans

You need to chop off one axle put double wheels spread axle a round cylinder belly tank under the chassis,with plastic hose running to front of trailer , double storage box on the left side looking at the trailer from the front,so box was in the kerb or inside for eating purpose, Tow bar would hange on hooks on otherside along with snow chains double spare wheel carrier at rear no rear doors,ali ladder on front of trailer and last the hammock slung between the landing legs .fold down bog seat on legs cross bar .and a partrage in a pear tree post pic when completed.

Roger Haywood

4772

Hi TC
Roger has described a 68 spec trailer to a T including the spread axle toilet seat, but I think your asking for the G at the beginning of the number plate.
The Transit plate you asked about was fitted to both ends of the vehicle. I think I still have one some were. If you want a close up of it I will try to dig it out and take a close up photo of it for you if you want. I think the Trailer you are talking about also had Arabic (I am not sure which trailer had it on it may have been Rabbit’s Trl) on but I will have to SMS Chris to see when he is in the UK so that I can ask him if he has any photos of the vehicle you are trying to Model.
I may take a little time to gather the correct information but it will be worth it.
Regard Jaws aka Ian

4773

Thanks for the replies gents, much appreciated.

As you mention Jaws, that is exactly what I am trying to model, and its on TNUK somewhere that I got the photo where its behind an FH volvo, and trailer does have arabic writing as well the usual Astran detail.
A close up pic of the transit plate would be excellent if thats at all possible.

My next model will now have to be the earlier one as quoted by sinbin, the detail he mentioned makes me want to give that a go next, as I have a scania 141 kit unbuilt, so just need to find the respective trailer.

Brilliant, many thanks for your help.

4774

tc trans:
Thanks for the replies gents, much appreciated.

As you mention Jaws, that is exactly what I am trying to model, and its on TNUK somewhere that I got the photo where its behind an FH volvo, and trailer does have arabic writing as well the usual Astran detail.
A close up pic of the transit plate would be excellent if thats at all possible.

My next model will now have to be the earlier one as quoted by sinbin, the detail he mentioned makes me want to give that a go next, as I have a scania 141 kit unbuilt, so just need to find the respective trailer.

Brilliant, many thanks for your help.

It doesn’t go on the trailer though

4775

Wheel Nut:

tc trans:
Thanks for the replies gents, much appreciated.

As you mention Jaws, that is exactly what I am trying to model, and its on TNUK somewhere that I got the photo where its behind an FH volvo, and trailer does have arabic writing as well the usual Astran detail.
A close up pic of the transit plate would be excellent if thats at all possible.

My next model will now have to be the earlier one as quoted by sinbin, the detail he mentioned makes me want to give that a go next, as I have a scania 141 kit unbuilt, so just need to find the respective trailer.

Brilliant, many thanks for your help.

It doesn’t go on the trailer though

Hi Wheel Nut

I must disagree with you but the last time that I was down there (about 2002 with the Relf brothers and Chris when he sold the Transcon)the transit plates came in pairs with a serial number on the back and one went on the front of the truck and the other on the trailer and the plate numbers were on your manifest with the custom seal numbers
Regards
JAWS

4776

Hi Wheel Nut

I made a mistake I entered Qatar 01.03.2001 and left by air 05.03.2001 Drive/Fly for Roy Bradford after recovering the truck from a driver who’s bottle had gone in more ways than one in Athens then to Qatar unload and left Ken Relf to sell them.

Re Transit Plate photo taken from page 4 this thread which shows transit plate on rear of vehicle courtesy of a post by Oldtimer Trucker thanks for Trawling through the web


also on this page is a good shoot of Jonny Neville getting some rays

The last time that I drove a truck in Europe was 2001/2002 and if I was to go again I would be a NEW BOY things are changing so fast.
I still get regular pratice at driving a left ■■■■■■ every time I go home I get saddled with driving duties no trailer as the vehicle has shrunk to a Micra but it beats walking
Regards
Jaws

4777

Does anyone on here know how many trucks were left or abandoned during the troubles with Iran? How many hauliers managed to rescue their trucks? And if they know any one who had to turn back on route during that time? Looking at the middle east job and the stories from friends and the postings on here i wish i was around in the seventies to have done the job :slight_smile:

4778

This photo is courtesy of Jaws ( Ian Powling ) Saudi Transit Plate with Serial No.

Dave

4779

davemackie:
This photo is courtesy of Jaws ( Ian Powling ) Saudi Transit Plate with Serial No.

Dave

Thanks you Dave & Ian, that helps me no end.

Ta

TC

4780

JAWS:
Hi Wheel Nut

I must disagree with you but the last time that I was down there (about 2002 with the Relf brothers and Chris when he sold the Transcon)the transit plates came in pairs with a serial number on the back and one went on the front of the truck and the other on the trailer and the plate numbers were on your manifest with the custom seal numbers
Regards
JAWS

I took that picture at Gaydon and we were talking about the origin of the truck. Another driver asked me if the plate should be on the trailer. I didn’t know but said I had only seen them on the units. We were then told by an “ex middle east man” that only the unit needed them.

I am here to learn. Thanks for putting me right. It is no secret that I never went beyond Izmit.