Gert
Yes there was the odd Red & Yellow earlier, I think ■■■■ Snow had one, but the main livery change came about in the early eighties, I think it was was when the 142’s and the Mercedes were brought on line and from that point forward the Cream and Brown was done with…
hi all hope you dont mind me popping in here this is a pic of a 1924 merc reg 1974 a o/d had brought it from new in manchester and run it from uk to m/east for 1 year then sold it and my farther brought it from mercs in manchester it was in plain merc blue colour then not sign writing just wonderd if any ex m/east drivers had seen it or know of it at the time 
a few pics form the astran modells that i build
behind the FB89 volvo comes a drawbar , loaded with a crashed mercedes NG-range , tipped over on the tahir 
, but the volvo still needs some attention before he is ready 
Rob Campbell:
The chap standing on the cab roof looks quite like a chap they stop to talk to in destnation doha i think he was giving them advice about where to cross the desertthe driver on the roof was frank white , and i also think that he is the same driver that the doha drivers talk to in the doha movie , maybe i`m wrong
ops
I Thought I recognised that reg no. I bought this at Gaydon last week .Any clues as to who may be driving this ? Also what period did the livery change , I’m assuming pre Destination Doha days ■■ .I’m sure the ex Astran drivers on here will know.
Hi Rob: I’d like to put you out of your misery re the man on the roof and the photo you got from Gaydon… but I don’t want to let too much out of the bag at the moment.
Unfortunately you are not correct. It is not Frank White, but it is the same man who gave the lads advice on the film. I do know who it is and have interveiwed him for the book.
The colour scheme was red and yellow from the early 70’s when the trucks came from the factory like it. It was changed to brown and white before Dest Doha was filmed, then it was changed back to red and yellow again.
NVW 480P was bought from Astran (when the own account transport operation was closed down) by one of their employees who ran it for a couple of years doing their work. He painted the chevrons on the bumper but kept the Astran livery more or less the same. The photo you have (coming out of Dover) is after he had sold it on. I also have a similar photo but mine shows it with Irish plates.
For your info:- My Asian Transport / Astran book is almost finished (my research and writing). I have a meeting with publisher during the next couple of weeks and then I’ll be able to give everyone a more acurate report on when it will be published. It’s been a long time coming but will be well worth the wait! I have been working on the project for just over a year and have got a phenominal amount done! More than I ever imagined!
ASH
YOU CAN PUT ME DOWN FOR A COPY MATE, REALY LOOKIN FORWARD TO READING IT & SEEING ALL THE PICS
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
CHEERS
GAZ
i will interested as long as its resonably priced 
Looking forward to the book Ash.
ps come back sinbin
Ash
Many thanks for the history on the 111 and yes it does look like an Ex Astran with no Logo and very much a euro spec trailer rather than M/E .How many stories could that truck tell eh ■■. I wasn’t sure on the livery as the Doha filnm showed both colour schemes although personally I prefer the cream and brown much more striking.
Glad the books almost there .I think the interest in the Middle East shown on here is proof that when the book comes out it will be a huge success and I like many others can’t wait for release day.Was Good to see Gordon Pearce at Gaydon too looking so well… a real gentleman who I could listen to all day .
Regards
Rob
Thanks all for the comments re the book. As far as price goes, I honestly don’t know what it will be yet. That’s something the publisher and I will discuss. It depends on number of pages, colour/black&white photos and general quality of print etc. Loosely based on 200 pages, 200-250 photos, laminated semi-hard back A4 size book, will be around £20. But I want a proper glossy hard back, bigger than A4 and more pages…and more photos! Reckon it will be around £25.
I don’t want to high-jack this thread with details of my project.
I originally posted a thread called “Asian Transport / Astran book” so ill “find” where that is and bring it back to the top when I have more news and hopefully a release date.
Rob: When NVW 480P was delivered new, it came painted brown and white and after a couple of years in service it was repainted red and yellow. I don’t think it was doing Astran work when your photo was taken at Dover.
Hi guys
If my memory serves me correctly, the unit in question was once owned by an old mate of mine, Johnny Austin. He used to pull for Tanker Bill and then John Smith out of Ferry Lane, which would explain the Irish Reg.
He was sadly killed when his Foden and Bulk tipper overturned on the Blackwall Tunnel approach under the Bow Flyover. That would have been around 87.
I would love to see the pic of it in Dover, may even recognise the trailer.
Regards
GS
PS Hi Ash, good to hear from you again.
Gavin: Just scroll up a couple of posts to se it coming out of Dover. The Irish reg in the photo I have is 7086 ZW. Ring any bells? Sent you a PM.
truckerash:
Rob Campbell:
The chap standing on the cab roof looks quite like a chap they stop to talk to in destnation doha i think he was giving them advice about where to cross the desertthe driver on the roof was frank white , and i also think that he is the same driver that the doha drivers talk to in the doha movie , maybe i`m wrong
I Thought I recognised that reg no. I bought this at Gaydon last week .Any clues as to who may be driving this ? Also what period did the livery change , I’m assuming pre Destination Doha days ■■ .I’m sure the ex Astran drivers on here will know.
Hi Rob: I’d like to put you out of your misery re the man on the roof and the photo you got from Gaydon… but I don’t want to let too much out of the bag at the moment.
Unfortunately you are not correct. It is not Frank White, but it is the same man who gave the lads advice on the film. I do know who it is and have interveiwed him for the book.
The colour scheme was red and yellow from the early 70’s when the trucks came from the factory like it. It was changed to brown and white before Dest Doha was filmed, then it was changed back to red and yellow again.
NVW 480P was bought from Astran (when the own account transport operation was closed down) by one of their employees who ran it for a couple of years doing their work. He painted the chevrons on the bumper but kept the Astran livery more or less the same. The photo you have (coming out of Dover) is after he had sold it on. I also have a similar photo but mine shows it with Irish plates.
For your info:- My Asian Transport / Astran book is almost finished (my research and writing). I have a meeting with publisher during the next couple of weeks and then I’ll be able to give everyone a more acurate report on when it will be published. It’s been a long time coming but will be well worth the wait! I have been working on the project for just over a year and have got a phenominal amount done! More than I ever imagined!
The fuel prices in that pic - would have been per gallon in those days wouldnt they? - trying to get my head around the big difference, i remember when derv was a lot cheaper than petrol but what would those prices have been for ?
Surely the price difference wasnt that great was it ?
Hi Suedhead,regarding fuel prices in dover. was this photo taken at the time of prices being displayed in both litres and gallons. this would explain the two prices on the picture. regards Jamie.
A Scot lost in the Valley’s
M&C Jamie:
Hi Suedhead,regarding fuel prices in dover. was this photo taken at the time of prices being displayed in both litres and gallons. this would explain the two prices on the picture. regards Jamie.A Scot lost in the Valley’s
Cheers for that.Thought i was "losing the plot " there for a moment 
43:7p per gallon - jeez, i was riding around on an FS1E then!! Anyway, must go - Matron says its time for bed.
truckerash:
Gavin: Just scroll up a couple of posts to se it coming out of Dover. The Irish reg in the photo I have is 7086 ZW. Ring any bells? Sent you a PM.
Ash
Yes 7086ZW that was it, when Johnny Austin was pulling for Eurotrans out of Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex. Mainly Portugal.
My 111 was 7082ZW. The red one that I posted in one of my early posts. Put the pic on here Ash. Re-send the PM, its not in my messges !
GS
GS OVERLAND:
Put the pic on here Ash. Re-send the PM, its not in my messges !
GS
GS: bit busy today/tomorrow, but i’ll re-send pm and post pic over next couple of days. Ash.
G’day
Can anyone help with info and some more pics of this motor? I’m after a photo of the other side. I’m about to start a model of it and am trying to gather some more referance photos. This photo is copy right of Nick Ireland,if there is any dramas with me posting it I’ll remove it.
Pretty sure it was a subbie who pulled for Astran.
Cheers Jamie
oops forgot the pic
The owner of the truck used to belong to a very good friend of mine name Nick Bull,from retford…I think you’ll find Dave Mackie has more photos of the truck.
Cheers,
Graham 
Nick Bull at Zafafshan Mine, not the same wagon though.
Dave.