I’m after some expert knowledge chaps and thought this would be the best place to post this:
I’ve been commissioned to build a 24th scale model of this truck (two different bodies, same wagon at different time), and I’m at a loss as to what the back end would have been, in terms of suspension etc. The most info I have so far is that the axles may be Eatons
I’ll be using this kit from KFS, and need to modify it accordingly:
kitformservices.com/tq/tk.km-006.jpg
If anyone can help it would be most appreciated!
Nice looking motor, matey. For a Bedford!
You may find that the third axle is trailing, in which case the hub endplates will be different. Unfortunately my computer monitor is not clear enough to make a definite assessment.
Best of luck.
That had crossed my mind, but the owner is adamant that it was a 6x4, rather than a trailing conversion 
Retired Old ■■■■:
Nice looking motor, matey. For a Bedford!
You may find that the third axle is trailing, in which case the hub endplates will be different. Unfortunately my computer monitor is not clear enough to make a definite assessment.
Best of luck.
I seem to recall that the factory built both a trailing axle KM and also a double drive for tipper work,the axle/hub ends were quite a large diameter on the double drives but I don’t think they were hub reduction,could be wrong but that is my distant recollection of the 6 wheeler KM’s in the late 60’s early '70’s.Cheers Bewick.
Hi Consettbell,
I guess the first question is whether the KM in the photos was a double-drive (6x4) or not?
Many of the multi-axle Bedfords were conversions carried out by third party companies, often trailing non-drive axles. The Primrose Third Axle Company was one of the main conversion specialists, County also did them & there were others. A trailing axle conversion might also support the view that the driven axle was an Eaton (maybe a 2-speed)?
That said, there was a Guy Big-J in the 2012 Malvern auction which was a double-drive, utilising two Eaton 2-speed axles. (You wonder what happens if one axle shifts & the other doesn’t…!) I don’t know if such an arrangment was ever offered on, or fitted later to Bedfords?
Probably not much help to you, just some thoughts. Please could you keep us updated on your progress?
Regards, Andrew.
Edit: Looks like others have beaten me to it 
Retired Old ■■■■:
Hi, Andrew,
Just been picturing the mess when one axle changes & the other doesn’t!
By the way, was that the Guy with the phantom 9-cylinder Gardner or the one with the 10-cyl. rotary?
Pause, while Bewick descends from the ceiling. 
Ha ha ha … you fellas can’t resist a dig can you 
Rolls 220 from memory. I found some photos of that particular beast on flickr, here’s a link (thanks go to Fryske):
flickr.com/photos/fryske/6412455857/
I’d be very intersted to hear how the ‘donor’ kit goes, might have a go a doing one of my Dads TK’s…
Andrew
Page 4 of the SALES BROCHURES thread shows the front cover of a “Bedford 6 wheelers” brochure, with a KM tipper on the front, so I presume they were built in house at some point, still doesn’t help the 6x2/6x4 question though. It’ll be a while before I get round the the 6 legger anyway, after one or two others I’ll be building its little sister first:
It looks to me that the one in the pic is single drive as the hubs appear different. They did make 6X4’s though and I believe that they were Eaton two speeders similar to the Mastiff and D series Ford’s, the standard KM diff was inclined forward for extra ground clearance but I cant recall a twin drive rear bogie using those diffs. Having said that, it is 40 years since I worked on a KM!
Pete.
Andy,
Bedford first produced the double drive KM’s early 1972, the three wheelbases are given below in the table attached and a diagram of the double drive which is a simple build as far as modelling is concerned, very similar to a Tandem axle trailer suspension of the period with the central balance beam. As you can see the first drive axle has a lockable third diff mounted on the front of this axle, again shouldn’t be too difficult to make up from the spares box.
Hope this helps I’m sure you will turn out a nice model as usual.
Cheers Franky.
Fantastic information everyone, particularly that diagram Frank, just what I need! Hopefully I should be getting some clearer photos of the truck in question, so the hubs will reveal all. In the meantime while I was doing more digging, this appears to be a 6 wheeler KM:
stilltimecollection.co.uk/de … asgow.html
I’ve just enlarged the top pic and it seems the rear axle could be a trailing dead axle (hub cap is larger on rear) and the H reg would mean it was before Bedford introduced their own 6x4, however a trailing axle probably had the same suspension set up as in the drawing and if your customer says it was a 6x4 then one of the conversion companies may well have added another drive axle. Modellers licence mate! Franky.
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