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IT'S CURTAINS FOR THE MELLOR BROTHERS!

  
 

    
 

Ready to haul the small but important components of everyday life are these three Volvo tractors - two in Swift and one in Christian Salveson colours.

  
 

    
  Ready to haul the small but important components of everyday life are these three Volvo tractors - two in Swift and one in Christian Salveson colours.
 

    
 

The sheet sided trailer behind this matching ERF tractor unit is in the colours of R.J. Cooper of Witcombe, Gloucester

  
 

    
  The sheet sided trailer behind this matching ERF tractor unit is in the colours of R.J. Cooper of Witcombe, Gloucester  
 

    
 

This fine Eric Vick of Hardwicke rig arriving at the River View Transport Cafe is not to be sniffed at either, not least because the ERF tractor that inspired it - registration JDG 209 V - has been preserved and is seen below at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway Steam and Vintage Gala at Prestbury in October 2008.

  
 

    
  This fine Eric Vick of Hardwicke rig arriving at the River View Transport Cafe is not to be sniffed at either, not least because the ERF tractor that inspired it - registration JDG 209 V - has been preserved and is seen below at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway Steam and Vintage Gala at Prestbury in October 2008.  
 

    
This fine Eric Vick of Hardwicke rig arriving at the River View Transport Cafe is not to be sniffed at either, not least because the ERF tractor that inspired it - registration JDG 209 V - has been preserved and is seen below at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway Steam and Vintage Gala at Prestbury in October 2008.

 

This fine Eric Vick of Hardwicke rig arriving at the River View Transport Cafe is not to be sniffed at either, not least because the ERF tractor that inspired it - registration JDG 209 V - has been preserved and is seen below at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway Steam and Vintage Gala at Prestbury in October 2008.

  
 

    
 

Often seen on the roads but much more rarely modelled are these two livery variations from Hacklings.

  
 

    
  Often seen on the roads but much more rarely modelled are these two livery variations from Hacklings.  
 

    
 

The brown and cream articulated tractor and trailer combination in the markings the Gloucester based CM Downton fleet of was also the subject of a recent 1/50 scale die cast model by Corgi while the bright yellow cabover on the right is in a subfleet dedicated to the logistical supply of Petsmart.

  
 

    
  The maroon and cream articulated tractor and trailer combination in the markings the Gloucester based CM Downton fleet of was also the subject of a 1/50 scale die cast model by Corgi in 2007 while the bright yellow cabover on the right is in a subfleet dedicated to the logistical supply of Petsmart.  
 

    
By 2009 however the curtainside trailers were reading "Downton Real distribution solutions" and also featuring the website www.downton.co.uk . In the picture above a DAF 105XF 6x2 - made by repainting an Oxford die cast product - is coupled to a Corgi trailer next to a Volvo FH 6x2 with a cab rebuilt from a Corgi Roadscene vehicle. A similarly created Volvo FM 6x2 is nearest the camera.

By 2009 however the curtainside trailers were reading "Downton Real distribution solutions" and also featuring the website www.downton.co.uk .  In the picture above a DAF 105XF 6x2 - made by repainting an Oxford die cast product - is coupled to a Corgi trailer next to a Volvo FH 6x2 with a cab rebuilt from a Corgi Roadscene vehicle.  A similarly created Volvo FM 6x2 is nearest the camera.                                                                                                                    

 

Paul Mellor's latest offerings are some upgrades of the Corgi Roadscene Volvo FH16 tractors in the markings of Gloucestershire firm Ralph Davies. To overcome the die cast model's as-supplied lack of height two examples were integrated. One cab was cut below the windscreen and the second cut above the radiator grille. The two tallest parts were then assembled to make correct height FH16s. Black and white marked versions are seen above and below is the white can FH16 with the black trailer..

  
 

    
  Paul Mellor's latest offerings are some upgrades of the Corgi Roadscene Volvo FH16 tractors in the markings of Gloucestershire firm Ralph Davies. To overcome the die cast model's as-supplied lack of height two examples were integrated. One cab was cut below the windscreen and the second cut above the radiator grille. The two tallest parts were then assembled to make correct height FH16s.  Black and white marked versions are seen above and below is the white cab FH16 with the black trailer.  
 

    

  Invading Brocklecote Bus Station at the Cheltenham GWR Modellers Exhibition in April 2009 was L327 NET, a Mercedes Benz 1820 4x2 rigid chassis Curtainsider, one of 18 in the colours of James Young storage and distribution: formerly of Stonehouse and now believed to be based at Ashton Down Trading Park.  
 

    
  Invading Brocklecote Bus Station at the Cheltenham GWR Modellers Exhibition in April 2009 was L327 NET, a Mercedes Benz 1820  4x2 rigid chassis Curtainsider, one of 18 in the colours of James Young storage and distribution: formerly of Stonehouse and now believed to be based at Ashton Down Trading Park.  
 

    
  The model was constructed with the help of a crudely produced £ 2.50 toy of a 6x2 tractor. Although largely under scale, the cab approached the required 1/76 and could easily be soldered to to a generic white metal chassis. In this instance the original sleeper section was cut off and the rear panel refitted to form a rest cab. The cab floor and interior were cast to order from a home made master by a well known manufacturer ( and friend of the Mellor Brothers ) who also supplied the correct profile wheels. The body was a cut down resin semi-trailer using the rear portion for doors etc. Using their own unique method of cab fitting, the Mellor Brothers passed all the seats through the windscreen aperture for location and gluing on to the painted floor casting before adding the steering wheel and dash panel. The windscreen was sourced from suitably profiled transparent plastic ( as found on the blister packs around AA batteries and many similar household goods ) while the cab mirrors were scratch built using brass wire and plastic card.  
 

    
  The model was constructed with the help of a crudely produced £ 2.50 toy of a 6x2 tractor. Although largely under scale, the cab approached the required 1/76 and could easily be soldered to to a generic white metal chassis.  In this instance the original sleeper section was cut off and the rear panel refitted to form a rest cab.  The cab floor and interior were cast to order from a home made master by a well known manufacturer ( and friend of the Mellor Brothers ) who also supplied the correct profile wheels.  The body was a cut down resin semi-trailer using the rear portion for doors etc.  Using their own unique method of cab fitting, the Mellor Brothers passed all the seats through the windscreen aperture for location and gluing on to the painted floor casting before adding the steering wheel and dash panel.  The windscreen was sourced from suitably profiled transparent plastic ( as found on the blister packs around AA batteries and many similar household goods ) while the cab mirrors were scratch built using brass wire and plastic card.  
 

    
A new visitor to the roads outside Brocklecote Bus Station - where the North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd is due to celebrate its Golden Anniversary in 2010 - was this DAF 105XF 6x2 tractor unit and matching trailer in the markings of Gloucester based Joseph Rice, unveiled at the Lydney Model Railway Show in September 2009.


A new visitor to the roads outside Brocklecote Bus Station - where the North Western Road Car Co. (Glos) Ltd is due to celebrate its Golden Anniversary in 2010 - was this DAF 105XF 6x2 tractor unit and matching trailer in the markings of Gloucester based Joseph Rice.


Also unveiled at the Lydney Model Railway Show in September 2009 on a modified incarnation of the Layby Diorama was this Lafarge trailer from the Corgi Roadscene range behind a Volvo FH 6x2 tractor in the livery of BH Freight. Just as BH marks yet another Gloucestershire haulage company modelled by the Mellor Brothers, the distribution of Lafarge Plasterboard echoes back to the hundreds of cement wagons produced by the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited.


Also unveiled at the Lydney Model Railway Show in September 2009 on a modified incarnation of the Layby Diorama was this Lafarge trailer from the Corgi Roadscene range behind a Volvo FH 6x2 tractor in the livery of BH Freight.  Just as BH marks yet another Gloucestershire haulage company modelled by the Mellor Brothers, the distribution of Lafarge Plasterboard echoes back to the hundreds of cement wagons produced by the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited.


Arguably the Gloucestershire road haulage fleet most modelled by The Mellor Brothers is that of Moreton C. Cullimore - so it is no surprise to see one of the firm's curtainside trailers beautifully rendered in 4mm scale using authentic two tone green paints and attached to DAF X105F 6x2 tractor unit "Mr Justice Starleigh". Keeping the Dutch designed rig company is Scania 6x2 tractor unit "The Guvnor".

Arguably the Gloucestershire road haulage fleet most modelled by The Mellor Brothers is that of Moreton C. Cullimore - so it is no surprise to see one of the firm's curtainside trailers beautifully rendered in 4mm scale using authentic two tone green paints and attached to DAF X105F 6x2 tractor unit "Mr Justice Starleigh".  Keeping the Dutch designed rig company is Scania 6x2 tractor unit "The Guvnor".