I would like to build a fuel truck for one of the participants of the 1934 MacRobertson London to Melbourne air race. The race started at Mildenhall, and I tried to establish what fuel trucks were used there, prior to the start. So far I found six different trucks. I posted my findings and questions on two sections of the BritModeller forum (Aircraft Modelling / Civil Aircraft Modelling Discussion by Era / Classic - up to 1968 and Vehicle Modelling (non-military) / Vehicle Discussion ) and received a lot of help. |
BritModeller member 'Six97s' suggested it has Leyland radiator, wings and bonnet sides with a coachbuilt cab.
BritModeller member 'Selwyn' suggested it's a Leyland Hippo. I also found the Leyland Cub that has the engine just behind between the front axle. The hood and fenders (especially the typical front end shape) matches what I can see on this page: 1931 Leyland's new programme Single colour overall, white cab roof. 'Shell - Mex & BP Ltd / Aviation Service'. 'Winged shell' logo. | ![]() |
![]() | I reasoned that some of the fuel trucks were borrowed from other airports, or that other airports used similar trucks. That turned out to be true for this particular fuel truck. All of the following pictures are screenshots from Airport - first-ever film made film by the Shell Film Unit describing a day in the Croydon Airport.
The license plate reads AXY 469, the last is number visible in a slightly later view. |
Differences that I see are the lack of a floodlight, and a blanking plate installed on the lower half of the grille. The number on the door reads 3518, it's slightly better visible a fraction of a second later. | ![]() |
![]() | A great view of the rear of the fuel truck and the refuelling installation. |
More details of the the refuelling installation. What are the cilindrical items left and right bottom? | ![]() |
![]() | The domes on top of the tanks are hatches for the tank openings. |
Here the truck itself is fuelled. It vaguely shows two lines of text on the rear doors. | ![]() |
![]() | Another frontal view, but it's probably too vague to spot new details. |
BritModeller member Vesa Jussila suggested it is a Ford Model AA Dual Duty (see 1928 Ford Truck Model AA Dual Duty brochure). All details that I checked so far matched. BritModeller member 'Six97s' confirms it's a 1930-31 Ford AA.
BritModeller member Jan de Wit reported that a similar truck was built on the Dutch forum 'Modelbrouwers': 1934 Shell Aviation, Fordson BB fuel truck, 1/72. It matches this truck almost perfectly. Two colour scheme. Simpler cab, possibly fabric roof. Steel wheels instead of wooden spokes as in the first link. | ![]() |
![]() | Likely photographed with a different B&W film (ortho or pan) giving vastly different colour representation. |
Two floodlights mounted on tank. Sticker with cross on windshield. | ![]() |
BritModeller member 'Six97s' thinks the grille looks like AEC, but the cab doesn't.
BritModeller member 'Selwyn' says it's a AEC Mammoth Major 6 Mark 1 or 2. Double rear axles, short nose it seems. Oval cross section tank. | ![]() |
![]() | Probably the same truck; rear window shape matches. Ventilation flaps open. |
BritModeller member 'Tigerausfb' suggested that this is a AEC Monarch or a AEC Mammoth Major. I'm not trained enough to distinguish the two, but I think most details match, except the steps behind the front wheel.
BritModeller member 'Selwyn' says it's a AEC Mammoth Major 6 Mark 1 or 2. BritModeller member 'Six97s' noted the small ledge in front of the windscreen, where the usual AEC cabs are flat fronted. Maybe it's coachbuilt? Wikipedia's AEC page says 'The original AEC Monarch was built from 1931 to 1939 at AEC's Southall works' and 'The AEC Mammoth was introduced in 1930', so that matches too. BritModeller member 'Six97s' thinks the grille looks like AEC, but the cab doesn't. The front truck has the 'Stanavo' sign outlined, mounted on a light-coloured panel. Metal roof. The driver's side windshield appears to be horizontally divided. | ![]() |
BritModeller member 'Zephyr' suggested that this is based on a AEC Majestic
BritModeller member 'Selwyn' says it looks like a Leyland Beaver. Square-tube railing above 'Stanavo' signs is the easiest identification feature. | ![]() |
![]() | Is there a vertical tank positioned behind the main tank? License plate on the right. |
Considering the hand pumping, could this be an oil truck? Sign in a circle, left of 'Stanavo' lettering. Truck's own fuel tank protected by heavy frame. | ![]() |
![]() | Probably the same truck, see the U-shaped step that is bent forward. Or maybe it's hinged. |
The square railing is visible if you look closely. And I see the sunshield above the windscreen. | ![]() |
BritModeller member 'Selwyn' reported it's a Dennis 'C' Type. See Dennis tanker BXD 123 on Flickr for comparison.
Chromed wheel cover. Single rear axle. Maybe the louvers on the side of the nose help with identification? | ![]() |
![]() | Probably the same truck, it's refueling the same aircraft. 'Stanavo' sign mounted over original markings; only 'GHT' can be seen. Single rear axle. |
The truck seen in the rear is the same as the above, with the 'GHT' lettering peeping out under the Stanavo sign. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/59024 | ![]() |
Maybe the truck on the left is another fuel truck? Or is it a camera vehicle? It has cab roof flaps similar to #3. The driver's side windshield is horizontally divided. | ![]() |
Cooper Craft No. 4004 1:76 AEC Monarch Oil Tanker on ScaleMates
1:76 Cooper Craft ACE Monarch Tankwagen 'What if' by Tom Klose on Modellversium
Road Transport Images - 1:76 Scale Commercial and Military Model Vehicles with a few AEC models