Home made 1:1 Rolls-Royce Armoured Car

[Weaver]

Well if this guy can do it in 1:1, you can certainly do it in 1:35 or 1:72 -

http://www.yorkshiremvt.co.uk/articles/fordson_ac/fordson_ac.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFQNBYbZTZU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFQNBYbZTZU

[Hobbes]

He plans to drive it to shows. That'll be interesting, with only a tiny slit for visibility...

[PR19_Kit]

It does look good, well done him.

I wonder what his neighbours thought, seeing that appear day  by day on his front drive? 

[Nick]

He plans to drive it to shows. That'll be interesting, with only a tiny slit for visibility...

Looking closely at the pics, it seems to me that the driver can drop or lift the panel in front of him. You'd certainly need a fur lined flying hat and goggles to drive one then!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsEpDGXGKRA looks good too, plenty of rivets!


Do you think it's worth getting this guy to visit Telford as a visiting display (like the tanks and Spitfire)?

[zenrat]

The Haynes Manual "Rolls Royce Armoured Car - all models 1914-1924" has a page devoted to driving the one in the (Bovington) Tank Museum collection on modern roads.
"The car must be operated with two people as the driver has very limited vision through the visor with no view left or right, so you need a commander in the turret who can keep a watch out and give directions to other vehicles on the road.  There are no indicators, so the commander gives hand signals, and no brake lights so he must also warn both the driver and vehicles close behind to keep back where possible.  Do not get too close to traffic lights - the driver cannot see them if he is too close.  The car has limited brakes on the rear wheels only.  There is no power steering and it does not self centre.  It weighs 4.7 Tonnes and there is hardly any suspension to smooth out the drain covers.  If you hit one of these and you are not prepared then a severs steering wheel shudder sets in that is hard to correct without stopping."
Obviously this may not all apply to this replica but still...

Haynes state that there are Three remaining roadworthy Rolls Royce Armoured cars.  F247 at the Tank Museum, Sliabh na mBan in the care of the Irish Defence Force Cavalry Corps and Tom Keogh which is a replica aluminium body on an original chassis.

[Old Wombat]

Note his title on the article;

RAF Fordson Armoured Car

And his final statement;

I'd like to point out that this is not a copy of a Rolls Royce, but a loose copy of a Fordson armoured car.

[Weaver]

Note his title on the article;

RAF Fordson Armoured Car

And his final statement;

I'd like to point out that this is not a copy of a Rolls Royce, but a loose copy of a Fordson armoured car.

Okay fair point, but vastly more people recognise this body-style of armoured car as a 'Rolls-Royce' than even know the bodies were later transferred onto Fordsons, and even fewer could actually spot the difference.

'Loose copy' is probably a wise move on his part, since it allows him to have things like indicators, brake lights and real brakes on all four wheels without getting accused of being inauthentic.