Small Scale Scammell – Big Boy’s Toy

Scale models are, let’s face it, brilliant. Whether we’re talking about the simple joy that a Matchbox or Hot Wheels car brings, or the more detailed offerings from the likes of Norev or Burago, there is something for everyone to love. The attention to detail is what hooks us for the most part, but more than that, these models make otherwise unaffordable cars accessible. You might not have a million quid for a Ferrari F40, but a couple of hundred on a perfect scale version? Sure, why not? And it’s not just cars. There are planes, boats, construction vehicles and of course, trucks. And you don’t have to buy them assembled. Should you wish, the same diversity and range can be found within the world of model kits. Small scale builds of which you will lose many a happy hour labouring over the exactness of every part you glue on. It’s a captivating, fun hobby. But what if the vehicle you want to build isn’t available off the shelf? What if, say, you wanted to build a perfect replica of a 1939 Scammell Pioneer recovery?

For Rod Sproson, that was indeed the dilemma. There are Scammell kits out there, but they’re small and not all that detailed. Rod, with time on his hands, wanted to make something that was a tad more special than anything you might pick up in Hobbycraft. The Scammell Pioneer was a hugely important vehicle for Great Britain. Despite not actually being built for military use, it’s highly articulated and incredibly strong 6×4 chassis soon proved itself to be a vital tool. It could haul supplies, it had the grunt to rescue stuck tanks and it could climb every mountain and cross every ford and stream in order to do so. Rumour has it the Scammell Pioneer was one of the vehicles military staff made an effort to bring back from the battlefield, so enamoured with it as they were.

Rod wanted to celebrate the importance of this vehicle, but in a truly bespoke way. Buying a real Pioneer (they’re still out there) wasn’t an option, because the real one is roughly the size of Bradford. But, given the size and ruggedness of the real Scammell, a little plastic model to sit on a table wasn’t going to cut the mustard, either. In the end, Rod settled on a happy medium. A Scammell Pioneer that would be approximately 1/3 in scale. Far more manageable, but still big enough to turn heads.

We say ‘approximately’ because there is nothing standard here. There were no plans, no base kit from which to start, and nobody had built one before. The scale comes by virtue of the six (well, seven including the spare) wheels. They’re about the only ‘standard’ part of this build, as they are in fact trailer wheels. Of course, Rod has altered them by affixing extra nuts to make them look more correct. And they’re wrapped in rough terrain tyres. What Rod did was take the measurements of the wheels and then extrapolate (or destrapolate) the real Scammell’s dimensions. Simple enough, as Rod planned to build it from scratch.

And build it from scratch he did, learning at every step of the way. And that’s what you need to consider with this project. You might look at it and think ‘I could never make something like that’ but you could. Rod used to sell cars. He’s not an engineer. He simply learned by doing, and developed his skills along the way. Incredible really. But as we talk to Rod about this project, we sense that it’s not only his natural engineering ability we’re seeing, but also his infectious optimism. He’s bright and animated and still excited by this truck, even though it’s now done and thus, surplus. He giddily points out the details, spilling over a wealth of information about how he did this, that and the other. He’s proof that, if you want to do something similar, you just need the right frame of mind. And a garage. And, ahem, a lathe.

Anyway, back to the Scammell. The chassis is all scratch built from 2mm sheet steel, and it both functions as per the real truck and replicates it faithfully, too. The four rear wheels are chain driven, with each of the two chains hidden away in a hand made case. The leaf springs are number correct, and were in fact made by the same company that would have made the originals. Then there are functional brakes, the steering works and yes, the crane on the back can be operated should you need to rescue a 1/3 scale tank. But that’s not where the functionality ends. This Scammell actually drives. Thanks to the addition of some golf buggy batteries, a motor from a stairlift and the electric seat motors from a Rover 800, this Scammell can plod along on its own. Rod has made the whole affair radio controlled, which is incredible, frankly. Though it should be stressed, it’s more for display and loading purposes. This isn’t something you could take down to the park and thrash about. It moves at little more than walking pace. But speed isn’t the point. The point is the fact Rod has made it all work. Brilliant.

It really is a staggering build. Pulled entirely from Rod’s imagination, it’s a credit to what can be done at home with a bit of focus and dedication. It did, of course, take over eight years, but that’s for a number of reasons. Firstly, there is the very nature by which it was built. There are no clubs, nobody else has got one, there are no online forums. Rod had to build this with some real nous and initiative. He learned how to shape and mould metal (look at the compound curves on the removeable roof section), he laboured over every finite detail like the rivets, the functional side steps, the crane and the radiator. Speaking of which, that radiator is nine thousand washers – spring and flat – hand-fed over bamboo skewers. This is an otherworldly level of detail. A constant, unending pursuit of perfection. This truck should, now it’s complete, be in a museum. It’s that good.

But where it ends next is very much down to you. It’s built now, and for Rod that completes the journey. His joy came from the build, from the learning and from the application of newly acquired skills. Now that it’s done, it’s time to move onto something else (a full-size Austin, in case you’re wondering). As such, this incredible, one of a kind, truly exceptional machine could be yours via a bid or two. It’s currently on Car & Classic Auctions, and we would encourage you to go and pore over the additional detail there. You will fall in love with it. We know we have.