Dad’s Scania R620 – by Jack Rigby

Posted on March 23, 2013 by admin

In 2010 my Dad (Tim Rigby) decided that he needed a new ride. He was watching 5 ex Soonius Transport BV Scania R620′s 3 of them were 2007 and the other 2 were 2008. In december 2010 there was one left, Dad decided to bite the bullet and go ahead and buy a 2 year old Scania R620 from VSB Holland.

The truck soon started work, by having the headlights changed from normal ones to xenon headlights. In the new year Dad had the truck in VSB’s workshop to have work done on it, they first started off by cutting the diesel tanks and making them smaller because when we put mega wheels on it the tanks would be dragging on the ground. When VSB put the tanks back on they looked like cheese blocks so we had them curved to the mudguards so it looked flush. Week by week the lorry started to take place, with its new red and cream leather interior, its checker plate over the cat walk to make it all smooth. A big design of the truck was the front grill. When Dad brought it, it had the first R series front grill, but Dad wanted to be different so he decided to have a new shaped front grill fitted to give it that brand new look. So in mid 2011 dad took his Scania 164 and his trailer out to bring the truck home, unfortunately it didn’t quite fit in the trailer, but was it unfortunate? So the lorry had to stay at VSB but Dad thought he would have more work done to it. We added a Swedish spec bumper with more lights than black pool illuminations!!! People who know dad he likes his lights. To finish the truck off we had air horns fitted, but instead of a 6mm air pipe we had a 8mm pipe fitted for extra noise!!, Alcoa wheels and a vision alert light bar, but this wasn’t an ordinary light bar, when you flashed the lights the beacons would come on as well.

Nearly at the end of the year we decided to drive out there and drive the truck back. Dad brought it home to show my mum and the rest of the family, they loved it. It was time to paint it, the truck was white anyway so we decided to go with black and white. We had the grill and other bites and pieces painted white that were green. The writing was in black also the checker plate and some few other things. We had to re register the truck as well because it was on dutch plates. What a job that was, first we had to change the speedo because it was just in miles but they wanted miles and Kilometres, then we had to measure the the wheels bases and other sorts of annoying things. Finally we were ready to roll after nearly 2 years all the hard work we put into it we were ready to hit the road and see the faces turn. One more thing we had it remapped to 700hp and 3000nm of torque, for people who know Dover, we came out of Dover coming up Jubilee Way with 44ton on….we never left the limiter, when you are going along like that you know you have a good truck.

But after 740000km my mum was diagnosed with cancer again, Dad was forced to sell his truck and trailers to send mum to a private clinic in Germany. A quote from Dad:

“I was in a bad way when my wife got cancer again because she had just got the all clear, i had to sell my truck to send her to germany for private treatment, my heart was broken when i had to sell my new lorry because i haven’t even been driving it for a year yet and all the hard work that me and my son and VSB put into it. I was heartbroken. So i phoned up Simon Wilson and offered it to him and sure enough he accepted the offer and that was it, my dream was gone. I bought this lorry because i knew that it would last me 10 years or so and i had designed it the way i wanted it and because of the front air suspension it drove like a car, this was going to be my last truck. But you cant put a price on a life. I am glad my pride and joy went to a good place and i hope that i will see it again”

By Jack Rigby

Self Tipping Task

Posted on December 23, 2012 by admin

It must be something that others drivers can only imagine, a trailer that you can truly tip yourself. Turn up where ever and just get on and tip, no waiting for a forklift, no waiting for loading bays or for the truck in front to move, just find your space an start unloading. This trailer is know as a recovery trailer in the business, although HC Wilson do utilise its capabilities to do specialised jobs, such as this. You have a specially built trailer that is destined for a customer in Australia and its not designed to run on UK roads and you don’t want it to run on UK roads you need some one who can load and deliver said trailer. Bring in a semi low loader trailer with a hydraulic fold neck and Robert is your mothers brother. As clearly displayed by HC Wilson’s top subbie MW Tasker (p.s. displayed on this occasion by a rather splendid R560 V8 Scania!).

1) Trailer dropped and after pressing the button the neck folds flat to the ground creating a very handy loading ramp.

2) Reverse tractor unit up the “loading ramp”. Adjust tractor unit front and rear suspension and hook up to the Ozzie tanker.

3) Drive carefully off the fold neck and Voila! Unloaded easily and with no sign of the usual loading bay jobs worth who is there just to make your day!!

As it goes I think the outfit looks pretty dam cool! I can see Tasker pulling this along the dusty highways and byways of Oz. The only bugger being its only one trailer, i’m not sure if there is a tow hitch to fit a 2nd trailer which would be more Taskers thing!

Wilson Wednesday – The Saturday Edition!

Posted on December 8, 2012 by admin

Hi remember me??? I’m back the blogs are mounting but I just can’t get them on here ;-( just not enough hours in the day, so i’m sorry. I don’t think i’ll be getting my MBE for services to blogging just yet. This Wednesday parts of the UK were treated to a decent enough scattering of snow to send the Countries roads into total chaos once again. Much like Christmas it seems to be an annual event. Luckily enough for me it led to a few un-asked for and a few asked for HC Wilson photos. For those of you who are new to the blog I used to work for HC Wilson and since I’ve left I still often get sent photos from the drivers. As a bit of a tribute I often get photos of Wednesday loads. Why Wednesdays?? Coz it sounds good – Wilson Wednesday. First up above is the “spare” Classic Scania V8, N200 HCW. Driven this Wednesday by office junior and Truckblogs show reporter, James Cartwright. James is often allowed out on a Wednesday and this week did a little shunt from Felixstowe to St Ives near Cambridge to deliver another load of next years Balers. Balers in the snow, only in the UK!

Next up is Doris, Daisy, Geoff and Slim not quite John, Paul, George and Ringo but pretty close. Loaded in the middle of Germany and on their way to Rotterdam for the boat to Felixstowe and onward delivery to St Ives. Daisy and Doris are a fine pair of top of the range Dutch ladies. I think i’m right in saying they are both DAF XF105′s with 510hp. Also some of you may not know they are both 6×2′s, they have the little FTP lift axle behind the side skirt in front of drive axle, just to help with a little extra weight (Usually Geoffs lunch box!). Daisy and Doris are also the first trucks in the Wilson fleet not to have a name starting with “European…..” a rarity in the Wilson fleet.

Above is blog regular Geordie driving R60 HCW, his beloved Scania R480. Here with what looks likes some sort of dish end. Loaded in Massbracht, Netherlands on Tuesday, shipped into Harwich and delivered to Yate near Bristol, UK on Wednesday. Looks like it was getting on for being 4 metres wide. European Star and its grill lights shining on through the dull, grey snowy skies, helped with marker boards and an escort van piloted by Dodgy Dave.

Such a clear photo taken by X400 HCW’s driver Matt Lamb. One of Wilsons low height 6×2 Scania R480′s. Also managing to find some snow in Weimar, Germany. I’m sure Matt had no troubling loading his pair of dumpers looking at those tyres!!

Last but not least was full time Wilson subbie Mike Tasker and his gorgeous (but dirty!) Scania R560. Tasker had loaded from Bradford with a specialised gas tanker destined for Australia. I’m sure Mike would have been only to happy to take it all the way himself, but unfortunately he only took it as far as Southampton Docks. I’m not going to say to much more other than, keep your eyes peeled for a little blog all about this one on its own. Thanks once again to all participating drivers for letting us all keep an eye on what they are upto.

Wilson Wednesday

Posted on August 8, 2012 by admin

“Finally another blog” – Twas the cry from the depths of the Internet. I know, I know and once again I apologise. Been so busy with work, baby prepping the house and everything else, mixed in with a serious lack of blog content. But as usual in the next few weeks the blog content is likely to go completely the opposite way, lots coming up so hopefully it’ll become a little more regular once again, so please please keep checking back.

A quick Wilson Wednesday this evening, just so you can keep an eye on what those H.C. Wilson boys are upto. As it goes the above photo is a good place to start and it’s not even officially a Wednesday job, but I didn’t think you’d be too fussed about a days difference between friends. Each year H.C. Wilson and top Wilson customer, Portcentric Solutions have to do a delivery to a large estate in Sussex. For no real reason other than it’s a nice little jolly out for the directors of both companies, it has now become a little outing in Wilson’s legendary Scania 141. So loaded up and ready to roll, drop a larger machine at Tilbury dock on the way and then onward to the country lanes of Sussex. Thanks to top retro, Yorkie bar eating trucker, David Baker for the photos.

Next up below is Jon Pryke with X300 HCW. Loaded with crane parts from Germany to London. I see that Jon’ photographic skills are still the same!

Next, H.C. Wilson driver, turned office boy, now day relief driver James Cartwright was out and about today in V8 HCW, a Scania R580, delivering a load to Leamington Spa that he loaded in Felixstowe yesterday. An office boy having a night out??? (wait til next week – its not only happening at Wilsons!).

The gorgeous Scania R560 V8 of Owner Driver Mike Tasker is also keeping busy backwards and forwards to the continent. This time having loaded a cable drum from Koln, Germany heading back to the UK. Looking good pulling a 2 axle Nooteboom low loader.

Last but by no means least 4 of Wilson’s were busy loading some 16.50 metre long storage tanks from South West Germany today in the 34′c heat. That’s 16.50 metres in the well of the trailer, not overall. These tanks are all night moves out of Germany heading to the ferry out of Rotterdam. So a long night ahead for drivers; Richard Arnold, Mark Blunt, Dave Knappett and top geordie driver Steve Pattison. Great photos, thanks Geordie…Don’t worry the German Rozzers are there to help!

Taskers ‘tatoes

Posted on July 19, 2012 by admin

Full time HC Wilson subbie MW Tasker has always been a quietly proud man of his small but smart V8 fleet. He has never been the real king of bling, he is often called it in mid-Suffolk, but a coat of black paint and some ally wheels hardly makes him king of bling really does it. Tasker has never really been into in your face customising and if you had been witness to the many chats we had about his new pride and joy Scania R560, you’d realise that he is in fact a big fan of subtlety. The new R560 is in a Scania grey that is virtually the same colour as the plastics on the truck, it also has some of those tribal type stickers on each side. You may struggle to see them as they are in black instead of the silver that Scania give as the other option, why? because it’s less in your face. The truck has all the gadgets and gizmo’s you can think of, but on the outside…….Even the wheels on the new V8 were a talking point. The wheels are still the standard steel ones, i’m guessing the reason for this is because Mr T can’t decide whether to stick his trade mark shiny allys on or to have a set of allys painted in black and grey. In my opinion on this particular truck I think either would suit well. The general fashion in Europe does seem to be for the painted option. The one thing Tasker has always encouraged with his trucks is the grummmble of the V8, the new one being no different. One exhaust each side at the bottom of the side skirts, one through the standard exhaust system which does have a good note to it, the other side is nothing short of a roaring lion! Flick the dash mounted switch and you hear the butterfly valve clang across and then its just a straight exit from the engine out to the ovalish exit. They do say the sound of a Scania V8 varies all down to the shape of the exit of the pipe…?? You know what I always thought would be worth trying is having a bowl type thingy at the bottom of a stack. So based on a normal shape of a set of stacks, you have the pipe come out from the engine, then when it turns up the back of the cab, rather than just bend the pipe and have it all the same diameter, how bout on the bend, put a ball / bowl shape? I think this would add to the deep burbling sound as it will have a chamber to resignate around before heading up the exit pipe. Well that’s just my idea, you probably have no idea what i’m trying to describe!

As you can see below Tasker still has his original 4 Series Scania that he has also had from new. She may be ageing nicely but she is still working as hard as she ever has. Now with her long time pilot, the one and only Colin Waters. Although both trucks are pictured here with 3 axle Nooteboom lowloaders, the loads they are carrying are no cause for panic with the big V8′s. The potatoe harvesters are more abnormal due to their over width and height, the weight is less than the trailers they are are riding on. These photos were taken by Mike Tasker in Holland on their way to Rotterdam from Germany for a ferry to the UK. Hence the need for the low loaders to keep the height down to allow for easier transit through Europe. Which ever you prefer you can’t deny that subtle is smart and can be just as effective as all the lights and whistles you can find in your nearest truck accessories dealer!…My final question is will the new Scania last as well as its senior? I mean the older has far less sensors and computer stuff on, will the younger make it through 12 (or more) hard years labour pulling abnormal loads all over the Continent?? Your views will be appreciated so leave your comments below. I’m sure MWT is hoping his subtle R560 lasts him just as well as the old 144, perhaps even seeing him to his retirement…..

Thumpers Dumper

Posted on June 26, 2012 by admin

For those of you who like them big, you can’t go far wrong than to visit the Hillhead Show, that has just finished at Hillhead Quarry in Buxton. The exhibition is a showcase of every piece of Aggregate, Recycling and Construction machinery going. The one problem being how do you get all the machinery ranges of all the big construction companies to a massive quarry in the hilliest part of Derbyshire?? The same as any other cargo that has to be delivered…….by truck of course!

Of all these different machines there are 2 that are bigger than most, the biggest excavators that arrive in kit form and the dumper trucks. To get a huge CAT 777 dumper through the hilly narrow roads of Buxton is a challenge for most, but for my previous employers it’s just another day at the office! H.C. Wilson were draughted in to take the 777 to the show by Ascroft Transport. Driver Mick “Thumper” Farrow was given the job and with the help of 3 or 4 Police escorts and Wilsons own escort van the low bridges, junctions and general public were kept out the way and with a minimum of fuss “European Colosuss” made its way into Hillhead. The wheels of the dumper are removed to reduced the height on the trailer and also to reduce the width. height being the major issue but reducing the width helps on the narrow roads and with the traffic junctions.

The excellent on the spot photos are courtesy of expert plant, part time truck photographer, Northern H.C. Wilson project camera man and kiddies book writer Paul Argent. Paul Argent of RPA Photography fame is often recruited by Wilsons to photograph jobs around the North but Hillhead is Pauls own idea of heavy…..big trucks and big machines!

The big 580hp V8 Scania made light work of the 60 ton (I think!) load. There is a notorious hill as you drive into Hillhead Quarry that has in the past caught out various trucks delivering to the show, but not this time. With Thumper at the wheel and the V8 showing its muscle I would have happily sat at The Railway Pub in Buxton and watched them negotiate the traffic lights, in fact I could have sat there all day and watched all the trucks loaded with big boys toys go on by! Thanks for the photos Mr Argent and well done to the Wilson boys on another job expertly well done!!

Crowfield Classics

Posted on June 9, 2012 by admin

A rare sight in any ones book. These 2 classic Swedes were pride of place at yet another damp Crowfield Truck Rally, held last Sunday the 3rd June at the Orwell Truckstop, Ipswich. This event is organised by the East Coast Truckers and always attracts lots of visitors and entrants as it goes, but numbers are limited so the places fill up quickly.
The 2 trucks above are both well know in and around Suffolk. The H.C. Wilson Scania 141 was bought new and has been working with Wilson ever since and still does the odd days graft now and again. The Russell Davies Scania 110 is a bit rarer as it spends most of its days at the Ipswich transport museum, but does come out for the odd run during the summer. The truck was the first ever purchase for the Russell Davies fleet in 1974 and was sold on in 1977. The truck was bought again in 1985 and restored back to her original colours. She looks well, perhaps even better with a spread axle skelly trailer behind??? Just an idea.

This nice late DAF 3200 is in the colours of Suffolk haulier EJ Farrow. Nice, clean and simple, bearing the company details what more do you need? Although it does look a little small compared to it’s bigger younger brother parked alongside. While we’re on DAF, below is an earlier 2800, owned by another local haulier Neil Bomford.

Next up is Rowell’s Transport’s delightful Volvo F7 sleeper. I love this little Volvo, I used to see loads of them around the industrial estate’s of Braintree as a boy. A local haulier had quite a few and it was also the first truck I drove on my own across my cousins farm during harvest. Although my cousins version was an 8×4 tipper, but it still had the sleeper cab. This Rowell’s truck has been given plenty of love and care and now looks like new, a real credit to the owners. Traditional sign writing, original interior and even retro windscreen flags, I hope this little beastie got a trophy, it deserves it.

Finnaly we have Geoff Warrens customised Scania 142 with highroof and also another high roof classic in the shape of Terry Seaman’s big cabbed Foden. The Scania still works in the summer months but doesn’t tend to venture out to much in the winter. As for the Foden, that is still earning a crust and I actually saw it out on the road this week with a tipper trailer. It’s nice to see that a classic English truck can still earn a living and not be badly affected by the ever increasing emissions regulations. As far as I know farm yards are not yet under any sort of Low Emission Zone red tape!

I can’t say much about H.C. Wilson’s 2 classics as we all know they both enjoy a trip to a show, but are both very much thought of as working trucks. The 141 doesn’t do to too many days out, but N500 HCW still is called into action when ever required, usually for swapping with a break down or an MOT vehicle.

There were plenty of other trucks at Crowfield, but the increasingly popular classic’s that we see at our shows, need to be appreciated. If you click HERE you will go to my other photos from the show.

Wilson Wednesday!!

Posted on May 23, 2012 by admin

HC Wilson that is. A regular feature here on the blog, my previous employers are the cream of the crop when it comes to International Abnormal Loads. So what better way to show you all what they get up to, than put up what they are up to on a Wednesday. Why on Wednesday’s?? because it makes a title! I have to say this week we are a little short on contributors, but hey ho, you’ll get what i’ve got.

First up, above, is Gareth Rowlands in V8 HCW, a Scania R580 V8. A load of Machinery delivering to Leamington Spa this morning. Looks like he was accompanied by SW04 HCW, an aging but loyal, Scania 124 470 in the background.

Above is Ian “Slim” Godfrey in the soon to be replaced DAF WIL 2218. This neatly sheeted load was from Dusseldorf, Germany to Kettering.

Next is Jon Prkye in X300 HCW, a Scania R480. For those who know Mr Pryke, you’d know its his truck by the photo!! Loaded here with excavator tracks. These are not in there usual guise as you would have spotted. These are for such a large excavator that arrive on site unrolled and then are built onto said big ol’ digger! Loaded in Germany and delivered to a coal mine in Scotland.

You may have noticed that there isn’t actually anything particularly abnormal, so I thought I would include a Sunday night spot on the A12 (I was tipped off, not casually spotting!).

This was John Stocks in WIL 2580, a 250 ton GVW Scania 8×4 R580 V8. As I said I was tipped off of said beastie heading up the A12 to Harwich. Loaded with an 80 ton Rotor Shaft, heading off to the continent.

Wilson Wednesday!!

Posted on May 2, 2012 by admin

Finally i’ve got round do doing as my wife said. “Do a Wilson Wednesday!” that’s what she’s been saying, so as all good men do, I listened to what she said. Two weeks ago I asked a random selection of HC Wilson drivers to send me a photo of what ever they had on that Wednesday, they duly obliged. Then because of holiday build up, I was useless and didn’t get round to doing the blog. While I was on holiday last week I got a few more photos sent over and because of no Internet in the Yorkshire Dales I couldn’t do the blog last week either. This week it’s game on!!

So the idea was really just a pictorial blog with pics of what the HC Wilson boys were doing on Wednesdays. Why Wednesday the simpler of you are asking?? Because “Wilson Wednesday” sounds better than “Wilson Thursday!”. The only thing being I can’t remember which photo is from which Wednesday. Above is SW51 HCW loaded with a JCB excavator, from driver James Cartwright (note the TB sticker in the windscreen).

Next Is R60 HCW with NB30, a 3 axle Nooteboom lowloader, loaded with what looks like an empty container handler. Thanks to Geordie for this one.

Double DAF power next. Both WIL 2218 & WIL 2219 loaded 22m long Rail Lines in Luxembourg for the UK. Both these 2 DAF’s are soon to replaced by new DAF XF105′s, hopefully some photos will come this way when they are road ready (hint hint). Drivers Ian “Slim” Godfrey and the always happy Geoff Tarbun.

This is V8 HCW with rather a large flat-rack on, i’m guessing heading in or out of Felixstowe. Gareth Rowlands at the helm, with Dodgy Dave Escorting.

I like this one, another James Cartwright photo. He spent all day following Taskers big black V8 Scania to Luckau to load crane parts. I like the honesty as he had no load to photograph so it’s a true pic of his days work. Nice one.

You will all recognise Tony Nunns ever-shiny 4 Series Scania. Pulling for Wilsons, a backload of auction equipment. How is it that a hard working truck, never, never seems to look any older??!

Another shot of R60 HCW, a credit to driver Stephen Pattison, or as everyone knows him, Geordie. Guess where he’s from?!

Finally we have 2 photos that aren’t true Wednesday pics, but for all I know they could have been taken on Wednesdays. 1st up is Geoff Tarbun’s Cuban Classic, very tidy Geoffrey. Looks like it only carries human cargo these days.

Finally my old bossman, GW, has been to Florida and as you can expect from a truck loving, haulage company owner, what else would he take in his holiday snaps?? You guessed it, an all America RED Peterbilt with a low-boy trailer complete with excavator load. All thats missing is the big white W on the front!

A Fond Farewell to H.C. Wilson Transport

Posted on April 1, 2012 by admin

I’m back! I know I haven’t been on here much in the last week but that is mainly due to the news that it has been my last week at H.C. Wilson Transport. I have been offered a new job and a new challenge, a little closer to home. It will soon become clear who I will be working for from tomorrow. Until then i just wanted to say a huge thank you to all at Wilson’s and especially to GW and SW for everything they have done for me in the last 4 years I have been there. I just wanted to leave a small photographic tribute to a professional company that clearly have the ability to change with the times and keep the wheel of international abnormal transport turning.

Yesterday (Saturday) was my last morning. We had a busy week last week and I had a trainee to look after, so as I was working the Saturday, it made sense to save the desk clearing exercise for the weekend rather than try and do it on a busy Friday afternoon. I had one last wander round the yard and took some pics as my fond farewell (careful i’m getting a dry throat!). I’m not going to say to much more, but I will say one more last big Thank You to all at Wilsons. I’m sure we’ll meet again some sunny day………

You have to agree the big red Scania’s are quite photogenic. I have avoided putting to much Wilson stuff on the blog as it would be very easy to flood the blog with stuff about the company I am working for. From now on I can freely put on here what I like without worrying about doing to much Wilson! In fact my lovely wife has suggested that we do a “Wilson Wednesday”, so for any of you Wilson drivers or spotters, if you want to text me or email me your weekly Wilson photos, we can do a regular “Wilson Wednesday” feature. My email is; ben@truckblog.co.uk

As a final farewell, as one last request and as an ode to the happyiest, constantly cheery, always tanned, cake loving, driver you’d be lucky enough to meet, Mr Geoff Tarbun, I’ll end with his DAF, WIL 2219.

Princess & The Giant

Posted on December 28, 2011 by admin

A Princess 32M and HC Wilsons European Giant that is! No delightful Christmas based fairy tale here, just a few Million GBP of top engineering. The Princess in our tale is The Princess 32M Luxury Cruising Yacht and the Giant is HC Wilson, European Giant, a V8 Scania 164 580hp. A good match perhaps, although the price difference between the 2 vehicles is fairly substantial. The fairy god mother marrying the two together is a monster Ainscough crane sat on the banks of the River Thames.

The Princess arrived at Excel London the last weekend before Christmas. The job was arranged by boat transportation specialist Abbey Transport from Norwich. Abbey and Wilson’s have always had a good working relationship, and as Abbey dont have a trailer large enough to carry the Princess, they use HC Wilson. Last year Wilson’s were only involved in removing the boat from the show hall back to the banks of the Thames, as the haulier who took the boat into the hall managed to have a little “incident” on the way in through the door. When the boat in question is 32m Long, 7.5m wide, 10.5m high and weighs in excess of 105 tons, a specialist truck and driver team are required; Que the Abbey and HC Wilson Transport combination.

The boat arrived in London in time to have the rest of it’s display built around it in time for the London Boat Show that starts at the Excel London on the 6th January 2012 and runs right through to the 15th January. First up, the 9 (I think) axle Ainscough crane lifts the Princess 32 clear out of the Thames and the then gently slews round to find the stillages that are already attached to HC Wilson 12 axle Scheuerle trailer. You can see the blue stillages clearly in the photo above. The boat is lowered into the stillages and thats where it will stay untill it is lifted back out into the Thames at the end of January. Once loaded onto the Wilson’s trailer it is only a short, although slow, drive across the Excel carparks to the the show hall. The total loaded drive is approx 200 yards.

The Princess 32 is a proper high class motor yacht, you just have to see the photo gallery on the Princess website to know what I mean. The boat will set you back some where between £6-£8 Million, depending on your spec of course. I think some one said at the 2011 show Princess sold 8 of these 32 metre super yachts, but don’t quote me! I am also informed by Mick Bond, the photographer and Wilson’s 2nd Man, that at full power the boat will use a 1000 litres of fuel an hour, that puts the big Scania V8 to shame! For now I will leave you with the rear view of the loaded truck, until the return leg back to the Thames at the end of January. The Scheuerle trailer is 2.75m wide so the full 7.5m width of the boat looks huge, in fact the whole boat looks huge, it really does look like a fish out of water doesn’t it. I have to say I think I prefer the blue paint scheme over the completely white boat we did in January.

Just so you don’t think i’m biased in any way, here is Abbey Tranport’s DAF being loaded with a slightly smaller boat.

SCOOP!! HC Wilson 1/50 Scale Scania 141 Now Available

Posted on August 1, 2011 by admin

It’s finally here!! After many months of planning, fine tuning and waiting this WSI 1/50 scale Scania 141 model is now availble in limited numbers. It’s available to buy direct from Search Impex or direct from HC Wilson. I think I am right in saying that there are about 300 models in total, so you’ll need to be fairly sharpe with your ordering. If you are interested they will be sold first come first served. You can email me at work, ben@hcwilsontransport.com or here at the blog, ben@truckblog.co.uk and title your email “Wilsons 141 Model”.

As you can see the tractor unit is as per the real life version, down to every detail and I mean every detail, including all stickers!! A single air horn, correctly mounted flashing beacons, wheels are painted right, GB sticker on one side of the rear chassis cross member, the livery is spot on and there is even a satelite dome on the roof. The trailer is the same as one of Wilson’s fairly standard Nooteboom 3 axle step frame trailers. It was discussed about having an original 2 axle step frame as the truck would have had when it was new back in 1979, but WSI couldn’t provide such a trailer without designing a totally new one. It certainly looks the part.
The models will be for sale at £138.00 from Search Impex and £144 from HC Wilson, plus the appropriate postage and packing costs. If you want to but from Wilson’s direct you will be encouraged to collect the model in person. This is a cracking model and I look forward to seeing the 1st one in the flesh at work tomorrow, don’t forget if your keen on buying your other half a great and different anniversary gift, then email me, ben@hcwilsontransport.com.

Coming Soon to an Autobahn Near You………

Posted on July 7, 2011 by admin

In the deepest darkest sheds of Suffolk it’s amazing what you can find! Lurking in a shed near Stowmarket, European Viking and European Centurion are being prepared for open roads of europe.

These 2 high powered Scania’s will have a few extra special touches to make them slightly different from the rest of the pack, although they will also have the L.E.D. “W” on the front grill, like the 2 new R480′s already on the road.

HC Wilson 1/50 Scale Model Update

Posted on March 22, 2011 by admin

For those of you who may be waiting for the WSI model of Wilson’s 141 and trailer, i have news, hot off the press (not a scoop!). The following order update has been received today from the man at Search Impex; “At the moment, the models are scheduled to ship ex-China at the end of May – so delivery should be around the end of June. They are a bit delayed because it transpires that WSI forgot to tool up for mirror sets for RHD units – so they are busy sorting this now!”

So there you go if you have patiently been saving your pocket money you now know how much longer you have to wait. If you are interested in buying one of these limited edition models, complete with certificate, then email me at work, ben@hcwilsontransport.co.uk and i’ll keep you posted on progress and let you know when they have arrived. They are likely to retail some where around the £150 mark.

Naming Ceremony

Posted on February 4, 2011 by admin

The 1st of Wilsons new R480 Scania’s is nearly ready for the road. One of the last and obviously most important jobs is left to do is the name. Graham Wilson has a short list of 4 names but is unsure which one to go for. All Wilson truck names start with “European …….”
This is the shortlist;
- European Sovereign
- European Star
- European Centurion
- European General
Do you have a preference?? Leave your comments below (rude ones not appreciated!)

Wilson’s 141 Back on The Road

Posted on January 25, 2011 by admin

So you have an important delivery to an important customers country home in darkest Sussex. You have an aging Scania 124 that is in need of some tlc or you have a show condition 141 that is always keen to leave the warmth of its shed to put a few more km’s on the clock, oh and you are the boss of said company, which vehicle do you opt for??

Its starts on a misty morning in Suffolk, fire up the trusty V8, wait for the customer to turn up in his Ford Cortina, load up the Yorkie Bars, on with the vests and fake tattoo’s, unwind the keep fit widows and off you go!! Sorry i got carried away there for a minute………………he drives a 3 series BMW.
As it was a bit of a one off trip i thought i better give it a bit of my time, so after checking where said truck was on the tracker, i decided to follow the old girl from the Dartford Bridge down to Junction 5 on the Highway Agencies camera’s, excellent use of government resources.

After the trundle round the M25 the delivery to Sussex lived up to the hype and provided an excellent back drop for a few photo’s just a pitty the sun didn’t break through.

Surely the best classic working truck in Europe?? Can you prove other wise? email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk just to prove he’s still got it the big boss man GW drove the old girl home with out the clutch as an original 30 year old pipe went on the way home, i bet you couldn’t do that in a new £120,000 R620! After the reload at Tilbury it was back to the yard. All in all i wish there were more classic trucks on the road like this, it may go some way to getting over not being able to drive them in anger back in the 1970′s (i was born in 1979!).

Frosty Times

Posted on December 1, 2010 by admin

Snow and cold gets everywhere as does that Frost. My old mate Tony van der Nunn has sent these various pictures in the last couple of weeks, while pulling for HC Wilson. As always Tony’s wheels never seem to get affected by the bad weather and salt, no wonder the old girl is still in great condition. The picture of the brown tank, was a little frustrating for TvdN as it was destined for Bahrain, but unfortunatly it was going via boat not over land, so the old V8 only got as far as Southampton dock. The 3rd picture is one of 8 or 9 flatrack loads to Pembroke.

HC Wilson 1/50 Scale Model

Posted on November 24, 2010 by admin

Coming soon to a collector near you! This model is currently in the design stage but is getting very close to production, fingers crossed by late spring early summer these models may be a reality. Being produced by model manufacturer WSI this 1/50 scale model is based on Wilson’s Scania 141 with a matching 3 axle semi low loader. The model still has the smaller details to be approved and then final production numbers will be decided, but if you want to register your interest and be kept informed about the release of the model, then email ben@hcwilsontransport.comand title your email “141 Model”. The big boss GW is keen to know how much interest there is in the model and this will obviously affect the production numbers. The price is still be confirmed but expect a similar price to all other Dutch made 1/50 scale models!

3 Generations of Wilsons

Posted on September 15, 2010 by admin

3 Generations of Scania at HC Wilson. All have earned their crust and one no longer leaves the yard. More pictures of that truck to come!!

Quiz of the Day

Posted on August 26, 2010 by admin

Who can tell me which country this Wilson’s driver visited last week??

Truck Blog UK

email: ben@truckblog.co.uk

Category Archives: HC Wilson

Dad’s Scania R620 – by Jack Rigby

Self Tipping Task

Wilson Wednesday – The Saturday Edition!

Wilson Wednesday

Taskers ‘tatoes

Thumpers Dumper

Crowfield Classics

Wilson Wednesday!!

Wilson Wednesday!!

A Fond Farewell to H.C. Wilson Transport

Princess & The Giant

SCOOP!! HC Wilson 1/50 Scale Scania 141 Now Available

Coming Soon to an Autobahn Near You………

HC Wilson 1/50 Scale Model Update

Naming Ceremony

Wilson’s 141 Back on The Road

Frosty Times

HC Wilson 1/50 Scale Model

3 Generations of Wilsons

Quiz of the Day