Spotted this at Broke camping area..................
Now a motor home, but was a Thornycroft Nubian 6x6 Fire tender, based at Mascot aerodrome
then Bankstown , before being retired in the late 90s ( so i was told )
It was bought by Adrian & Carrol Capel ....
Here is some pics before work started to restore it mechanically & turn it into a motor home
Adrian has a photo album of the complete build up..i just borrowed a few..........
There also is a web site on the story
They used to live in the Blacktown area & he was a heavy vehicle fitter with a north western
quarryin company, so he had plenty of nouse to do the job of the build up.
After stripping all the fire fighting gear off the chassis it required a mechanical re-build , the diffs
were ok, so all the rear suspension was re bushed & fitted with new pins etc ( all made by Adrian
out of any thing that could be machined to fit) such as brass rod, old dozer track pins etc etc ......
Having a lathe & milling machine , welders , all made the job possible.....BUT ...i thought his brain
power was just amazing. .... With the rear end all assembled he didnt like the axle wind up caused by no
power divider...SO....an air operated dog clutch was made from bits & pieces , fitted to the rear diff
pinion front & the rear tailshaft then bolted to this gadget. A dash flick switch controlls the air to the cylinder
& is only actuated when required.
The front suspension was over hauled in the same manner (every thing made by Adrian) NOW get this.....
Free wheeling front hubs were on the wish list......SO ....he just manufactured them, ,,,unbelievable...........
Again, made up out of work shop scrap........
................................Billy.............................