It only had the mid mounted Coventry climax pump if it was a Mk3 (and I'm pretty sure it wasn't 500gpm) The main pump was a pto driven Thompson at 500gpm, foam pump was a vactrol system, guys could pull up to a stop engage pto, neutral on the transfer, pull in the vactrol and be producing foam in 10 seconds. I never got that good they were withdrawn from service before I got my 'rating'.
Mk1s were a constant mesh box (generally) with 1st gear blanked out. The Mk3s had an alison auto. Both were powered by the Rolls Royce B81 straight 8, when they were really working hard you could read the ID plate on the starter from the red glow off the exhaust manifold.
Just a technicallitythe major were the 'carmichael' ULFV mk2
Numpty got his HR license in the Thorneycroft on a very hot day, as the examiner said if you drive this around you deserve a license.
Our one with 'Numpties MIssus' keeping it company (circa 1981 ?)
1998 Defender
2008 Madigan
2010 Cape York
2012 Beadell, Bombs and other Blasts
2014 Centreing the Simpson
VKS-737 mob 7669
1998 Defender
2008 Madigan
2010 Cape York
2012 Beadell, Bombs and other Blasts
2014 Centreing the Simpson
VKS-737 mob 7669
There is another one here at the moment too, for a year so you may see that driving about.
We spoke to the English owners at Carnarvon Gorge last week. Its been converted to a camper is a 6x4 with a 2.8tgv.
nice bit of kit
Yes a tough old beast that thing , I spent a few hot days and nights in it and my ears are still ringing .
I remember it having good axle articulation and a surprisingly good turning circle for its size . Pump wise I'm not even sure that the present Freightliners could keep up with it .
Miss the old girl and I'm sure a few others do too .
I found some pics of another early Thorny by searching Thornycroft Nubian LFT . Bushie would know more about aircraft fire vehicle classifications but I believe they were called LFT for large fire truck or LFV for large fire vehicle .
Introduction Thornycroft Nubian 6x6 LFT owner in Oz
I remember people talking about them being Mk1s or crash manuals and I did get to see a Mk3 though it was extended at the back and had I think an Allison auto gearbox . Can't remember if was petrol or diesel again Bushie would know .
The one in the link above seems to have most of the original bits as delivered . The one Sutherland HQ BFB used had the monitor removed and the foam generator was taken off and sold for a reasonable sum of money . I think they used protein foam which was corrosive to steel and aluminium so that generator was probably solid brass .
Cheers A .
Ron 101 has a Thornycroft Nubian,
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if anyone wants it (sans engine) to restore or part out, contact him via PM.
You won't find me on: faceplant; Scipe; Infragam; LumpedIn; ShapCnat or Twitting. I'm just not that interesting.
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