The less charismatic Scammell brothers. Scarab & Mechanical horse.

1
December 1, 2024
The instructions are a tad basic. I like the mention that the tools used to make the kit are over 50 years old. Basically they are saying “We know it’s a bit crap, you were fool enough to buy it, it’s your problem now”.
The decals look like they pushing retirement age as well. Fortunately I won’t be using most of them.
2
December 1, 2024
At this point I’m contractually obliged to say “FLASH! Arrrhhaaah……”. You get the drift. Fortunately I won’t be using most of it. I probably won’t use the figures as they seem to think they are posing with an airline kit.
3
December 1, 2024
I’ll probably just be tackling this much.
4
December 1, 2024
I’m wondering if any of this is good enough for the spares box.
5
December 1, 2024
It’s about time I let you in on my master plan….it was love at first sight.
6
December 1, 2024
The relationship go off to a rocky start as I found that she had a lot of faults.
7
December 1, 2024
But with some support in the right places while the bond became more stable, it started to turn the corner.
8
December 1, 2024
All too soon my attention wandered and I fell in love again.

What was I to do?
9
December 1, 2024
Well, resin copies obviously.
10
December 4, 2024
Off to a flying start with both of them. The Scarab kit, other than a couple of seats, is devoid of detail and the front wheel can easily be seen though the windows, so I boxed it in.
For some reason the scratch built Mechanical Horse was also a bit lacking. Strange that.
Notice there are two seats in the Scarab and only one in the MH. The Scarab engine was behind the cab and the MH engine was inside the cab beside the driver. It made the Scarab much more stable than it’s predecessor.
There isn’t a lot of stuff online about the inside, so this isn’t necessarily 100% accurate. That’s my excuse anyway. 😳
11
December 4, 2024
Adding a centre bit as it had a split windscreen.
12
December 4, 2024
Glazing fitted. The quaterlight windows defeated me because they are so bloody tiny. I hope to ‘glaze’ them at the end with PVA.
13
December 4, 2024
Inside the MH.
14
December 4, 2024
I reached an early “How the hell am I going to do that?” moment – the radiator on the MH.
The tiny bits are 1.5mm long and this is how I cut them all the exact same length.
Before you ask, yes I do use magnification. I’d be completely screwed without it these days.
15
December 4, 2024
The completed rad is made of 31 parts and measures 12mm x 6mm.
16
December 4, 2024
Fortunately the MH cab is quite square which helps.
17
December 4, 2024
I’ve attached the little front wheel a little bit more* accurately than the Scarab kit would have you believe. Later in the build I realised the front wheel of the MH should be a lot lower and further forward than it is here. I’ve now repositioned it.

* with heavy emphasis on ‘a little bit more’.
18
December 13, 2024
The Mechanical Horse needs an ‘I’ beam chassis. This is a balsa wood block with a grid drawn onto a bit of card stuck to the top. It helps to get awkward chassis (I’m looking at you IBG) square.
Mrs Gorby asked what happened to her dressmaking pins. Abbbbbsolutely no idea. 😳
19
December 13, 2024
I ended up removing the rear cross beam when I found a better photo of the back of the MH.
Yes I know, it isn’t like me, trying to be accurate.
20
December 13, 2024
I like to kid myself that I’m organised and logical. You wouldn’t know from how I build models. Most people would probably carry on with the MH chassis...I decided I wanted to work on the dustcart trailer. The trailer has wheels which are a different size to everything else so I had to scratch them. I used a few disks cut roughly to shape and then sanded down. From two unpromising amorphous blobs…..
21
December 13, 2024
….To two unpromising ill defined tyres. Not perfect but you won’t be able to see that much of them when they’re fitted.
22
December 13, 2024
Earlier in the year Mrs Gorby had an op and she had to self administer blood thinners for a while afterwards. Obviously when I saw the syringe I sympathised about her having to stick a needle in her stomach, although my main thought was “I’m havin those”. Why buy stuff when something suitable falls in your lap, or your wifes lap, whatever. 🙂
The narrower tube was perfect for the trailer mudguards.
23
December 13, 2024
I had to guess at the dimensions of the trailer.
24
December 13, 2024
These will be obvious in the next photo.
25
December 13, 2024
26
December 13, 2024
What a load of old rubbish...or maybe an old rubbish load?
It the first time I’ve used the scraping from the bottom of my bin as a resource.
27
December 13, 2024
Lashings of ginger bee…..erm, PVA.
28
December 13, 2024
Lightly sprinkle…..then wait forever.
Well, a couple of days.
29
December 13, 2024
Rubbish these days is in full technicolour. Back then everything was in black and white – even the rubbish. One of those useless facts I’ve pick up over the years and pointlessly stored in my scull is that back in the olden days, over 50% of domestic waste was ash and dust….which is why they were called dustcarts. Ash has the tendency to smother anything it contacts, which is why I painted it in 50 shades of grey....more like the budget version of 4 shades of grey.
30
December 13, 2024
It’s an impossible shape to clamp so it had to be mummified while the glue dried.
31
December 23, 2024
After I unwrapped the mummy and added a few details I ended up with this.
Obviously, some of it is guesswork and fortunately I won’t loose any sleep over how accurate it is. It’s not completed yet – lots of bits to add, like more handles than you can shake a stick at (what a bloody silly saying that is).
32
December 23, 2024
There will now be a short intermission….
Some of you may be interested in the plastic junk-yard I use for scratching (if you aren’t, tough, I’m going to show you anyway 🙂 ). This is my scratch-build bits drawer. It looks a bit of a mess but I know where everything is. There is another drawer full of stuff which I’ve saved from the bin in case there may possibly be a 1% chance of using it in the future.
33
December 23, 2024
My sprue rack mostly gets used for varying thicknesses of plastic card.
34
December 23, 2024
I have a takeaway tub of plastic offcuts from previous builds, but during every build I end up with a smaller pile constantly on the desk for quicker access – read: too lazy to put it back in the junk tub. 😳
35
December 23, 2024
Small tubs are the first line of defence against loosing parts to the resident ravenous laminate monster (mine is the particularly voracious cushioned-laminate sub species. 😮 ).
36
December 23, 2024
It would be madness if I didn’t then go back to the Mechanical Horse chassis….eeerm, I didn’t go back to the chassis, I started on the rear bodywork of the Scarab tow truck. However, posting my progress in the same order I build would confuse, irritate and annoy the hell out of you so I’ll attempt to inject order where there isn’t any.
This is the point I repositioned the front wheel as it wasn’t low enough. Now the MH is nice and level.
37
December 23, 2024
From these bits (the grey stretched sprue I replaced with 1mm alum wire)...
38
December 23, 2024
I made the exhaust.
39
December 23, 2024
Making sense of the photos of the mechanism wasn’t easy and there was no point attempting to replicate it all as you won’t see much when the trailer is on. So this is the main linkage bits.
40
December 23, 2024
41
December 23, 2024
This is how the connecty gubbins from the trailer couples with it. Bloody hell, it works almost as if it was planed. 😮
42
December 23, 2024
On other photos I’ve seen the spare tyre mounted above the exhaust of some Mechanical Nags.
43
December 23, 2024
I haven’t got any evidence for this, but when has that ever stopped me? 🙂
The back of the cab looked boring so I made a storage bin. No doubt the various councils would have made whatever modifications themselves and the bin men would have needed somewhere to store their working stuff on the road as there would no room in the tiny cab. Which leads me onto my deep, meaningful question of the day….how did the bin men get to where they needed to be when there is only room for the driver in the cab?
Makes your brain hurt doesn’t it? 🙂
This wire I keep especially for 1/72 handles. Just as well as there are 18 on the trailer alone.
44
December 23, 2024
Completed chassis (other than the front, all the wheels are on temporarily).
45
December 25, 2024
Every year I make a card for Mrs Gorby and this is the one I did about ten years ago after I was told I wasn’t Christmasy enough.

If Christmas is your thing or not, I hope you all have a good’un. 🙂

Comments

19 1 December, 15:42

Alex K
I'm in - of course...

1 December, 16:16

Rui S
Me too 😎

1 December, 16:26

gorby
Thanks for tagging along Alex & Rui. 🙂

1 December, 17:48

Kesa Tiho
Looks like a tuk tuk, anyways its really nice to see you on another project. Im excited to see the fuck ups and final result. Hope your misses doesn't mind you being in love with another woman 😄

1 December, 18:21

Robert Podkoński
Taking a seat here, of course 🙂

1 December, 18:22

gorby
Welcome Kesa & Robert. 🙂
Kesa Mrs Gorby is used to my plastic passion obsessions. 😄
And yes it does look a bit like a tuk tuk. Incidentally there have been a couple of screw up so far but obviously I won't be telling everyone as I want to make it look like I know what I'm doing. 🙂

2 December, 07:48

Spanjaard
certainly joining this new gorby's strange subject being created 🙂

2 December, 07:56

gorby
Thanks Spanjaard, you're always welcome. 🙂

2 December, 07:58

Mr D
Hi Gorby 👋
Another interesting one 😃👍
Nice project, they used 3wheel trucks like these at Cadburys factory as they need tighter turning circles round the plant.

2 December, 22:40

gorby
Glad you're tagging along Mr D.
Their turning circle was one of the reasons they where so successful. Do you have any association with Cadburys - other than eating their products of course. 🙂

3 December, 06:46

Mark Sherwood
Remember these trundling down Zetland Road and Linthorpe Road from the train station. BR and their parcel/freight division use to operate them.

3 December, 08:05

gorby
Hi Mark, apparently British Rail was the main user of these things.

3 December, 08:08

bughunter
That will be another session of scratch modeling of famous (with 30,000 it must be famous) British cars 👍 So ugly that they begin to be beautiful.

3 December, 08:10

gorby
Hi Frank, they certainly are famous in Britland...although probably only with men of a certain age. 😄

3 December, 08:36

Mr D
Hi Gorby...No just eating 😂 l live not far from factory n seen documentary on it too.
Like the project 😁👍

3 December, 09:30

gorby
Thanks Mr D.
Been on their factory tour, as a chocoholic it was wonderful. 🙂

3 December, 09:39

Alex K
One interesting thing to have in mind is that Gorby set to build the ancient 1962 tool of the Scarab and scratch the Mechanical Horse precisely when there appeared recent (and immeasurably better, as for the Scarab - I guess) 3d-printed 1:72 kits of both the Scarab and the French relatives of the MH (i.e. FAR tractors)... But that's Gorby (much to our delight!) 👍

3 December, 11:32

gorby
THERE'S 3D PRINTED KITS!!!??? 😄 😄
I'd be too tight to buy them anyway.
I'm about a month into the build so far and quite enjoying it....mostly.

3 December, 11:44

Alex K
We know you would enjoy this - and we enjoy too... Plus: if you are going to turn the Scarab into a wrecker / recovery vehicle (!!!)... extra joy. Very Gorby-esque work! 👍 👍

3 December, 11:52

gorby
Thanks Alex. 🙂

3 December, 12:02

Ben M
👀

3 December, 12:32

Mr D
"Would you like some parts with that Flash sir" 😂
I know you will pull a great job out of it Gorby 😀👍

3 December, 19:09

Jan Peters
Following this masochistic exercise 😄
The tow truck you fell in love with, was it used to tow Reliant Robins?

3 December, 19:19

Zsolt Czegle
I take a seat!

Intresting project! Go Gorby Go!

4 December, 06:38

gorby
Good grief, I appear to have attracted a crowd. 😳
I didn't realise the Robin was globally infamous. That would be a great idea Jan if I can find a cheapish 1/76 one. 😄
Thanks all for taking an interest. 🙂

4 December, 08:05

Alec K
Taking a seat. The nasties the kit, the more Gorby likes it… I'll forgo spelling out the logical conclusion from this. 😄 😄 😄

4 December, 15:22

gorby
😄 😄 😄
Welcome to the show Alec. I have some nice kits in my mini stash, for some reason they keep being overlooked. Maybe I choose kits which make scratch-building feel like an easier option. 😄

4 December, 15:29

David Taylor
Always worth a watch.

4 December, 16:06

Mr D
X2 trucks under way 😁👍

4 December, 18:00

Jan Peters
Great job on the fiddly bits Gorby 👍🏻

4 December, 18:14

gorby
Thanks mates....as usual I'm playing catch-up with the build report.
(I'll let you into a secret. I don't start the report until I have a very good idea that things might work out. If I'd completely screwed up - you'd never know about it.) 😳

4 December, 18:45

Mr D
🤣🤣 prevention better than cure 😜
Where about in the UK were they produced ?
I vaguely remember the 3 wheel electric milk floats as a kid.

4 December, 19:36

gorby
I think they were built at Scammell Lorries Ltd in Watford.
In fact there is now a road in the area called Scammell Way.
Typical of Britain, close the factory and name a new road after it to remind us that we used to actually make stuff. 🙁

4 December, 19:44

bughunter
Your 'secret' is a good idea: start a build report lately not only shows a success, but also makes the build look quick! Must copy this idea 😉

5 December, 09:30

gorby
😄
The one down side is that as I only do one project at a time it looks like I'm doing bugger all for about a month. 😄

5 December, 09:35

Alec K
Gorby, I follow the same strategy with build reports. Trouble is, I eventually catch up and then snail-pace it to the finish…

5 December, 13:57

gorby
😄

5 December, 14:00

Alex K
Fabulous work going on (as it was to be expected)...

13 December, 11:27

gorby
Thanks very much Alex. 🙂

13 December, 11:29

Jan Peters
What a load of rubbish, in a good way that is 🙂

1 13 December, 12:06

gorby
😄 😄 😄

1 13 December, 12:18

Lex Jassies
Nice to see this kit. Build the Scammel Scarab as a youngster from Airfix. And looking at the sprues I would say these are from the the former Airfix kit.
Have fun building it 😉

13 December, 12:28

Alec K
Great progress and entertaining narrative 🙂. The trailer wheels turned out nice, I can't imagine making something like that. Just curious: why not make one and cast a copy (I think you have done that in the past)? Or does this have to do with that logical thing…

13 December, 13:59

gorby
Thanks for the comment mates. 🙂
Lex: Yes this is from the old Airfix kit. Quite enjoying the build so far - although that's probably because most of the build is scratch work. 😄
Alec: Typically the trailer wheels look like a different size to the other wheels in the kit which is why I had to cobble something together rather than cast them. I've been meaning to try and scratch wheels for a while so it was also a bit of an experiment. Hopefully future ones will be better.

1 13 December, 15:28

Michael Kohl
Love the subject and the build. Not really knowing what I'm talking about I'd say it's as british as british can be

13 December, 15:50

gorby
Thanks Michael. You're quite right, they are as quirkily British as it's possible to be and unlike most quirky British vehicles these were a actually successful. 🙂

13 December, 16:00

Mr D
Like what you have done so far, good thinking on utilising items , l always look at a item before l throw it away to see if it could be useful.
My fire extinguisher handle was just offcuts laying in my scrap tub., ps it finished now will photo tomorrow.
Your right...a MC Donald's or frozen pizza box would be bit out of place 🤣 Fire ash, tin cans, spud peel n bit of dog poo most likely 😄.
Quite rewarding the scratch build l imagine.
Looking good 👍👍

13 December, 20:01

Michael Schubert
Looks like I'm a bit late to the party, but pulling up a chair way in the back to follow along 🤣 looks like a fun little project

13 December, 21:09

gorby
Thanks mates. 🙂
I have to fight against an inherited hoarding gene, so it's a bit of a fine line I have to walk with saving odd and sods for scratching.
At the moment it's very enjoyable project. It's helping to keep my grey matter from seizing up completely, working out how to make something from a pile of bits.

1 14 December, 07:43

Jennifer Franklin
I am pulling up a seat. I can't wait to see what you do with the scratch building of an I beam.

15 December, 05:33

gorby
Thanks Jennifer. Hopefully I'l show more work soon. 🙂

15 December, 05:39

Kesa Tiho
Really creative way to make rubbish. Im honestly surprised at how well you can DIY and scratch stuff, top notch stuff. Either way the progress is nice.
Also if you don't mind me asking, what operation did your missus go through? Having to administer blood thinners sounds pretty serious.

22 December, 16:00

gorby
Thanks Kesa. 🙂
Mrs Gorby had a hip replacement op. Normally she'd just need medication for the blood thinning but fortunately for my scratch-building junk pile, they thought injections would be better.
Okay, that makes me sound like a bad person. 😄

1 22 December, 16:19

shadowlight
Not at all... you are aware of your "waste footprint" ^^

1 22 December, 16:41

Kesa Tiho
Gotta agree with shadowlight. Your not a bad person 🙂. This reminds me of a quote from one of my favourite games: "I'm not an angel, but when you see Trevor your gonna swear I am one." Except It's "I'm not an angel, but when you see Kesa your gonna swear I am one." 😄

2 22 December, 16:58

Mr D
@ Kesa
GTA-5 by any chance Kesa ??
Interesting build this one ... good to follow.
Did you have any 3wheel vehicles in your part of the world ?
👍😄

2 23 December, 00:36

Kesa Tiho
Yeah Mr D! Do you play the game?

1 23 December, 04:22

Mr D
Kesa ...l have played it,
I like retro gaming mostly now👍

1 23 December, 11:03

Mark Sherwood
Holy Chewbacca on a bagel. Who's, who?

1 26 December, 10:22

Kesa Tiho
I like the exhaust (yeah i know, a half assed comment) but good god I have never seen a more perfect card... ever.... Truly a masterpiece gifted to us from the scratch building god 😄

1 26 December, 14:43

Album info

I was starting to wonder why I’d bought a Scammell Scarab kit. Most people want the Pioneer or the Commander, big macho trucks and I buy something which looks like a 2CV would kick sand in its face. Although the design inspiration looks like it came from a parrots face, These silly looking little tugs where hugely successful for Scammell with 30,000 of all types built. There was even a French version called the FAR Pony Mécanique. I did consider making one of those as well but I thought that was going to FAR. 😳
I agree, that was pitiful attempt at humour.
I needn’t have worried my pretty little head (WHAT! I think my mirrors might be faulty.) the modelling gods had plans even if I didn’t….
The Dapol kit has two different options. Naturally I’ll be going for neither of them and making my life as difficult as I possibly can. People ask me why my stash is so small. It’s because a kit that most people would complete in a weekend, I can faff over for months. My tiny stash will last me many years. This hobby is cheap isn’t it? 🙂
Oh!...apparently it's me that's cheap. 😳
This is going to stretch my modelling abilities as I’ll be heavily modifying one ancient decrepit kit and completely scratch-building another.
What could possibly go wrong?

Scammell Scarab

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