Early 1960’s Ford Thames Trader Recovery Vehicle – Tow Truck…Scratch Built

 Firstly let me say a HUGE AUSSIE THANK YOU to my friend Ralph who has inspired this build with his Tow Trucks https://www.lumberjocks.com/projects/409046 
It was through his generosity of sharing his “how I built it photos” that I found a tow truck in his collection, what looked like a matchbox toy I had when a child [which I actually found when I went searching].
 

 The actual matchbox toy off the internet 

 but look what I did to mine.

 The Ford Thames Trader but upon first look I was sure, it was way too difficult to make as a play toy.

 Well some 50 plus hours later, I’ve proved myself wrong, a scratch built toy tow truck. 
 At 450mm [18”] long x 180mm [7”] wide x 215mm [8.5”] high it’s a little heavy at 11lbs.
 The winch/crane works.
 The doors open.

 
 The bonnet is from a laminated Merbau post,
 The cabin is a mixture of Red Gum and Spotted Gum,
 The rear of the truck is American Walnut,
 Te crane is Spotted Gum,
 The detailing is Blackheart Sassafras [front & rear bumper bars + wheel arches & fuel tanks]. 
 Finish is my home made Wipe On Poly 3 coats; 30% Tung Oil, 40% Satin Clear Polyurethane, 30% Turps. 


 A couple of other THANK YOU acknowledgements:
 The Dutch Wooden Button steering wheel,
 The Ducky spring loaded lock mechanism on the crane winch.
 The truck has had it’s first test run with the grandsons with the only modification required being the size of the pickup on the end of the winch rope [it’s too small for some of the other trucks/vehicles I’ve made]
 All in all a fun, challenging project which extended me in a good way….
 Cheers crowie