At the Strumpshaw Autumn Steam Rally 2019 Ray’s two youngest grandchildren Finley (8) and Robin (6) were permitted to drive a friend’s electrically powered replica, 6” scale, vintage Ford Box Van. Shortly afterward Finley approached his Granddad and, much to his amazement, said “Granddad, you are a clever engineer, aren’t you? (armed with a cheeky smile) Could you make me a van I can drive at rallies?” Astounded that, at his age, he would come out with such a buttering up request, Ray agreed that he would think about it. Having built two 4” scale traction engines over a four year period, he was looking for a new challenge - and this was it!

His first task was to choose a vehicle which he could associate with, that would be fun and recognizable. Dads Army’s Jones’s butcher van was an obvious choice; not least because he had access to two versions of the iconic vehicle, right on the doorstep. Bressingham Steam Museum has the van used in the Dad’s Army movies and, not much further away, the Burrell Museum, in Thetford, houses the van owned by the Dad’s Army Museum, which is also based in Thetford.

This van was used in all the TV episodes and for Ray, perhaps, the more iconic. Luckily his friends at the museum gave him full access to the van, allowing him to take dimensions and photographs.

That was the easy bit. Coming up with a design that was powered by a petrol engine and have gears, which was capable of seating an adult, without removing a section of the cab roof, in 6” scale, wasn’t going to be easy.

Anyway, to shorten the story, Ray decided to base the mechanics on a ride-on lawnmower, as the engine was right for size and power. Also, the rear axles of most ride-on mowers have a built-in differential gearbox and are braked; not to mention other bits which would be needed, such as a wiring harness and other useful sundry bits.

To this end Ray purchased a Westwood mower, complete with a Briggs & Stratton 12.5HP engine, all in good running order. (Photo left shows the Westwood). To figure out how he was going to fit everything into a half size van, including an adult driver + grandchild, Ray constructed a complete mock-up in timber. Once satisfied that he had an achievable

design, he purchased the materials necessary to build a rolling chassis.

As construction proceeded there were technical and construction challenges to overcome, including a power chain from the engine to the gearbox/rear axle, so Ray used a centrifugal clutch to eliminate difficulties for the Grandkids. He also had to replicate realistic suspension, wheels and a steering mechanism, so he heavily modified a rack & pinion from an Austin Metro.

All was going well until Covid came on the

scene in March 2020. On top of that Ray was rushed into hospital and, some weeks later, he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, requiring urgent surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and was then afterwards living with endless debilitating treatment. All of this meant that progress on building Jones’s van came to a halt.

However, not wanting to give up, Ray forced himself to go into the workshop and restart building, although he could mostly only manage 2 or 3 hours at a time. He struggled with memory loss, weak vision and unsteadiness, caused by the after effects of surgery and the on-going treatment; but the sense of achievement completing just the simplest of tasks encouraged him to push on, and it provided a significant distraction from coping with cancer, mental anguish and treatment.

Throughout the summer and Autumn months of 2020 Ray completed building the van to the point where the painting and detail finishing were the only things left to be done. Before he commenced this stage though, it was important to prove that he had built a working vehicle so, with considerable trepidation, he connected the battery, filled the fuel tank and turned the ignition key and amazingly it started instantly - in a cloud of

exhaust smoke! Ray squeezed into the cab, put it into first gear and off he went around the garden. A few adjustments were needed but otherwise everything worked just fine, including the lights and horn! Needless to say, the grandchildren were keen to clamber inside to check out their very own rally exhibit! The painting and sign writing took a further four months to complete.