Help - What Actually Is This (the checked box on G George)?

[beany]

As the title says, can someone please tell me what that checkered box is on the Airfix Lancaster "G for George" box art.



It appears to have wheels but is it a van/caravan type of towed vehicle or a self driven lorry/truck of some sort? Also, any ideas what would have been inside it (I won't be modelling the interior but I am curious nonetheless).

TIA
Al.

P.S. My build thread is here if you are interested.

http://www.uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=2091

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[MerlinJones]

It's the outfield observation station, manned by chaps with huge binoculars, teabags and a kettle. This gave info back to the Ops room, via radio/telephone...usually the latter.
They'd keep their peepers (and ears) out for returnees, letting the airfield control know when to light the landing flares, for example.

It was painted as it was to prevent aircraft hitting it.

Regards,
Bruce

[MerlinJones]

It does appear to have wheels, though.

Quite handy when you need to move it about the airfield, n'est pas?

Regards,
Bruce

[bluesteel]

It's a Runway Controllers Van. They had Red and Green lights + Flares for controlling take off and landings when things got busy. There's a good drawing of one in the back of the Airfix Magazine Guide 27, 'Modelling RAF Vehicles.

There's a discussion about them here:

http://www.airfieldinformationexchange. ... y-caravans

[peebeep]

It's a Runway Controllers Van.

614 VGS at Wethersfield has one for the use of, painted red and white. As well as directing the winch bod and glider ops it's also the place where 'chutes, weighing machine and tuck box are stored - plus cadets and staff! Essential for the brewing of tea, after which you might need to nip round the back for a 'comfort' break on a cold day. When not in use it lives in the VGS hangar, hence the wheels. The VGS has an assortment of Landies and a tractor for towing. I won't mention the disgraceful manner in which these are driven around the 'field. Oops.

The Wethersfield van is pretty much identical to this one.

peebeep

[PaulBradley]

[beany]

Brilliant, Paul(s)

Al now has no excuse.

What Brews said - many thanks for all of the replies gents. I shall probably cobble together a hybrid of all of the designs here (i.e. the easiest way I can think of doing it).

Cheers

Al.

[JamesPerrin]

(i.e. the easiest way I can think of doing it). .

Battenberg cake?

[Eric Mc]

There a shot of one in use in the WW2 film "Target for Tonight". Watch from about 21.13 into the film.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 260070573#

[beany]

That's a brilliant find - looks like Bruce described the interior to a "T" compared to the film footage, including the tea-making. Thanks very much Eric!

Al.

[Eric Mc]

WW2 was won on cups of tea. It was a more important secret weapon than the bouncing bomb.

[pete1979]

You're all wrong.

It's an early portable toilet block! I'm waiting for someone to release this with the resin seat and photoetch flush! Remember to use PVA to simulate the water in the bowl. Thinking about it you maybe wouldn't want to "weather" this very much......

[G_Mendes]

A real one:

http://tinworm-wings.blogspot.com/2009/ ... check.html;

G_Mendes

[G_Mendes]

Just find a RAF trailer that could match the one in the airfix lancaster boxtop. Maybe some artistic licence was used, maybe based on some photo? The wheels look feasable and the size looks to be very similar.
It is interesting that the door is located in a way that would show a groundcrew figure exiting, just like the one in the boxart.



Source: http://www.rafaberporth.org.uk/page24.html;