SCOOP!! Astran / Tekno New Model Release

Posted on February 19, 2013 by truckbloguk

I’m spoiling you, 2 blogs in a matter of days! But this is big news and it can’t wait for me to get my A*se in gear. I had an email today from Kevin Letham, yes him in charge of the most famous intercontinental trucking company ever, Astran. Kevin asked if I wanted to be on the list for the next and possibly the best Astran model yet. So of course I said yes please put me on the list, to which he replied, i’ve already put your name down but I thought I better just let you know! Anyway for those of you who don’t know, there have been 2 Tekno 1/50 scale models produced already and both sold out in days. Now you have to pay twice the original price to get one off the electronic auction websites. So how about this time around, want to see if you can get your name down on the original list??

As you can see this time the model is based on a Scania 140 drawbar, reg no JLL 686K. Kevin said in his email; “We currently have, in production, what has already been called the “Best Model so far!!”. It was decided to make a 140 Draw bar as accurate as possible to the original. I have attached the design drawings and think that it will make a perfect addition to the previous models. Price has not been fixed yet, but it is thought to be slightly more than the previous models at £175.00 due to the extras that Tekno have had to make for it.”

It sounds to me like this will be a great model once again. I think it is fair to say that Dutch model builders Tekno, do know what they are doing when it comes to creating a real collectors item. This time around i’m sure that the Certificated Limited Edition Astran model will be hugely popular, so please get emailing Kevin now to try and secure you place on the list. To contact Kevin please email: kevin@astran-cargo.com or you can tweet him: @astran_kevin or i’m sure it’d be ok to call Astran direct if your not really an email person. How ever you do it, do it now because you really don’t to miss out on this one…..DO IT NOW!

New Truckblog Stickers On The Move!!

Posted on April 4, 2012 by truckbloguk

As some of you may well be aware, a few months back I asked you all who was interested in having a new Truckblog sticker and surprise surprise some of you were keen on a freebie…..tough time’s I know! Anyway, some how or another I have just 3 of the original 50 left and I have no idea where they have all gone, really I haven’t! What better way to show them off in all their glory (the stickers that is) than put a few, that I do know the where abouts of, up here on the blog as Truckblog on the move. I even have had a few photos sent through of the new sticker but I can’t find them, what a bummer!! Anyway lets get started and who best to get the ball rolling than top blog contributor Steve Marsh Express. This is the sticker in place on the little euro busting MAN TGL, along with the older long version blog sticker, if you look carefully that is!;

TB on the move in Norrkoping Docks, Sweden.

TB on the move in Innsbruck, Austria.

TB on the move in Maiori Salerno, Italy (a bit fuzzy driver!).

Next up we have Andy Blunsden. An owner driver from Bristol, known to many of you as Carrot (I think!). Andy has stuck one on the back of his trailer that he hauls all over Europe and also to the Middle East, although I don’t think the sticker has made it to the desert yet! Hopefully Andy will get some inspiration from Marshy’s efforts and send a pic or 2 of the sticker on the move, perhaps even in the dustier parts of the world!

This is Andy’s DAF and trailer.

Last up on this sticker update is Ceva Logistics Autralia’s top car transporting subbie, Julian Baker. This is probably the furthest away sticker that I know of. Julian is based near Melbourne in Oz and he and his little UD mini artic travel all over Oz carrying cars. Great pics;

Another terrrible sunset in Oz!….really makes the colours in the sticker stand out, very artistic!

In the next month or so I will be ordering some more stickers, so if you want to join the club, I will let you know when they are here and you can buy one for yourself, on the premise that you send a photo of the sticker some where on the move! Email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk If your sticker pics haven’t made it to this update, they may well make the next…..

Astran Big & Small

Posted on March 11, 2012 by truckbloguk

Not a great photo I know, but I am hoping that the owner of the real version will email a few more better ones for us all to enjoy. The truck in the fore ground is the latest Tekno release in the Astran’s series. The truck being M509 WCK, the lovely Scania 143 Streamline, that I think i’m right in saying was the one of the last Astran liveried Scania’s. The Tekno model is as true to life as possible and has a matching trailer, that is also a full on replica of Owner Driver Trevor Dodwells original truck.

In the background is the real thing. The 1/1 scale, original M509 WCK although now on Irish plates. Now used for fun, shows and the occasional Aid run to far flung places. Us less fortunate types can only dream of being such lucky beggars!!

More Un-Seen Blasts from The Past from The Cannon

Posted on February 24, 2012 by truckbloguk

……Peter Cannon that is, of Astran fame. Peter has been sending through a few of his favourite photo’s from his years at Astran.

Some of you will recognise this photo. Taken in Pakistan on the far side of the Khyber Pass, another version of this photo, taken a bit to the left, features in the Astran almanack, The Long Haul Pioneers. If you haven’t already bought one, you do need a copy so get buying. Speaking of the Khyber Pass, here is a great shot of the perfect place for bandito’s to hide!

While we’re on the Pakistani tourism desk, this is a great shot of what was then called the Attock Bridge. Being the inquisitive chap that I am, I got onto the Google Map and finally found the bridge. These days its now called The Old Bridge as there is a new modern bridge to cope with the greater flow of traffic I guess.

Next in the unseen archive is Astran driver John Frost, shovel in hand, having just fitted the snow chains to one of the pink ladies. I’m not to sure where this is, but i’m sure some of you will know. **28/02/12 – Admin: I have since learned that this is actually one of Gordon Pearces photos.**

These 3 photos are all of AMY 147H, Peter’s regular truck. All taken at various places across Turkey. A hard working girl was AMY, she certainly got around and did her bit to get Astran the name they achieved. Not having my copy of LHP to hand, I think I am right in saying she was the first Astran truck to go to Pakistan. I’ll check that when I get home!
Perhaps AMY 147H, a Scania 110, is a good candidate for the next model in the Astran series of Tekno models?? If you agree, leave a comment below. In fact if you have a suggestion for the next model in the series leave your ideas in the comments box and i’ll make sure Kevin at Astran gets to see them all.
Thanks again to Peter Cannon for the photo’s hopefully there will be more to come. If you have any of your own photos you want to share on the blog, then email me at ben@truckblog.co.uk

If Anyone Can, Cannon Can!!

Posted on February 12, 2012 by truckbloguk

This is one of the few photos I have that were taken by my relation, the late Dick Snow. I often wondered who that is walking in the shorts, until the other week I had no idea. I received an email from a Peter Cannon, a well known name to most of you Middle East trucking fans. Peter was one of Astrans original drivers and also went on to be transport manager for the now legendary transport company. Peter said; “The “tall chap” walking towards the camera beside a line of Astran trucks is me!!! JAN 774K was Snowys Scania 1st in line, then mine AMY 147H with the taller trailer. don`t know the 3rd one possibly WLO 95G.”

Being ever the faithful blogger I was delighted to hear from Peter, as I am delighted to hear from any of the men that were the original Long Haul Pioneers. I asked Peter if he felt like it, would he mind sending me a few unseen photos, as he had contributed quite a bit to Ashley Coghills book. Being a true knight of the road, Mr Cannon has been very obliging and has sent over these brilliant pics. The photo email stated a very true, but probably unstated statement; “Unfortunately at times of drama in the mountains in the snow there was never time or opportunity to mess around taking photos consequently there are very few photos of the real hairy bits but several posed ones!!” I hadn’t thought of it before, but it is probably very true. In the good old days it was far more important to help your fellow drivers out of a sticky situation, rather than the modern trend of videoing it on your mobile to stick on Youtube or You’ve been framed!!

The following photo was quite significant as Peter thinks this is him offloading in Kuwait on the 1st trip there in probably 1970.

As per the photo in The Long Haul Pioneers book, this is another shot of AMY147H crossing yet another river in Turkey. I wonder if a modern camera would give so much detail, just look at the steam coming off the brakes!

And finally for this little installment, is this photo of AMY in Pakistan. Peter said: “AMY outside the Marriot hotel in Islamabad Pakistan on the 1st trip there. The hotel has been featured on the tele` recently as militants have set off bombs there !!!!!”

These photos are just brilliant, please respect that they are Peter Cannons own photos. I can’t thank Peter enough. If you or anyone you know has an equally good collection of such nostalgic trucking then do feel free to email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk and i’ll publish them here on the blog for all to see and share the tales. Thanks Peter, I hope there is more to come.

Astran Scania 143 Tekno Model

Posted on December 1, 2011 by truckbloguk

For some of you who were not lucky enough to get your hands on the 1st Astran Tekno model, the Scania 111, you may have you chance again to own an Astran Tekno collectors item. After a brief chat with Astran MD, Kevin Letham, he tell’s me there are just a few 1/50 scale models left on the pre-order list. Currently the models are due to finally arrive from the Tekno factory in February and i’m told they make excellent Valentines gifts!!. If you want to be in with the chance of getting your hands on one of only 450 models, email kevin@astran-cargo.com and title your email “Scania 143 Tekno Model”.

The truck in production is a Scania 143 Streamline, complete with tilt trailer as driven by Trevor Dodwell and as featured in my top 3 Astran Liveried trucks of all time. This particular truck, M509 WCK, ended up being at the top of my top 3, read all about it by clicking HERE.

Top 3 Astran Liveried Trucks – NVW 484P

Posted on November 20, 2011 by truckbloguk

Right through this little trio of my Top 3 Astran liveried trucks of all time, I have stated that the 3 were in no particular order, but as it’s my rules I can change them when I like. In my opinion this is the greatest Astran liveried truck of all time….NVW 484P, Scania 140 V8 6×4. You can’t get a better looking truck than this…….can you??

WARNING I WILL BE GETTING ALL ROMANTIC SHORTLY!! This photo comes to me care of the one and only author of “The Long Haul Pioneers“, Sir Ashley Coghill, but the photo it’s self is taken by Destination Doha assistant director Simon Normanton, what a truly great photo. Would a clear modern day digital photo give quite as much atmosphere as this?? I think not.

Where to start with my reasonings behind this being my 3rd choice in my top 3 Astran trucks of all time. As in Part One and Part Two of my choices, I can’t do much more than to ask you to take a good hard look at the photo, it’s all there. I guess really my choice of NVW 484P is pretty well based on it pulling this trailer in Destination Doha (where did this trailer end up?). Its got every thing that it should have (ready??); it’s dirty, roughed up wheels and mud flaps, roof rack and air con box, leaking fuel cap, TIR and GB on the bumper, dust pouring from the wheels, legendary driver and I know I can’t put it on here but I can just hear Dave Poulton talking away in the cab in DD and being able to hear the V8 just purring away as they head ever East. Being an ex owner of a Scania 141, for all you Scania fans who haven’t driven a 140 or a 141, you just have too. The shear joy of pressing the starter button and getting that first growl of the day, is just amazing! I think what ever the previous day had thrown at me in the depths of the desert, pressing that button the morning after a crap day must be so so reassuring. By the way right now I am wishing I had done the ME in this truck, just purrrrfect! Look out for the first time in blog history I’m going to use the same photo twice!

This photo was taken during the filming of Destination Doha. Ashley Coghill says;

“Dave Poulton at the wheel thundering across Jordan’s infamous H4 desert route to Saudi Arabia. Simon Normanton was assistant director for the BBC film Destination Doha and took many stills during the making of the film. This image has to be THE best and most iconic shot of a Scania 140 in full flight!”

It’s a brave man who will disagree with Ashley. I think of top of it being the best photo of a Scania 140 in full flight I think it also sums up the whole Middle East run. Hard trucks, hard men doing a hard job. We can all get a bit blase these days looking at the great romance of it all, but please please dont forget it wasn’t all glory. As the very proud owner of the late great Dick Snow’s diary (luckily for me he was a relation of mine), as used in Ashley’s book, you get a feel that some of the daily entries were written with great feeling.The endless days sat in a scorching hot desert at a customs post, having run out of food. Driving up a solid ice road, in the pitch dark up a mountain in darkest Turkey. These trucks were made for the job and hopefully to make it that much easier for all those legendary men who did one of the toughest jobs in the world at the time. In all honesty if we were to still use the same roads today, can you honestly say for what ever reason that a modern Scania V8 R730, would be able to cope with the Ice clad mountains and roadless deserts?? Again I think not. The computers wouldn’t keep up and there would be no chance of doing day to day running repairs and as for all the dust getting in every sensor imaginable, need I go on? The old 140’s or 141’s can also push on at 60mph if required and have no didgtach that are going to beep at you left right and centre.

This is photo is credited to the man himself Dave Poulton, but not from Destination Doha! Even in this pic you can see “the look”, the 6×4 always looks more trucky than a 4×2. Seen here pulling a tilt through Turkey. Note the lack of bumper spots and the sand shovel in the cab ladder. Case closed, Best Astran Liveried truck ever!! (In my opinion anyway!)

Speaking of which while I was at it, I asked Ashley Coghill for his top 3. You will need to refer to your copy of his book “The Long Haul Pioneers“. His choices are;

3) JLL 686K – Scania 140 Roadtrain
2) 10 RMY – GUY Warrior
1) NVW 484P – Scania 140 6×4

Again an excellent top 3, glad we agree on one truck at least! It would be great if you all wanted to leave your top 3 as comments on this one, come on if you haven’t before then leave a comment now, you have got this far after all!! If not you can email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk

Top 3 Astran Liveried Trucks – M509 WCK

Posted on November 13, 2011 by truckbloguk

Next in my top 3 Astran trucks of all time is this beast of a Scania 143 Streamline, driven by Trevor Dodwell I do believe. As I said in Part 1, the top 3 is in no particular order, it would be to hard to choose between them!! I think for me, Astran trucks are Scania’s. I know Mercedes and Volvo were both regular Middle Easters for Astran, but if you look at the fleet list out of a total of 58 trucks, 40 were Scania. Even though this is an Owner driver truck, to me it’s still one of the top 3 all time great Astran trucks.

Bull bar, extra spots, roof rack, headboard, un-polished ally wheels, big tanks, ruffed up rear mudguards, Arabic script and, and, wait for it….its got that look!! in huge doses for that matter. I can just see this old girl hurteling along the dusty desert road, lights a blaze, camels parting like the red sea, as the growl of the big V8 heads ever Eastwards. I think also this is obviously the new version of the old 140’s and 141’s, so if Astran had kept their own fleet in the 90’s there would have been a fleet of these, just imagine!

I actually emailed Trevor Dodwell about this truck, and he sent me a photo he has above his desk, this is below. I think this truck was for sale in Ireland since Trevor had it, although there was a little confusion over it, but any way if it was this truck I was oh so close to snapping it up and in all honesty I wish I had. The wife has promised to but me a new truck one day, when she does, the 143 Streamline will be it and it will take a lot of convincing not to paint it up as this truck. Here is Trevors photo;

So there it is, this is my number 2 truck in the all time top 3 Astran trucks. A second Scania, your right, but then again when you think of Astran what truck do you think of? Email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave a comment. There is one more truck to come in this little mini series, what will it be? whats your choice? If you follow the blog on twitter (@truckbloguk) then you may already know my 3rd and final choice. Also while I remember the top 3 photos are courtesy of Mr Nick Garlick.

Top 3 Astran Liveried Trucks – JAN 774K

Posted on November 3, 2011 by truckbloguk

I ran this feature on Twitter a month or so ago and had some interesting come back, so I thought i’d try it on here and see what you have to say. Firstly you need to understand this is a Top 3 Astran Liveried Trucks, in my opinion and in no particular order.

My first choice is an early Scania 140 V8, reg no JAN 774K. Now for those of you you who know me, this may seem like a slightly biased choice as these photo’s of JAN 774K were taken by my relation/uncle Dick Snow, when he was the driver of said truck. I have no idea how long this was Dick’s truck, but it was long enough to take a few good pictures, i’m sure a certain Ashley Coghill could tell us more.

My reasons for this being in my top 3 are mainly coz it is a classic Astran looking truck. In all the pic’s it is always covered in dirt, luggage on the roof rack, the odd unavoidable dent of long distance intercontinental trucking……….hang on i’m getting all romantic again! It’s that thing I always talk about, it’s got that look. It just looks great, like a truck should. I’m all for shiny shiny show condition with all the bling, but a truck in its true work state, always looks cracking to me. Another reson this is a great Astran truck, is that it’s a wagon and drag. Astran were keen on wagin and drags as they did have a few of them (again, Mr Coghill could tell us how many!).

This is another of Snowie’s pics, showing the truck in all it’s glory. It could even be the same trip as the first pic but who knows. I also love Snowies’s outfit, Checked shirt and cordroy trousers and big sun glasses. Another great pic of JAN 774K is the one below. In Ashley’s book, The Long Haul Pioneers, the pic below is said to be part of the Astran collection, but as I have the original in my bedside draw, i’m guessing it’s Dick’s. I could have picked any of the early wagon and drags for the top 3, but I think as I have a slight connection with JAN 774K, it’s the ideal truck. Below you can see the truck in a fairly new condition. I’m guessing Dick must have been driving otherwise he wouldn’t have taken the pic, also as it’s infront of 2 others, it must be Dick as he was always ahead from what I hear!

Who was the tall chap walking beside the trucks? any ideas. In fact looking at the pic again I reckon it could be the trucks 1st trip. Just look how tidy it is. No additional grill mounted spots, fresh-ish paint on the wheels and bumper, the headlight surrounds are still chrome!! I think as it’s an early member of the Astran Fleet. If this pic was on her maiden voyage, it would have been in 1971. All in all I think a good candidate for a top 3 position. If you want to share you own top 3 Astran liveried trucks of all time, then please either leave a comment or send me an email at; ben@truckblog.co.uk keep an eye out for the other 2 trucks in the top 3, they’ll be coming soon, or if you follow the blog on twitter (search for @truckbloguk) you will already know the top 3!!

Middle East Memories from Ray Campion – Chapter 1

Posted on April 13, 2011 by truckbloguk

I received this lovely email from Ray Campion. I am putting it on here in its entirety as i think its just great!! If you have any info or stories about Ray or the M/E then please email them over for us all to enjoy, stories and photo’s are welcome! Email; ben @truckblog.co.uk – Thanks Ray i look forward to the next installment.

“Hi my name is Ray. I started my middle east adventures in 78 and went to work in Iran for a German company along with 26 other drivers on a contract running gas pipes across the Zargos mountains south of Esfahan, it was a short lived stint as the Iranians and the Iraqi’s had a bit of a falling out and as you have probably been told there was one hell of a war. Took us three weeks to get out of the country all the trucks were dumped and we flew home, a lot more to that story but that’s for another time. i came home but it wasn’t long before i was on a plane headed for Doha Qatar a job for a English company who’s name i can’t remember but i do remember i was using one of Astran’s old Scania’s cant remember the reg but i do have a photo somewhere and if i find it i will let you know. Sadly that job folded and i came home from there riding shotgun with a good friend of mine Athol Anderson from Scotland he also had a cracking 142 Scania course i shared the driving.he dropped me in London where i caught the train home to Bristol within the week i was running overland to the M/E along with everyone else, shit they were the good old days. I bumped into Dick (Snow – Admin) once but have heard all the stories i finished around 84 and funny the very same week i finished i received a phone call from Astran offering me a job!!! that was like getting summoned by royalty, i turned them down but regretted it over the years”

Picture is Part of Dick Snow’s own collection.

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