Yeah our Nut Stranglers never had Stollys either
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So, I think I’m in danger of confusing myself; a Stalwart equipped unit - I’m thinking RCT dedicated transport regiment - wouldn’t necessarily have FFR Stallys would it? Or was there a Fitter-equipped Stally version? Surely a “normal” LAD wrecker would do the job - there wouldn’t need to be a specific REME version would there?
Which means I’m still a tad perplexed as to why any Stalwart would require FFR?
I need a bit of enlightenment here chaps.
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A Stolly in an RA or LAD Mech Inf Battalion may have an FFR (possibly) as they generally act independently - The RA was the ammo resupply with a crane and the LAD version had the crane for various lifts & would definitely of been tasked independently for jobs so would of needed comms … just my reckoning anyway … other than those scenarios, the normal Stolly wouldnt need a comms fit.
Also, wreckers are normally held at the HQ as part of the A1/ A2 set up for other taskings
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A couple of photos from the Tankograd book,
Looks like these are from a Fox and CVRT unit but there are a couple of antenna there👍
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The rest of the Tankograd book shows hardly any with antennae fitted. Maybe 5 or 6 photos in total throughout the book.
From a source yhat knows the subject intimately:
Artillery, REME and RE didn’t have radios in their crane versions. RE were also issued with 1 REME 624 per Sqn from 1983.
REME LAD in Germany had a 432 and 434 with radios, and 1 wheeled truck - Bedford. All RE Regt regimental workshops had a 624, but some corps LAD had a 624 - they didn’t need radios. Remember that REME Light Aid Detachment is attached to every Squadron or Company, so there’ were plenty of radios out there.
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This was posted on Facebook by SMM models
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Alvis Stalwart. I would just like to make a point to all those building the Airfix kit. When all is said and done, Stalwart is just a truck.
Not many trucks (of any kind) in the British Army are Fitted For Radio (FFR), Stolly included. Airfix offer two options for radio, including a huge battery box in the right side of the cab.
Radios were hardly ever fitted to Stolly. For those who have the Tankograd Stalwart book, you will only find about 5 or 6 photos of FFR Stollys. Basically, don’t bother with radio fits. It is not a tank. It is not a fighting vehicle of any kind.
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Not to take anything away from Jacko’s build, which is really coming along nicely but this has also been a quite informative thread on the good old Stolly.
So reading the above posts especially about the radio fit (or not) I went digging around the web and found this site I thought I’d share, it has pages of info - development, trials, service, export, standard equipment, Swingfire launcher trials, Bar mine layer trials etc, but no mention of radios.
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Jacko, sorry to digress a bit from your outstanding build mate, but this radio thing is bugging me a bit with some very broad brush stroke statements which are not totally correct.
Its obvious from your 2 images that at least those 624’s had radio fits in the vehicle. You do not have an ABA fitted as a decoration or to make the wagon pretty, it is there to serve a purpose. House an antenna for a comms system. I will also go on to say that most if not all 624 LAD wagons had a comms fit in the vehicle, purely for the fact of what their role consisted of.
This lift wagons would more often than not be tasked away from the fitter section, either lifting decks or packs (engines within their Max lift limit) in smaller vehicle size units. They would be tasked with going from A to B to lift an engine or whatever, and once the job is done, they could be retasked with another job at point C or moving to point D because the section has now moved from where it was initially. For this you need independent comms, and you DO NOT rely on other peoples radios for that.
Its fair to say that the majority of Stollys did not have a radio fit as they did not require it. If it needed a fit, it would take a few hours to fit a basic 353 system if needed. Any SHQ/RHQ would have all the parts and cables / boxes required to do it.
While in BAOR, we only had a max of 6 Stollys, one per Sqn as a POD and I think MT had one (maybe 2). No POD is fitted with a radio (or used to be) due to the RF hazard, and the others were just load carriers and part of the admin set up within the Regt.
I am leaning away from the RA limbers needed any as again, they are part of the Bty admin set up and would work usually as a troop on Replens etc.
That is exactly why they would probably have a radio fit in the vehicle, as it is a Corps asset at that level and can be tasked at anytime to go anywhere if needed, within the Corps to any unit if there is a requirement and can therefore act independently when required.
If that is trying to imply that because an LAD fitter section is attached to a Sqn or Coy and doesnt need that many radios due to the other Sqn vehicles having them, then that is basically rubbish. A fitter section acts solely to keep the Sqn or Coy Vehicles/weapons systems running in either peacetime or on a war footing/deployment. From my personal experience, every single LAD wagon in a section could and have been used at different tasks at the same time and every single LAD wagon had at least one radio fitted, the Tiffy would usually have 2 if he could, so he would be on the Sqn net and also on the LAD main admin net. They do not rely on other wagons to have a radio. The only wagon in the fitter section that did not have a standard fit, was the Tech binner Bedford, but he would usually have a manpack from SHQ for comms if he needed it.
Not all quotes are correct.
True in the most part.
So on that premise, because its not a “fighting vehicle” can you explain why an AVRE, ARV, CRARRV, Chieftain Bridgelayer, Saxon, Foden 10 ton Wrecker, Landrover (all types), 1 Tonne LR, 434, CET, Ferret etc etc etc have a radio fit ??
Ok, thats me done … back to your wonderful Stolly Ivan and again, sorry for the thread hijack mate 
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Looking good so far.
I have been thinking of getting one. Might ask for it later in the year for birthday or Christmas.
Can’t wait to see it finished.
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No problem at all mate👍this is after all a modelling site and different ideas/opinions and facts surely help us all out😀all I can say is in my AES we had 4 Stollys 1 with crane 3 without and all had no radios!
Good to talk ain’t it😂
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Always good to chat 
I didnt know those sets were £15 a pop … but the exhaust mesh does look good.
I have watched & read a fair few vids from various builders on YT and the kit issues seem pretty hit and miss across the board. Some with flash, short pours, soft detail, sink marks etc and some that are perfect. The only 2 consistent gripes where the sink mark detailing on the upper roof grill, and the moulded on windscreen wipers
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Well done John; for some reason the thought of a dedicated Stally LAD REME mount had passed me by.
Every. day a school day!
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There will always be an exception where they wouldnt have a set in, but on the whole, I would say they would have fit in there ready to go.
I was putting off getting a Stolly, but I think I may get one and attempt to scratch that exhaust guard as it looks fairly doable …
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After all the enjoyable chatter a bit of an update,
Roof cleats replaced,exhaust mesh on and the rear tailboard tie downs on.
The cleats sure scratch built might have to be changed not to sure at the moment and the etch was from AA.
Cheers
Jacko
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Very nice. Looking good matey.
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A bit more progress,wheels are on and they all hit the road much to my relief😀Some paint on and the black rod of death and some dirt in the cab,probably do some more but the drivers kit has to go in next.
Getting there now inside of the front to go,but don’t hold your breath😀
Jacko
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Looks good mate, it scrubbed up well.
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I take it the big donkey dick brings warm air from the engine for demisting, heating etc.?
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Got to keep Tommies toes warm👍
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