Superfuellers

I’ve just picked up on this thread as I am doing some research for a friend making a model of one of these tankers. The Superfueller was known as the “Python”. One was surviving at the BWOC Depot at Weston-Super-Mare, but they advise me that it went for scrap about two years ago as it was rusting away. Here is a colour photo from my archives taken at Heathrow in March 1962.
I would also like to know how many were made and if any still survive?

I think the one below is the Foden Pluto refueller rather than a suoer refueller.
Amazingly in the 60’s British diecast maker Budgie made models of both the Pluto Budgie catalogue no 256) and the Super Refueller (Budgie catalogue no 280). The Budgie wheels aren’t particularly accurate although the main casting is pretty good. They are hard to find in good condition but there are damaged restorable ones out there which, with a bit of hunting around for decent wheels, could be made into presentable models. Sorry I can’t post any pictures but I couldn’t find any in my diecast books or on the web.

I think the one below is the Foden Pluto refueller rather than a suoer refueller.
Amazingly in the 60’s British diecast maker Budgie made models of both the Pluto Budgie catalogue no 256) and the Super Refueller (Budgie catalogue no 280). The Budgie wheels aren’t particularly accurate although the main casting is pretty good. They are hard to find in good condition but there are damaged restorable ones out there which, with a bit of hunting around for decent wheels, could be made into presentable models. Sorry I can’t post any pictures but I couldn’t find any in my diecast books or on the web.

Ah, thanks for point that out. I now see that the Python had double bogies under the cab, front and back, but possibly the same tanker trailer as the Pluto in my colour pic.

. . . and BP
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1960/1960%20-%201022.html

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1959/1959%20-%203017.html

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1959/1959%20-%203287.html

They mention in this link
http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/2008/07/unusal-green-foden-have-you-ev.html
the following: “…that an almost complete example of one of these has recently been found in Norway.” (2008)

Great models, love cardboard as an alternative to plastic, but 4 cm is a bit small! Is the Vanguard in cardboard? 😀

The Vanguard is an Aeroclassics 1/400 diecast metal model, which is 4″ long.

Great models, love cardboard as an alternative to plastic, but 4 cm is a bit small! Is the Vanguard in cardboard? 😀

Interesting thread. My maternal grandfather worked for Esso at Heathrow as a driver/refueller for > 25 years, retiring in 1988. I imagine he drove these but unfortunately as he has now passed on I cannot ask. I will see if they ring a bell with anyone else in the family.

By the end of his career the large tankers like these were long gone and replaced by small “hydrocarts” (I think that was the term) which pump fuel from under the apron up to the wing, rather than carrying it with them.

As per my post #19, my friend has now finished these models – but can you believe that (a) they are made in card and (b) they are to 1/400 scale, making them about 4cm long!

Fascinating thread – and a nice web link too… I pass by the former Thompson site every day – I live just up the road from it. It was sad to see it go a couple of years ago, the site is now awaiting a housing development once the ground has been decontaminated etc.

ok, I know the urbex community are somewhat frowned upon in these circles,but on the 28dl website, under ‘Other sites’ there is a thread about a scrapyard in SE london, scroll down the pics nearly to the bottom and there are a couple of pics of derelict lorries, one of which being a yellow Foden with ‘Norwich Airport’ on the door… any chance this could have formed part of a superfueller or some other kind of fueller?

Two Pythons For London Transport – The Biggest In The World.
The first of these two new refuellers, commissioned by the Esso Petroleum Company for London Airport, went into action on September 22nd this year. The “Python” Mark II aircraft refueller has a frontal appearance of an enlarged motor coach and weighs 65 tons when laden with 12,000 gallons of fuel. The Python’s fuelling pumps are capable of rates up to 1,000 gallons per minute and can defuel at 80 gallons per minute. These two refuellers once again are proof that Thompson Brothers are leaders in the road tanker and refueller field .

A few more refueller ads at http://www.aviationancestry.com

Correction – Brooklands now has the Shuttleworth Thompson three-wheeler and its even pictured in this week’s British Airways News. There has also been mention of these vehicles not so long ago on this forum……

They were Thompson refuellers, Shuttleworth has the early type, the WW2 version can be seen at Hendon and Duxford, i’ve attached a pic of the one at Hendon – Brooklands recently got an early pre-war one as well, there’s a photo of an early one refuelling a Tiger Moth at Desford aerodrome in the book Leicestershire and Rutland airfields

Talking of aircraft refuellers, does anyone have any info or pictures on those vehicles that had a fuel tank as the body, had 3 wheels and a drivers cab on the rear of the vehicle. I remember seeing one at Leicester years ago, and think Shuttleworth have also got one..

Interesting news AgCat – many thanks! I wonder who bought the tractor unit and where it now resides?

HENSTRIDGE SUPERFUELLER MOVED

Superfueller fans may wish to know that the Henstridge Superfueller was sold at auction on 19th May and was seen on a low-loader heading north up the A1(M) at Hatfield the following week.

Further research indicates the vehicle was a 1966 AEC Mammoth Major artic unit, known as a “Yorkshire” refueller and built by Thompson Bros of Bilston. The refuelling equipment (housed in the cabin to the rear of the cab) was manufactured by Zwicky of Slough. Owned by Shell, the Henstridge vehicle may have originated from Hurn and was complete when it arrived there. The 10,000 gallon trailer was subsequently sold and may have been exported to Africa.

Yes- that’s the vehicle – though I can’t recall if the Henstridge survivor still had the trailer section.

Jaybeebee – I doubt the chassis you saw was an Octopus. For fairly obvious reasons, Octopi were eight-leggers.

Thats it!!!!!! although the one in the book had a Leyland cab (possibly an Octopus?) I just thought it looked quite stylish!