MCFADYENS ESCORT!
Derbyshire based Search Impex are pleased to announce the release of a 1:50 scale VW Crafter van, customised in McFadyens Transport’s Abnormal Load Escort Vehicle livery.
The models have been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI as a certificated Limited Edition (305 pieces).
Based in Campbeltown, in the Scottish region of Argyll & Bute, it was back in 1901 that Charles McFadyen started a haulage business. Using a horse and cart, he would meet vessels at the pier and collect cargo (comprising, more often than not, coal or bricks) and deliver it around the area to local merchants. It soon became a thriving family business as each of his five sons, on reaching suitable ages, were also given their own horse and cart and tasked with finding more local haulage work. The growing “fleet” of horses and carts were kept at the nearby family stables in Longrow from where the McFadyens also advertised public excursions by horse-drawn wagonettes to popular local destinations such as Southend or Machrihanish, but this was their only official venture into passenger transport.
Towards the end of the War in 1945, the first motor lorries began to replace the horse and carts. With ex-army vehicles becoming readily available, Archibald McFadyen purchased several second-hand Bedford tippers, one of which was a square nosed 'OY' type which had served with the army. Since then, a wide variety of makes has been used by McFadyens, including AEC, Albion, Commer, ERF, Ford, M.A.N, Mercedes and Volvo. In November 1978, a Scania LB86 tipper joined the fleet and its arrival on the scene heralded the start of the long and close relationship with Scania which continues to this day.
Historically, a large amount of the business was based on livestock transport but today the business focuses mainly on timber haulage and wind turbine transportation for the renewable energy sector.
Today’s fleet of around 30 trucks is dominated by Scania ranging from standard 6x2 units through to heavy duty 8x4 trucks and trailers comprise a wide variety of types from extender telesteps, flat beds and step frames, through to low loaders, world adaptor clamps and superwing carriers. A new gen Scania S730 tractor unit has also recently been added to the this operator’s impressive fleet - the very first 8x4 truck built to this specification to be put into service in the UK! Also necessary in the fleet is a variety of escort vehicles to accompany many of the abnormal loads carried by McFadyens and one such example is the VW Crafter van on which the model is to be based. McFadyens run both white vans and silver vans – and, at the customer's request, the model is based on the silver van version.
Models, available from Search Impex are priced at £48 each (including UK delivery & VAT). For details of availability of this and other models, collectors can visit the Search Impex website at www.search-impex.co.uk or call on 01332 873555.or call on 01332 873555.
