This newly tooled and highly detailed model is based on
the heavy duty fork lift truck that Shelvoke & Drewry were asked to
produce in 1952 especially for the London Brick Company. The design
was intended as a UK alternative to the American Hyster forklift, which
was subject to UK import restrictions. LBC went on to buy over 170 of
the vehicles, some of which were still in use 21 years later, Moreover,
the Freightlifter proved equally in demand from other sources, notably
all three Armed Forces as well as the railway companies.
The trucks could lift between 12,000 and 18,000 lbs with a lift
height of up to 29 feet. Production models included the Model 82 with 7
ft 10 ins wheel base, Model 100 with an 8’4” wheelbase and a smaller
Model 72 for indoor use. In 1962, the entire range was re-designed and
re-named Defiant and production continued until 1974.
To launch Oxford's 1:76 scale replica, we’ve selected the vehicle as used
by British Railways (Western) in the popular brown and cream colour
scheme long associated with the GWR. The vehicle bodywork is printed
with British Railways WR lettering in cream with the addition of the S
& D freightlifter marque applied in red and white. Registered 729
AAR, the model features the optional Dualdrive cab component for this
first release which takes on the main body colours. The mudguards,
chassis, interior, spotlight, hydraulic cylinder gaiter, mast chains and
cab window frames are all black.