Oxford Diecast 76TIL011

Austin Tilly No.1 MTTC Camberley 1945

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)

Manufacturer description

The then Princess Elizabeth insisted joining the ATS during WWII and was stationed at the Mechanical Training Centre in Camberley, Surrey. As the Hon. Second Subaltern Princess Elizabeth, part of her training involved vehicle maintenance and, if you look at Royal photographs of the time, you will see Subaltern Princess Elizabeth's head under the bonnet with tools in hand. One such Austin Tilly, M1136086, is the subject of our model. By the time she finished her mechanical training course, Her Royal Highness had reached the rank of Junior Commander and passed out as a qualified driver.

Collectors of Royal memorabilia will delight in this latest Austin Tilly livery which appears in dark earth/grey brown camouflage scheme with sage green canvas back, rolled up at the back to reveal the dark brown interior and mid beige seating. Military lettering is in white and a perhaps amusing detail sees an L plate in red out of white on the front and back of the truck.

Catalogue listing

Oxford Diecast Austin Tilly No.1 MTTC Camberley 1945 is a 1:76 scale model reproduced by Oxford Diecast, catalogue number 76TIL011. The vehicle represents a British Railways Early Crest Austin Tilly used by the Mechanical Training Centre at Camberley, Surrey, in 1945.

The model is presented in a dark earth/grey‑brown camouflage scheme with a sage‑green canvas cover rolled back to expose a dark brown interior and mid‑beige seating. Military lettering is applied in white and an L‑plate in red edged with white appears on both the front and rear of the truck.

The livery is linked to a historical anecdote: during the Second World War Princess Elizabeth, then a Hon. Second Sub‑altern, underwent mechanical training at the Camberley centre and worked on an Austin Tilly (M1136086). By the end of her course she had attained the rank of Junior Commander and qualified as a driver. Collectors of royal memorabilia may find this detail of interest.