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Oxford Diecast 76TN005

Thornycroft Nubian Duxford

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

Prototype Eras
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation
Era 9 (1995 to 2004) Initial Privatisation

Manufacturer description

Several of previous Thornycroft Nubians in this collectable Oxford series have been modelled on those deployed in an airport environment and our fifth release is no exception, this time attached to one of the most famous British airfields of them all, Duxford.

Transport Equipment Ltd's Thornycroft Nubian Major was first introduced in 1966 as a high performance crash tender chassis carrying increased loads of foam and water supplies delivered by the roof mounted monitor and separate hand lines. Powered by a Cummings V-8 diesel engine the 18 ton vehicle could exceed a speed of 60 m.p.h. Carmichael's 'Jetranger' was quickly adapted by many airport and military authorities worldwide with several fire engineering firms producing airport fire engines on the chassis.

On our 1:76 scale replica (11.7cm in length), the Duxford Airport Fire Services lettering features along the sides of the appliance, which is registered PUS 270M from 1973/74. The intricate cab and tender roof detailing is amazing, as is the high level of paintwork, from the main red body colour to detailed yellow, black and silver masking operations. The black and silver radiator grille features the elongated Thornycroft 'T' badge. A tiny detail comprises the Duxford Airport Fire Services crest which is printed on both the cab doors. The crest, which reads Duxford Airport Fire Services, depicts a figure on a winged horse. It is a modified version of the original more detailed RAF Station Duxford crest which had the motto Verrimus Caelum - We sweep the skies. Evocative indeed!

 

Catalogue listing

Oxford Diecast Thornycroft Nubian Duxford is a 1:76 scale model (11.7 cm long) of a Thornycroft Nubian Major fire tender used by Duxford Airport Fire Services. The model carries the manufacturer part number 76TN005 and represents the vehicle in its British Rail blue livery prior to the introduction of the TOPS system.

The original Thornycroft Nubian Major was launched in 1966 as a high‑performance crash‑tender chassis, powered by a Cummings V‑8 diesel engine and capable of speeds over 60 mph. It was equipped with a roof‑mounted monitor and separate hand lines for foam and water, and the chassis was widely adopted by airport and military fire services worldwide.

The replica reproduces the appliance as registered PUS 270M in the 1973/74 period. Detail includes Duxford Airport Fire Services lettering on the sides, the Thornycroft “T” badge on the black and silver radiator grille, and the service crest printed on the cab doors. Paintwork features a red body with yellow, black and silver masking, and the cab and tender roof are rendered with fine detailing.