REME Museum,
Arborfield, Berkshire

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Arborfield in Berkshire is home to the REME (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers) main training establishment. It is also home to their museum. The Scammel Pioneer pictured opposite is just one of the vehicles in their huge collection of engineers equipment.

It is unfortunate that the largest part of the collection is not normally open to the public, as it is held at another large Army site at Borden, in Hampshire. However, there is still an interesting selection held in the main display hall at the Museum itself.

Another example of the Scammel, though this time it is the tractor unit for the tank transporter (shame, no trailer). I pictured this in the area outside the main museum hall, and while it is not permanently on display, it is one that is driven up from Borden and left on show and an occasional basis. For makers of the Airfix 1/76 kit, or the larger 1/35 resin model by Accurate Armour, this makes an excellent reference.  
  Within the main hall, this CMP with Garwood recovery equipment is an interesting reference for any modeller.
Not rare of course, but no museum display would really be complete without a Jeep. An Austin K6 Gantry can be seen behind.  
  Outside by the car park, this M32 was recovered from the former Yugoslavia, and only returned in recent years to its new home at the museum. Some original US markings are still found on it, despite many new layers of paint since. Not bad externally, but internally in a poor state.

Below are two views of a 6-wheel Morris breakdown, a fairly simple conversion topic for modellers in 1/76 scale, using the Bofors Tractor in the Airfix kit.

 
  This is better known as the Striker, the SP a/t missile armed CVR(T) variant. This one is actually referred to as SWIG (Swingfire With Improved Guidance) and was seen on display at one of the regular half-term events they put on at the museum. In fact, they have a lively and well supported series of educational events during half term periods which tends to see the place buzzing with activity. In February 2005, this was one of the vehicles brought round from the training establishment, along with a Warrior, and MLRS and s Scimitar.
The "Tilly" is another display item that is not permanent but still appears on a regular basis in the last year or so. Once again this is great reference material for modellers.

Open every weekday and on Sundays, I would really recommend a visit to the REME Museum. Look out for other permanent exhibits such as a Sherman BARV, Sampson, Stalwart, Challenger ARRV (one of the prototypes I believe) and yet another Scammel, among others. Even a small German Goliath is tucked into one corner.

  
   
©Robin Buckland, 2003