explorer2770 Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) A long time ago I started to combine a Revell Snap Peterbilt 359 kit with the rear body of a Trumpeter American LaFrance pumper. My goal was to make a "short" conventional pumper using the forward rear suspension location on the Peterbilt and mock up a new, smaller pump panel. This is how the idea looked when I mocked it up a few years ago. After a few moves and some more thought, I started to get this one going again. The rear of the cab wall was fixed, the passenger side battery box was removed and a fuel tank from the AMT Peterbilt 359 wrecker was mounted there instead. The chassis was modified simply to remove the driver side stack, which required filling of those mounting holes on the cab. Then came the paint, white with red accents. Of course, after I painted the chassis and began assembly, I realized that I wanted to add a pseudo pump, and had to add that before installing the drive train. Don't look too closely, you wont see u-bolts where the pump connects to the shafts...I forgot about that. The front bumper was modified to store rolled hose, but a front mounted intake just doesn't work with this particular cab design. I'll have to convert it to a small trash line. And here's the mock up with the pumper body and pump panel. Both side intakes will have rolled hose, the officer's side will be connect, but the driver's side will not be. I did open up the grill on the snap kit, but I cheated and cut off the vertical supports. I used half round to put them back in and give the black mesh ribbon something to mount to. The bumper currently isn't attached, I had to make additional arms so that it would mount to the frame properly. I also drilled out the lights in the bumper and added sirens from the 1/32 Mack pumper kit. Regular strobe lights will be added later on in assembly. I did modify the pumper body slightly. I’m building this truck for a volunteer fire department, so water quantity is a strong requirement. The College Park ALF pumper is only designed to carry 500 gallons, I wanted 1000 gallons, but I settled for 750 gallons by raising the hose bed and replacing the back panel with diamond plate, a couple of steps, and two non-functional doors. I could have gone for more water storage, but I would have just built a new, longer body instead of recycling this one. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the body and pump panel into some primer, this humidity isn't real nice for painting this rig right now. Once everything is painted, I'll start placing the decals, make the hose load, then add all of the other little details to finish this one out. I do apologize in advance for the poor picture quality. Let me know what you think. Edited April 12, 2014 by explorer2770 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewaskew Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Very nice man,that's looking real good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Good project; looking very good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilrathy10 Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 (edited) This is a great idea and an awesome way to carry it out...That's a pretty good idea for the grill....It looks a lot better than the kit version.....As far as the functionality of this thing, I don't think anybody at the fire station is going to be looking THAT closely.....I think you'll be all right....This is already an outstanding build.....I can't wait for the finished product....Awesome.....I might try my hand at one of these.... Edited June 2, 2013 by kilrathy10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckabilly Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Nice conversion. You are on the right way to build an attractive and clean model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomsheehy Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Excellent looking project. Very well executed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit1 Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Wow...Tim didnt jump in yet? Pretty Cool little 289 Pumper?...(Correct me tim) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooknladderno1 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Brandon, Sweet idea AND execution! I like the changes and the details. Look forward to following this project. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
explorer2770 Posted June 3, 2013 Author Share Posted June 3, 2013 (edited) Guys, thanks for the comments. This build has been a labor of love, in and out of boxes for quite some time. I've been making some more progess, I have the pump panel in the paint shop and filled some holes in the pumper body, plus added the hose bed dividers and started working on the hose loads. Since this isn't going to be an ALF any more, and a slightly older vehicle, I opted to remove some of the strobe lights. Found some imperfections in the pump panel and still need to finish wet sanding the body before I shoot some primer. I'm just glad that I changed to red over white paint scheme instead of the previous green over tan. The white and red looks much better. I know I'm going to have to redo the Silverado brush truck to match the new scheme...or make a new one. Edited June 3, 2013 by explorer2770 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
explorer2770 Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Well, here's some progress on the pump panel. Black gauges and pull handles have been added as well as BMF and alumnium foil to the diamond plate. Still working on the crosslay loads. All of the handles work, they still need "labels". The 45 degree discharge fittings need some BMF then those can be added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilrathy10 Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Still looking good, Man....Coming along, nicely... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FIREMODELMAN Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Looking very good B-man. But get out there and cut mom's grass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
explorer2770 Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 JT, thanks. I'm trying not to rush this one but I want it done so I can start another with a top mount pump. Dave, I'm at a rental...I don't cut no stinking grass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
explorer2770 Posted June 5, 2013 Author Share Posted June 5, 2013 Some more progess. Last night I started adding markings, mounted the air cleaner and luberfiner, the modified exhaust stack, and the front bumper. The grab handle still needs to be added to the driver's side, but that will come in final assembly. he pump panel is loose since I plan to mount it to the pumper body before I mount it to the chassis. Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooknladderno1 Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Lookin' great Brandon! Can't wait to see your next update/ David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismooney Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Nice work Brandon... Great paint! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Nice looking work, Brandon! BTW Please! Don't change the Chevy's color scheme! I like!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
explorer2770 Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 (edited) I can't believe it has been almost a year since I last posted on this build. Here is the teaser photo of the finished build. I'll have more photos after the Cincinnati Challenge tomorrow. Edited April 11, 2014 by explorer2770 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alangarber Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Nice job. That is looking really good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLMFAA1 Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 Great looking rig, my only suggestion is mount the Q from the ALF. gotta make more noise than the Pete greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim B Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 That looks really nice. Great kit bashing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
explorer2770 Posted April 12, 2014 Author Share Posted April 12, 2014 Great looking rig, my only suggestion is mount the Q from the ALF. gotta make more noise than the Pete greg Greg, that is a great idea, I have a spare from a partially built AMT ladder chief. Now comes the dilemma of where to mount it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooknladderno1 Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 Brandon, Awesome job! It is great to see different ideas and configurations rather than the same old OOB builds! I appreciate all of the creativity and challenges that occur along the way. Maybe that's why my started/completed ratio is what it is??? David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 Looks great!! More pics, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csxfan2001 Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Great looking Truck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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