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American LaFrance 700


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5 hours ago, GLMFAA1 said:

There are some shapes that are really hard to get, ten years plus in the making

2v2EgkKvqxwhifW.jpgburner

goes back and forth from front burner to back

2v2EgkK3nxwhifW.jpg

greg

Yeah it’s tough to get right. This is I think the sixth version of the nose. 

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10 hours ago, cargostar said:

Not sure. I still have to finish the interior, and build the jumpseat area. 

Well, be sure to keep us posted.  I have enough projects to last a couple of lifetimes, but this is probably a gotta-have.

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Here are some ALF 700's that I built in the '80's.  Chassis is from ALF 1000 series, with modified 1000 series cabs, and scratch built bodies.  Also used the aerial from that ladder chiel on the MMA quint.

1950 ALF 700 pumper

5d4497b5a7dfe_1950ALF700pumper(1).jpg.95b86d18e2efe7bfa14419ced6cff569.jpg

1950 ALF 700 pumper (3).jpg

5d4497b7788aa_1950ALF700pumper(7).jpg.45ad26cd05d51d61add64463bca7c2ac.jpg

5d4497b6df26e_1950ALF700pumper(6).jpg.2c213b0e0756e792dcbde32773cbeecc.jpg

 

 

1957 ALF 700 Pumper

5d4497ef051df_1957ALF700pumper(1).jpg.57bdf58759a4060255090b6a3a762d05.jpg

5d4497ef8f3ff_1957ALF700pumper(3).jpg.2bc1047a3b8ada1bf2e606313f0d0759.jpg

5d4497f0b0752_1957ALF700pumper(7).jpg.8ba6960d0fef7499def3051008f4f742.jpg

5d4497f026ba7_1957ALF700pumper(6).jpg.80bc59791422f74cbe15e8d482ee8dd3.jpg

 

 

5d44981d1cf79_1957ALF700seriesQuint(2).JPG.8628d38a502b560eb54c8b0018b634bf.JPG

5d44981dc605e_1957ALF700seriesQuint(5).JPG.00dd733cc57302882f551ccb7c114157.JPG

5d44981e61ebe_1957ALF700seriesQuint(7).JPG.518c02ec3391300384b237c0f7bda200.JPG

5d44981ee2268_1957ALF700seriesQuint(9).JPG.badbc448fcc75193f36da1a231a1da79.JPG

 

 

 

Edited by maxwell48098
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  • 1 year later...

Hey! I want to do a 700 conversion on the 1/25 AMT kit. A couple years ago I found a template with dimensions that someone had posted online but I haven’t been able to find it since has anyone seen these drawings to convert the AMT kits to a 700 series cab?

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OK, I have to ask.................  maybe someone can shed some light on this for me, first off the master for this truck is awesome, but my question is................ why did they build some of these trucks with NO ROOF???? It seems to me that every fire truck I have seen is spotlessly clean, I would think a fire truck  with no roof, would be inherently dangerous ( falling debris) and the fact it would get SO dirty............... what was the theory behind the no roof deal?? I have asked fire fighters  that I know and not one can tell me why this was....  don't meant o hijack your thread, but as there is a photo on this page, I thought maybe one of you guys may know.....

Jeff

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Answer number 1: Years ago a Canadian named Ted Calvin (RIP) made the 700 cab from the AMT ALF cab. His 'how to' was published in the GLMFAA newsletter.

img444.jpg.fed77a88dfa935614a5f62c61c3514a0.jpg

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Scan0004.jpg.30f26bb7f342d06fb76f46d395ef6b97.jpg

One section missing is the window frame template.

Answer number 2: Open cab fire apparatus goes all the way back to the first horse drawn equipment to the first motorized apparatus. Enclosed cabs came to existence in the 1930's with the Detroit fire department safety cab. Open cabs stayed in use until the 60's when rioting showed the need to protect the firefighters. Open cabs wer a fire department preference due to clear visibility when approaching the fire scene. freer movement about the cab. Probably some 'macho' mixed in there being firefighters that could fight all elements.

Hope this helps. Happy New Year

greg

Edited by GLMFAA1
grammer
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To answer Jeff Robinson's question:  The open cab concept is a carry over from the days of horse and wagon and with the idea that it would be faster for the crew to get in place.   It was also thought that there would be no visual hinderance to spotting apparatus at the fire ground.   It was popular in many departments up until the time of the riots of the 1970's when many departments, especially in the larger cities ended up retrofitting many open cab apparatus with all sorts of things ranging from plywood to sheet metal to fiberglass.  To continue on the safety theme it became SOP via NFPA guidelines to have all firefighters seated and in an enclosed area.  Hence the closed cab and four door apparatus that you see today.  The fire service over the years had been very traditional and not particularly open to some innovation but that has all changed.  What you see today is also a reflection of European influence on design and safety.

And thank you, Greg for posting the how to on making a 700 cab.  I'm saving that info!?

I didn't mean to steal Greg's thunder.  I completely missed his answer No. 2 above!!  We're essentially on the same page.   

Edited by Chariots of Fire
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Thanks, Charles, that makes perfect sense, now I finally understand, it just seemed to me a rather dangerous prospect to have an open cab...... I get it now... I have a good buddy who is a firefighter in Calgary Alberta, and he said he used to ride in the open back of a  Ford C cab, in winter he said it was BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH cold !  Again sorry for any highjack, this is all very interesting.............  Thanks again, I will now go back to my seat and watch quietly...  Jeff

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