Danno Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 (edited) " . . . one little detail at a time. So many of them yet to do!" Boy, Howdy! Ain't that the truth about fire apparatus. ?? When it looks finished you might only be about half-way done! This rig is looking great, Charlie!! And, you gotta love a Pierce! ?? Edited December 8, 2020 by Danno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted December 12, 2020 Author Share Posted December 12, 2020 Just an update on the pump panel progress. I'm calling the operator's side done. Now it's on to the officer's side. Then there's a booster hose reel to make and a hydraulic ladder rack. Oh Fun!!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanman Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 That panel is exquisite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotnitro? Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Speechless..outstanding work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutzie Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Absolutely amazing work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted December 14, 2020 Author Share Posted December 14, 2020 And here's the right side. No where near as busy. Just a few small items to add and this part will be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Superb! ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gator52 Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 Spectacular workmanship; thank you for documenting this project so thoroughly! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemodeler Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 That is outstanding work, as usual and the detailed pump panel looks like the real thing. Your skills are amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 (edited) This is how the real ones are built; modules at a time. Then it's like plug and play, connecting all of the components with the appropriate wiring, etc. Been working on the booster hose reel for the top deck. I found a nice diagram for Hannay reels on line and it gave all of the specific dimensions that I needed. I scanned the diagram and scaled it down to 1/25 size. Unfortunately the diagram does not follow consistent dimensions with what is in the table. So I had to stretch and squeeze here and there but it was sufficient to get the reel done. And here's where it will ultimately go when painted and the hose is added. Edited December 18, 2020 by Chariots of Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotnitro? Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 this is so well detailed if it was photgraphed outside it would pass for the real truck ! well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 1 hour ago, gotnitro? said: this is so well detailed if it was photgraphed outside it would pass for the real truck ! well done I’m pretty sure that it is the real truck. Charles has developed a giant shrink ray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilrathy10 Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 This baby is incredible... Just incredible... From, basically, nothing to this masterpiece... I know I'm impressed... Very impressed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 The hose reel is painted and is now installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 3 hours ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said: I’m pretty sure that it is the real truck. Charles has developed a giant shrink ray. You're not supposed to know about that, Brian! Who leaked it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaronw Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 On 12/18/2020 at 9:01 AM, Chariots of Fire said: This is how the real ones are built; modules at a time. Then it's like plug and play, connecting all of the components with the appropriate wiring, etc. I've gotten to walk through a couple of small fire apparatus builders shops, and seeing the real ones in production, very much like you show here was such a light bulb moment for me. In 2001 I went to Boise to pick up a new engine from Boise Mobile Equipment and while there I got a tour of the facility. Up to that point I had just seen the whole truck and the idea of scratch building one seemed to be way beyond me. After walking through the plant and seeing the piles of sheet metal, and tubing, components waiting to be installed and apparatus in various stages of completion suddenly I saw it as Evergreen plastic and the "it is lots of little models" idea clicked in my head. After that what seemed impossible, suddenly just seemed difficult. A couple of photos I took (still used film in those days so I didn't take very many). and the finished one I was there to pick up. No place to put the spare so they just bolted it to the bumper, very classy. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 That's pretty much it, Aaron. The bigger shops use a lot of jigs to get things squared up and uniform. This one you show reminds my of one that was not too far away that did a lot of brush truck building as well. Early on the guy who did most of the fabrication for the bar work used a piece of chalk to outline it on the floor where he was working! And that's how the bars got put together.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vettegasser Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 This is an awesome build Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share Posted December 23, 2020 Got a bit more done. I'll let you guys figure out what's been added.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 I know! ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redneckrigger Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 You keep raising the bar Charlie! Pretty soon, I figure they will have working pumps and tanks full of H2O! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted December 29, 2020 Author Share Posted December 29, 2020 Work on the hydraulic ladder rack has been completed. Next is to add the brackets that secure the ladders in place. The vertical pieces the gusset plate and the end pieces are soldered brass strip stock. The rack itself is plastic strip stock. The small end clamps can be opened so that the ladder rack can be rotated down. The round base plate is pinned to the body with a bolt and nut in the inside. 2 Whelan led warning lights are on the top rear of the body, both sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 (edited) With the ladder rack done the next job was to begin filling the hose bed. I like sewing elastic, some fancy middy striping and 3M tape to make the hose. The small hose in the right side of the bed has been stained with watered down acrylic tan. The red hose is just like it comes in the package. I made a shelf to put in the hose bed to cut down on the amount of material that is needed to fill it. It's cheating, I know but when it's done we won't tell anyone else! A look at the hose bed with the shelf in place, painted the same color as the hose to disguise the shelf just in case some of it shows through. I make it a point to cover it completely so the paint is just a precaution. Short pieces of hose have been placed in front of the shelf. The next layers will extend the full length of the bed for 2-3 layers. That was done on the light tan attack line to the right. The first layer is started. Additional layers will be glued in place with the CA. Care has to be taken not to smear the hose bed dividers with glue. I had to lower the ladder rack to get these two parts of the hose load in place. The first two hose loads are done. The hose was dusted with some Doc O'Brien's weathering powder to give it a dirtied look. (Grungy gray). Next up will be the large diameter supply line made of 3M yellow tape. Edited January 2, 2021 by Chariots of Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted January 4, 2021 Author Share Posted January 4, 2021 The hose bed is full. Scotch brand yellow duct tape was used for the LDH supply line. 3/4" strips folded in thirds and then laid in the bed the same as the others with short sections out front and then layers to the front of the bed on top. Same with the line on the left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 Looks great, but that hose is pretty dirty for such a clean, new rig. Better have some rookies pull that hose and scrub it some more! Super work, Charley. That's an ISO-9 if I ever saw one! ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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