Chariots of Fire Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Trucks like this became popular here in the northeast where water supplies are difficult to come by in rural areas. The thought behind these rigs was to lay out 1000 feet of large diameter hose (4" or 5"), have a big pump at the source of water and relay the water through the hose to the mini. The mini was pass it on if needed to the next mini or to where ever the water was needed. An early attempt at scratch building and long before the introduction of the ALPS printer! The step in the rear folds down at the ends, allowing a firefighter to stand and use his foot to control the bar at the step. This engaged a small electric motor that was connected via gearing to the large gear on the side of the hose reel, allowing the hose to be picked up quickly after use. The vertical tubes kept the heavy couplings from hanging up on the sides of the body. I used folded masking tape to make the hose. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leafsprings Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Nice job! A clear case of "form follows function". The spokes look very 70's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Nice work. It looks just 'right', and interesting to read how it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim B Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Great looking mini-pumper. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Well done!👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Great theme and finishes. I like the pumper equipment you created. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLMFAA1 Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Great piece from the innovative 70's. I don't think the idea got any further than Pennsylvania. Probably on the west coast. Lots of the mini stuff was built by the smaller manufacturers like Hammerly. The Dodge was used a lot in fire apparatus applications. Early chariot, nice to see. Paul Kort mini pumper using the Revell midnight cowboy cab Unknown builder from FAMBA meet. Big rig with big reels Ted Calvin's CDR foam rapid response vehicle My version of mini pumper using MPC Dodge and Chevy pumper kits greg greg 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kromolly Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Very nice. It's fun to see the functional utility vehicles. Nice fabrication work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 I had never even heard of these type of trucks. Excellent work as usual! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 Necessity breeds function sometimes. It all started in the northeast following an international financier's trip to the UK and seeing large diameter hose in use for the first time. He brought the idea to the US and applied it to his own use. He built his own fire department as a mutual aid department and training center to small towns that needed help. So the idea of large diameter hose and a means to lay an above ground water supply took shape. His name was Donald Holbrook and he wrote a book called "The Unlikely Firemaster". This was back in the early 1960's and before the time of what we now know as EMS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy grumpy Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Very cool build. Great idea behind it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hct728(Bob) Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Wow, that hose reel is so big it’s like it’s in a different scale, LOL! A really unique build of a unique unit, amazing how innovative firefighters have to be when met with these challenging conditions. Love how your work is not only well done and complete, but authentic as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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