Chariots of Fire

Well, it was complete until I was asked to add one last detail. And that was the bridge weight placard. The 6 refers to the GVW in tons.

Blade treatment is spot on. I think the tracks could use the same. Great job though.

Hi, Tom. I've found that using acrylic washes over oil based paints works pretty well as the acrylics wont attack the base paint. It's just a matter of finding a good consistency for the wash. Micro-Mark also makes a good set of weathering powders and Tamiya makes small sets of similar materials that can be swiped on with the sponge and small brush they supply. The Tamiya set that has the silver in it is great for creating worn edges and places where the paint would be worn off like on floor boards, running boards and such.

Three thumbs up! Great job, Brian. Wasn't there a marketing ad: "Built Ford tough!"? Fits it to a T!!

That would make a beautiful model, Warren! The wrecker portion would actually be quite easy. Lots of simple pieces that could be fabricated in brass and then painted.

I like Ben's second suggestion but I would go a step further. Drill some holes in the door where the mirror bracket would go and insert the bracket into the holes and secure it with a TINY amount of superglue. Paper clips are good for the brackets since they are already chromed. You could also use brass stiff brass wire and then coat it with "chrome" using a Molotow chrome pen. Glue the mirror to the bracket top and bottom.

That's a nice job, Brian. Really nice. One question: Did you leave the chrome off the front and sides of the hood on purpose? Just askin'

Super work, Ken. I like the wheel treatment. is that just a wash over the chrome? It looks nice!

Thanks, Tim: I did have to use the Revell '41 Chevy kit for the cab and engine. Without those I could have been in big trouble!

That's a real pretty rig!!

Thanks, guys. Now I just have to do it all over again for Jim's friend who is in Belgium!

After a couple of feverish work sessions the Class 325 fire fighting rig is finished. The plumbing from tank to pump and from pump to hose reels was finished yesterday and a battery box was installed behind the cab. A little paint touchup here and there and it is now ready to go.

And finally here are the 4 pails that are part of the equipment. I used a photo of the actual truck to determine the size of the pails and then turned out a master of the stacked pails on my lathe. A mold was made with the widest part down so that when the resin copy is pulled out it comes out of the mold easily. Next was to wrap some wire around the top edges of each pail to represent the rolled edges. Then similar wire was bent to form the handles. The whole piece was sprayed with Rustoleum etching primer and then given a swipe with some Tamiya weathering powders. The slightly off OD color adds some contrast and the weathering powders gives them a bit of wear around the edges and on the handles. Just got to get all this stuff permanently mounted now.

Beautiful job on that frame. Great scratch building!!

Zeroing in on details now. The left side of the rig carried hand tools and appliances. So far the 4 gallon pump can and the 5 gallon back packs have been finished. Yet to be done are 4 buckets stacked at the rear above the compartment. An ax is mounted on the vertical panel behind the buckets. The photo shows the masters, the molds and in the case of the 4 gallon pump can the intermediate unpainted version beside the finished can. To the very left are 3 of the 4 hub caps that will cover the screws holding the wheels on the axles. In front of the back packs are two battle lanterns that will also be mounted topside.

Keep the chrome pieces bright! It will make a great contrast!

That will be nice. I built a 1952 F-7 a while ago but I had to start with the '50 p/u kit cab and widen the fenders and front cowl a bit. Somewhat of a chore but it ended up ok. Keep 'er goin'!

made my own, Warren. Go on line and look for #15 Fusion Beads. They are little ceramic hex nut shapes with a hole in the middle. Drill a hole where you want the lug nut to go and insert a piece of 0.020" plastic rod. Slip over the rod a fusion bead and secure it with a tiny drop of glue. Then trim off the plastic rod leaving just enough to represent the stud. They look pretty convincing. You can get a package of 200 beads for less than $5. Below is an example I used for my Class 325 rig.

A couple more add-ons to the back of the body. One more nozzle tip, some adapters and a shovel now make up the back step area. One correction was also made. I noticed that the decals for the tail lights were not straight so new ones were made and darkened up some. I simply painted over the old ones and when the paint was dry added the new ones taking care to set them even and straight.

Still more work done. There is more to do as well but the back of the truck is nearly finished. There are two styles of pump cans that go on the left side along with buckets and a long handle shovel. Somewhere I will have to add a fire axe. Just for kicks I took two pump cans off of the Dodge W300 I did years ago and set them on the truck. The ones I do now won't be as fancy as everything on it is OD color. The pump action will be brass. And the hose will be sewing elastic like the samples in the bed. Second photo is what the rear of the truck looks like as of today. Here's the Dodge I took the pump cans from.

A very impressive build of a real brute! Well done! One of these days I'm going to have to start the M20 Diamond T tank hauler. That's an impressive kit as well.

Brian, that body went together about as fast as its ever been done. Just a bunch of square and strip pieces. The two hose reel "brackets" took a little longer with a ruler and compass to get the right curve on the bottom. All the little details become mini-projects. That way you can concentrate on them without worrying about how much more there is to do! One other thing. You couldn't get a much easier paint scheme! Fun part of the OD is that if you mess it up you get out the brush and touch it up. Blends right in. Flats are so forgiving. I'll be working on some pump cans, water pails and other details for the rear step in a bit. Last will be to fill the hose bed.

And the work continues. Body is painted, hose reels mounted. Worked on the ladder brackets, suction hose brackets and made up the 20' extension ladder and roof ladder. We are getting closer to the end of the build.

That's cool! Never saw something like that before. A first for a model for sure!