Aaronw

I would email Star models, I found him very easy to work with and he was willing to answer questions about the resin I was buying.

Nice tow truck, not something I see very often. Different states have different rules for lights. Here in California blue is only for law enforcement, in Arizona some of the fire departments have red and blue lights, in Oregon tow trucks can have blue lights (or at least they could 20 years ago) and in many states blue lights are for volunteer firefighters. Some states treat tow trucks as full blown emergency vehicles allowing emergency lights and sirens. CalTrans has some neat tow truck / fire engines on the larger bridges, I've seen one on the Bay Bridge several times but can't seem to catch it somewhere I could get some pics of it.

Any suggestions for plastic sheet to replicate the corrigated or grooved metal siding used on van style trailers? I'm sure that Plastruct or Evergreen has something that will work, but I have to do most of my shopping online where I don't get to take a good up close look at the design. Kind of hoping someone has built a trailer and has already found something that works. Thanks

Click on the model fire apparatus link in my signature, it is my website made specifically to help people like you (not a firefighter, don't know any firefighters) build fire apparatus. Lots of definitions and photos to help you figure out what you are looking at. The truck in my avatar is the 1-1 Engine 51 from the TV show Emergency! It is a Ward LaFrance like dave's cab. One trick I've seen to improve the emergency beacons is to replace the chrome dome with a similarly sized automotive light bulb with the base ground down, then mounted on the base.

The kit is an ALF 1000 series, I have an ALF book I can check exact dates on but roughly you are looking at early to mid 70's. With the lowside body style I would lean towards early 70's but that is not an absolute. With a little work you could backdate it to a 900 series which came out in the early 60's. The big difference between the 900 and 1000 series is the trim. The 1000 is basically a 900 with all the popular bells and whistles included as standard items. I have a photo of a 1968 ALF from the San Francisco FD that is almost a dead ringer for the kit. The Scale Fire House has sticky threads dealing with these kits. Pumper http://scalefirehouse.com/sfh_chat/viewtop...p?f=35&t=68 Ladder and Aerochief http://scalefirehouse.com/sfh_chat/viewtop...p?f=35&t=69

Thanks, I guess I'll get it next time I'm down there. They only recently added it which seems odd if it was re-issued a few years ago.

I saw a Sprint car kit the other day at my "local" Hobbytown (if 2 hours can be considered local), I think it was from Revell. It looks like it can be built as a sprint car with a rounded nose, or as a wedge shaped open cockpit racer. Anyone know about this kit? Does it build up into a decent sprint car? It is the only kit of a sprint car I've ever seen, so I thought about getting it, but thought I'd ask about it first. Thanks

I don't really know what you are talking about but racing actual "stock" cars would be much more interesting to me than most racing out there these days. My favorite is the dirt track stuff because I can relate to dragging some junker out of a farmers field cleaning it up, adding a limited amount of after market stuff and tearing around the track with similar vehicles. You know racing that doesn't take a 30 million dollar corporate sponsor to participate. I do like the rally cars, because they remind me of Speed Racer and the Sprint cars are great, like mad scientist racers, 2 speeds, stop and crazy fast.

Great job, what motor did you tuck in there?

I've seen wall paper used for linoleum, the right pattern would probably work for tile as well.

I think that is the paper with the little pictures, but I'm not sure.

Just thought I'd add I got my order from Sourkrout this afternoon, this was my first time ordering from him. Very happy with the service, online ordering made it easy and I got my order in less that 2 weeks, probably less (I don't remember exactly when I made my order).

I've never run across a pic of the H cab tilted, does it tilt above the lower section (so literally a C cab sitting on a seperate lower fairing) or does the whole cab tilt. I always assumed the whole cab tilted but noticed you attached the lower cab to the frame but you said you plan on trying to make the cab tilt, which make me think only the upper section tilts. The resin cab that was once available had the lower section as part of the upper cab.

I've bought from him several times, nice castings and decent service. He can be a little hard to get ahold of and occasionally the wait can be a bit long, but he always comes through and everything I've bought (truck stuff) has been well worth the minor inconveniences. He also sells on ebay occasionally and some of his truck stuff is available from Sourkrout's models. http://sourkrautsmodeltrucks.com/

Who makes the Studebaker truck?

The Ford H was a development of the C. The cab was raised higher on the H for use as a highway tractor. The Ford C came out in 1957, the H in 61 or 62.

I don't have the older GMC or Chevy pickup kits, but the '72 Chevrolet kit re-issued a couple years ago included some custom parts, a custom grill and wheels at least, don't remember what else. There was also a custom "Rides" version of the kit, but I never got that so don't know what it added / removed from the kit.

I was just looking for the resin conversion for this truck the other night and found out it is no longer available. I'll be watching your build, any details you can share will be appreciated as doing it myself may be plan B. Looking really good so far.

I actually didn't have that hard of a time tracking one down on ebay last year, I think I got it for about $30.

Spaldings has really cut back their offerings. They used to have a Ford H (kind of a C on steroids) and a sleeper for the C. They don't list either anymore, I found this out looking for the H cab which just reinforces buy it when you can. They have added a neat 1950 Ford F-8 conventional though. The sleeper for the C cab shouldn't be a hard scratchbuild if you can get a few decent pics, it is basically just a rectangular tube that fits on the back of the cab.

Thanks, I guess I be spending some time at Hanks trucks looking for inspiration.

Did the older release of the Blitz have vinyl or rubber tires? I have a couple of the fire truck version and the tires are all plastic which seems to work ok, maybe they learned.

If you are into old airplanes you could make it a weekend trip, the old Castle AFB is just down the road in Atwater and it is supposed to have a pretty good air museum including one of the last B36 Peacemakers (whopping huge bomber from the 50s).

Thanks, just when I think I'm starting to get a clue about custom car terminology I get whopped upside the head with a new one.

Are you talking about the flatbed that comes with the Dodge L-700?