hooknladderno1

Hi Guys, Started this a while back. It is a light rescue unit for my semi-fictitious Summit Airport Fire Rescue ARFF station. It began life as a Miasto Ford pickup. It was stripped to bare metal with aircraft stripper and primed with Duplicolor self etching primer. . The cabs were then primed with Tamiya fine white surface primer. It's stable mate will become a Type 1 ambulance as pictured here: The rescue body was scratchbuilt with Evergreen sheet and stock. The build was painted in the ARFF station's signature colors of white over lime yellow. This mock up with the graphics was done several months ago. Please note that the graphics were attached with tape, and not secured well. The final graphics will have a silver with black outline beneath a blue with white outline. The top layer will be offset slightly to give the appearance of a drop shadow. As the graphics were removed, some of the aluminum paint came off the doors. New doors were made attached, painted, and clear coated. The chassis was completed and rear bumper tacked in place with Fun Tak. Still lots to do. like painting the new rub rails, fashioning new diamond plate rear wheel well covers, and making more of the Whelen strobes/scene lights. Also considering diamond plate for the rescue body top, and running boards for the cab... Thanks for looking. David

For the water hoses, could you use insulated electrical wire? Simply cut to length, trim off the insulation on the ends, drill holes into the receiving parts and superglue in place. You could use some of the aftermarket fittings for a really nice look. David

There is a 1/25 scale Huey helicopter kit that has recently been re- released. Sells for around $30.00 I think. HTH. David

Ira, What other superlative can I add that hasn't already been shared? I have watched this build from start to finish. I am in awe of your talent and creativity! AWESOME!!! David

Nice Ben! David

Awesome scratchbuilding AND clean building overall! Very inspiring! Look forward to following your progress. David

Hi Guys, Another update: I roughed out the front bumper turret mount for the vehicle. The piece needs puttying, sanding, and final shaping. Once completed, the turret itself will be fashioned. The piece is currently held in place with FunTack. I also fashioned an equipment compartment on the officer's side of the truck. Again, it is tacked in place. Once completed, and painted, it will have slam locks added, and be permanently attached in a more horizontal position. Diamond plate coverings have been fashioned for both the tank and rear pump control compartment. They will be finished in a NMF. I will also be scratchbuilding a hose reel for open area behind the spare tire and water tank. Lots more work still to be done Let me know what you think. Thanks for looking! David

Thanks!

Jonathan, This looks great! Can you measure the whee base from the front axle to the middle of the rear duals in millimeters for me? I recently got a kit that will be converted into a day cab straight framed fire tanker. I would appreciate it! Thanks. David

I am a little late with this post, but at a show a weekend ago, I picked up tbe the following: Paystar Cement Mixer $15.00 Prostar $40.00 1/35 HEMTT 977 $10.00 1/72 CH-146 Griffon helicopter $4.00 1/35 Academy UH-60L helicopter $25.00 1/32 BO-105 helicopter $10.00 1/35 OH-58D helicopter $15.00 and brand new Harder& Steenbeck compressor $100.00! Not a bad day! David

Now that Cargostar's daycab is available, I will have to order one! David

Jonathan, Super job! She looks just fine to me! We can be our own worst critics! If you want to raise the bar, go for it! I still have to complete the body mods on the extended van ambulance that I began shortly after you started this project... Sometimes replicas of 1:1 vehicles can be more difficult to get done than fictitious vehicles - at least for me... David

Tom, AMAZING!!! You are the "original" 3D printer!!! Your eye and ability to create replicas is a TRUE GIFT! I think that I speak for many here by saying that I am speechless... I too look forward to buying at least two. My squad ran an ambulance based on one of these(sky blue) and the fire police of another dept. that I ran with used one(white over red). David

While these photos are not the greatest, these are a set of Ben's two hole Budds that I ordered from him several years ago. Still working on the project, but the resin tires have since been replaced by KFS rubber tires. Fit is better AND they look great! The wheels will be detailed appropriately prior to completion. David

Dan, Awesome work on both the Lonestar cab and Beall tanker! I have two of the Beall trailers, but have been hesitant to build them. Mine will be converted to fire service water tankers, and the chrome piping on the passenger side will be removed, as well as the addition of several compartments along the body. Any feedback you can share on the tanker build? Look forward to following your progress on this build! David

Looks nice and clean! Look forward to following your build! David

Hi Guys, While at the IPMS Orlando show this weekend, I had a chance to speak with one of the Mobeius reps. He said surprisingly that the Prostar was a very slow selling product! He added that the Lonestar was a good mover for them, which surprised him, as you see very few on the road. I thanked him for all their hard work aimed towards us truck and automotive builders. He did add that they have many products ready for production, but must wait for the manufacturing facilities overseas to actually produce and ship the finished kits. Picked up my first Prostar and am waiting for "Cargostar" Dave to release his Prostar day cab! David

I was at the IPMS Orlando Modelpalooza this weekend, and Victory Models had several of the Meng D9R kits there. While not 1/24-25, still something new and different! David

Update!!! The fire station siding is complete. I had a chance to visit back home a few months ago. As some here had suggested, often building materials were sourced from the same suppliers. My best friend and I rode around the area where the firehouse was located, and found an old schoolhouse built around the same time. We measured and photographed the masonry work. After returning home, I placed the Magic Brick masonry coating on the building. As you can see, the mortar joints are only about 1/2" wide. After applying gesso to duplicate the high points on the stone, I will apply more in the recesses of the joints to minimize the joint width and make the stone appear larger. The exposed basement will receive a stucco treatment. Still lots to do... Thanks for looking! David

Rob, Very cool technique! This will come in handy when I begin this project. It is my hometown's 1939 American LaFrance City Service Ladder Truck. It will require extensive scratchbuilding. I am beginning to gather photos and measurements from some antique apparatus owners before I get started... BTW, I will be in St. Pete on Monday to take a test for a possible job... David

Great job! She really looks sharp! I have to get back to my conversion of two kits to make an extended van ambulance that I used to ride in frequently in Camden, NJ. The hospital based paramedic program that I worked for at the time also used Ford vans, both regular and long wheel based...

Looks great! I have two Pinecrest resins Broncos. One is a late 80's model to eventually replicate my 1:1 '88 two tone charcoal grey metallic with black belt line stripe. The other is an early '90's model which is being built as a replica of my last fire department's chief's vehicle. David

I have to agree Tom! I have so many projects in various stages of production... I have tried making punch lists, not starting anything new, ... The biggest challenge at the moment is no place to paint in a small apartment with 4 people and a dog. Too humid outside to paint, no spray booth... Eventually, I will work it out... David

Here are a few more of my 4 x 4 projects: This is my first fire department's 1979 Dodge Powerwagon brush truck. My last fire department's 1991 Ford Bronco Fire Chief's vehicle. This was started with a Pinecrest Scale Models casting. This is an early mock-up of my 2004 Ford/Horton airport light rescue response vehicle. Since then the graphics have been refined, and a chassis built. It's sister unit, a 2004 Ford 4 x 4 airport ambulance This last model is a 1/35 scale HEMTT 978 that is now "retired" from military service, and will be used by a civilian fire department as a wildland heavy brush tanker/tender once completed. Still lots to do on all of these projects, plus several others that I do not have pictures of at hand such as 1988 Ford and 1991 Ford brush trucks. One project on my "build list" is a 1986 Oshkosh P-19 David

Nice work Dave! Another way to achieve the bedliner look is to use Rustoleum texture paint. They have a black that provides the perfect color, texture and sheen level. It comes in a rattle can, and one can is good for several models. Just my 2 cents... David