hooknladderno1

I have two. One is being converted to an ambulance. The other has been converted into a Fire Police van. Unfortunately, it is in storage and I don't have any photos of it available. David

Looks like your rims were available in the Revell Monogram Expedition kit. David

Hi Guys, Seeking opinions on a potential combination for this scratchbuilt tanker body. Any of you that have followed this saga from the original Mack RD cab to custom built Pierce Lance cab will recognize the body. I just acquired a Models by Dave American LaFrance Eagle raised roof cab in a trade. Mocked it up with a pump panel and the tanker body. I've also included the other photos of the tanker bod Does this look more balanced than the other combinations? Thanks. David

Brian, You are off to a great start! Look forward to seeing the style rescue body that you use. So many different options! David

Thanks for the kind comments! @ Jules, I have been involved in emergency services for 30+ years. Thanks Jim for the link. Jules, you can Google "American La France Eagle fire trucks" for reference photos. Here is another little update: Cleaned off the officer's side panel. Still need to touch up the area where the water tank level lights are. Here is the modified top area of the pump panel. The hose reel was made from AMT ALF hose reel ends. The ends were sanded to a much thinner thickness, as from the box they are way too thick. The ends then had Evergreen round stock applied around the outside. The inside ends were filled with dissolved sprue, allowed to dry and sanded. The insides were then sanded flat. The hose reel frame was constructed from Evergreen stock. Still have to decide on Alclad finishes for the diamondplate. I want to complement the colors and other metallic finishes. I appreciate your comments. Thanks for looking! David

The paint separation line was lowered, and added with Evergreen half round strip. The kit's upper paint break line was sanded off, sealed and primed to prevent "ghosting". All chrome trim was masked off with Tamiya tape for later Alclad or BMF application. Attention was now turned towards the pump panels. As many of today's apparatus have black gauge panels,I sought to replicate this look. I had stumbled upon this process and thought I would give it a try. I applied BMF to the areas that I wanted chrome or painted instead of the black. For the textured black areas of the panel, I used Rustoleum Textured paint. This is how the panel looked after the texture coating: Some time, q-tips, fine microbrushes, andTamiya fine cotton swabs and small amounts of lacquer thinner revealed this: Still have to remove the paint from the officer's side panel: I also modified the area above the pump panel, cutting out and filling it to contain a hose reel. Future updates will show the hose reel and modified area above the pump. Let me know what you think. Thanks for looking! David

Hi Guys, I thought that I had posted this earlier, but couldn't find it. So, here goes... As my fictional fire department has several support units and smaller scale apparatus on the roster or "on order, we need to start "purchasing" some larger apparatus. Currently being "built" is this American La France Eagle pumper. The graphics will be similar to this Ventura County Fire engine: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHlGkTntpNef88fVtIEdrTKL4qKtXXoqmhldBO0Ouc-zkBXGJj The project began with the Trumpeter kit. I wanted to make roll up doors instead of the standard swing out doors provided in the kit. Careful removal of the doors and replacement of the frame material was built up from Evergreen styrene strip. The recessed style roll up doors were created from Evergreen v-groove sheet. Note that in many of these photos, the body is just tacked together with masking tape for mock up.

Hessel, You have outdone yourself! You make me want to pull out one of my Mack Bulldog kits and START BUILDING! Great work Hessel! David

JT, You are a machine! You continue to turn out clean and sharp builds time after time! This one contains the great balance of details, colors, and custom touches of all of your builds! Mighty fine work! Keep it up! Now, if I could just FINISH one of mine! David

Brian, Nice,clean build! Great job combining the Ford and Trumpeter ALF kits. Looks like a lot of trucks you would have seen back in the day! David

Hessel, Looking good! Like many of the others, I have at least one of each of these. I plan to turn them into period correct fire apparatus. I look forward to following your build! David

Adam, Wow! What can I say that hasn't already been said? The fantastic paint, different grill treatment and subtle interior - Mmmmmmm Mmmmmmm good!I really like the way that you guys are mixing things up a little AND thinking outside the box! David

Jonathan, Great job! Thanks for letting us ride your coat tails on this build! I appreciate the tips along the way. Yours turned out GREAT! Will pick up a few of these as funds permit. Lots of ideas kicking around my head... David

JT, Super clean build! I really like your color choice. Look forward to following this one! Thanks for the info on stretching the Prostar. Note to self... David

Chuck, Rest assured that you should see something similar on my workbench in the near future... : ) David

Brush truck, airport ARFF rapid intervention vehicle, paramedic unit, fire department utility vehicle, the list is endless... Could keep the crew cabs or make regular cabs out of them. Wonder how long it will take for one of our resident resin casters to offer a regular cab (Dave Carey- hint , hint)? David

I would go with the heavy rescue! I always liked the West Route FPD's E-One Peterbilt heavy rescue. Plans were published in the old FAMBA newsletter. I plan on building a walk-in heavy rescue with my recently acquired Moebius Lonestar and Models by Dave Lonestar daycab. David

Hi Gang, I was doing a little research into possible conversion projects for my recently acquired Lonestar kit. I just received Dave "Cargostar" Carey's awesome daycab! Anyone happen to know what the unaltered wheelbase is supposed to be? TIA! David

Gerg, You've been holding out on us. : ) Fantastic work on both pieces! Super convincing shape, color, and details! I can almost smell the stench of old garbage from here! David

Great work! Clean construction, nice paint- beautiful job on both rigs!

Greg, Very cool! Don't think I ever saw this one. Reminds me of one of the two pieces that Philadelphia used when they re-instituted their heavy rescue company in the '80's. It was a beverage truck and a converted ALF Century pumper.

Brandon, Awesome job! It is great to see different ideas and configurations rather than the same old OOB builds! I appreciate all of the creativity and challenges that occur along the way. Maybe that's why my started/completed ratio is what it is??? David

I can't quote their policy, but by experience Scale Hobbyist doesn't list pre-orders. Not until a kit is released have 8 seen it on their website. David

Actually, the rig was stationed at Philadelphia International Airport. It was a 4WD ambulance that was part of their ARFF fleet. All of the departments vehicles are white over red. David

Blair, Awesome work! I may "borrow" a few of your techniques when I get around to replicating this: It was my fire department's early '50's rescue van. David