The salamander Fahrenheit 451 fire truck

[GLMFAA1]

Has anyone built or attempted to build the apparatus from the Movie?

 

When I get around to my attempt I am starting using the old Heller kit as the base

greg

Edited November 7, 2023 by GLMFAA1
added picture

[maxwell48098]

Not the movie vehicle, but I used the Magirus ladder for my version of a Chicago aerial from the neighborhood I grew up in.

 

A.J.

[spencer1984]

I haven't tried the movie truck yet, but I did build one inspired by the book:

[Richard Bartrop]

It looks like the original might have been based on a London bus.

[Chariots of Fire]

Was that rig electric, Greg?

[GLMFAA1]

No movie made in 1966, Don't know if Bradbury was that futuristic to do electric. Looks like it was off a Leyland rear mount based on bus chassis circa WWII. Movie was made in England. supposedly the aerial chair is a camera boom by Mole-Richardson camera crane.

greg

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 11/7/2023 at 8:56 PM, Richard Bartrop said:

It looks like the original might have been based on a London bus.

The wheels (fronts anyway) do indeed look like a Leyland TD7. Not too difficult, really, to cosmetically extend the nose with sheetmetal, move the driving position forward a bit, and rework the steering linkage. The engine cover next to the salamander driver appears to be where it would be on a TD7 chassis too, sloping down to the gearbox.

There were firetrucks based on the TD7 chassis (one above, another below), but the ladder turret base is positioned directly over the rear axle centerline on the real ones...but again, as the movie truck wouldn't have to carry anywhere near as much weight on the turret, it could have been repositioned as well.

This PD1 chassis, below, followed the TD7, but is very similar in layout and general arrangement,

Edited November 10, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 hours ago, GLMFAA1 said:

...supposedly the aerial chair is a camera boom by Mole-Richardson camera crane.

I don't know how much credence I'd give that, though it's repeated several times over various websites.

Typically, camera booms, and particularly booms for heavy motion picture film cameras with seats, have significant counterweights to offset the load at the long end.

There's no such counterweight evident on the 451 salamander, and the boom itself is rather weak looking to support a fireman in the seat. It appears to be nothing more than a simple film prop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9iyKI2pJbE&ab_channel=PabloFdezAlonso

Edited November 10, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy

[GLMFAA1]

It's a movie prop. Bruce Willis' cab didn't fly in the 'Fifth Element'. I also stated 'supposedly' meaning I was leery of the information. Maybe a directors chair lift instead of a camera. thanks for the clip.

greg

[Ace-Garageguy]

28 minutes ago, GLMFAA1 said:

 Bruce Willis' cab didn't fly in the 'Fifth Element'.

Oh nooooooo. Say it isn't soooooooo...

[Tabbysdaddy]

They have real flying cabs. Mostly in New York.