RESCUE 8 - 1956 Chevy Panel

[Danno]

Another older build. If you are old enough to remember the mid-50's television programs such as "Highway Patrol," "Dragnet," "M-Squad," "Sky King," "Whirlybirds," and the like, then you'll remember "Rescue 8."

"Rescue 8" was a TV series that featured two Los Angeles County firemen who drove a white panel truck and responded to rescue emergency calls. The show ran for about three seasons and ended in 1958. It was widely credited as the inspiration for the later series "Emergency!" The primary star of "Rescue 8" was Jim Davis, who later portrayed Jock Ewing on "Dallas."

As a youngster, I never missed an episode. "Rescue 8" was one of the early influences that led me to the fire service calling.

This build was conceived a long time ago (I don't want to say how long ago!) when I encountered a couple of Shawn Carpenter resin bodied models at a show in Denver. They knocked me out. I had never seen "resin" aftermarket bodies before, and these were among his first to hit the market. I immediately knew I had to have one, and I had to build "Rescue 8." I tracked down Shawn Carpenter and bought the body.

It was several years later that I finally got around to starting the project. I spent hours cutting open the rear doors and weeks trying to get the hinging right. I built and fully detailed the AMT '55 Chevy Cameo chassis and Carpenter's interior tub. The idea of a fully-stocked rescue truck presented a dilemma: display it body-on and no one sees the detailed interior, yet, display it body-off and no one gets the overall effect. I settled on building it so that the body could easily be lifted off for display either way.

The body was finished with a fender siren, beacon, and L.A. "can" lights from the JoHan Plymouth Police Pursuit kit. Decals were sourced from that kit, the AMT pumper kit, and a military lettering sheet. The whip antenna and AM radio antenna were scratched from guitar string and other bits and pieces. The grille was opened from behind for the proper 'see-through' effect.

The shelving rack was scratched from plastruct angles, sheets, and plastic mesh. Appliances, equipment, and tools were scratched from various materials, or modified from various parts box components. Portable lighting, spooled extension cord, rope, chain come-alongs, helmets, block-and-tackle hoist, K-12 rescue saw kit, tool boxes, fire extinguishers, first aid trauma box, and oxygen bottles are stored on and around the shelving. Hobby store chain was dumped into a rescue bucket. A rescue tool, fire extinguisher, axe, and pike pole are mounted to the opposite wall of the interior tub. The two-way radio transceiver is mounted to the floor behind the passenger seat. A map book on the front seat compliments the detailed radio and lights/siren controls on the dash.

This model was built prior to the common availability of aftermarket resin and photoetch sources for emergency vehicle stuff.

Interestingly, I made one HUGE mistake in this build. I didn't even realize it until several years later ... when I was helping take care of the Rescue 51 truck from "Emergency!" That got me interested in its history and researching it led to recognition of the stupid error that no one else had ever noticed ~~ or at least, had politely not commented on. While there may likely be many build errors or faults, there is one big faux pas in my replication of this vehicle. Know what it is?

[crazyjim]

Super details, Danno. I like how you're able to lift the body to be able to see all the interior details. I sorta remember Rescue 8 and the other shows. So what's the biggie?

[John Teresi]

Danno......your killing me......these are just beautiful.......you are a talented man my friend.

[impcon]

Wow! THAT is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember the program and I watched every episode that I could. However, if memory serves me right, the truck used in the TV series was a long wheel base 3/4 ton model like this one -

[charlie8575]

Nice build Dan. The only real goof I can see is the lack of room for a stretcher, unless this wasn't intended for injury transport primarily.

Charlie Larkin

[AzTom]

Nice build Dan, I'm old enough but I think that was before we had a TV. I'm going to guess the Fender light/siren should be on the driver fender.

AzTom

[tuffone20]

Danno......your killing me......these are just beautiful.......you are a talented man my friend.

Thanks John, Now Dan's head is even going to be bigger then it already is....

But that is a great build and I wish we could see more great (new) builds from Dan.

[Danno]

Thanks John, Now Dan's head is even going to be bigger then it already is....

But that is a great build and I wish we could see more great (new) builds from Dan.

Uh, my head is not THAT big! I have you to keep me humble.

More "great" builds coming up! I've already this year quadrupled last year's output: I've built four models this year! Including a fully detailed Edsel! See, I'm on a roll! Stand by.

PS: Martay, did you ever get put a license plate on your police car? Hee, hee, hee.

[Danno]

Wow! THAT is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember the program and I watched every episode that I could. However, if memory serves me right, the truck used in the TV series was a long wheel base 3/4 ton model like this one -

Thanks, Gary. The actual truck on the series could have been a long wheel base rig. When I prepped to build the model, I could not find a picture anywhere to save my life (LOL. Old paramedic joke. ) There were no video clips available and no reference material at all. I worked strictly from memory, which contributed to the big error, which I'll reveal in a separate post.

[Danno]

Nice build Dan. The only real goof I can see is the lack of room for a stretcher, unless this wasn't intended for injury transport primarily.

Charlie Larkin

Thanks, Charlie. That's not it; they weren't intended for transportation at all and thus had no accomodation for it. A knock-down military style stretcher would have been a reasonable piece of equipment to include, but that's not my big boo-boo!

[highway]

....but that's not my big boo-boo!

What is the big boo-boo?!?! You're killing me!

[outlaw035]

danno.....nice build...super clean and well detailed...

[Danno]

Nice build Dan, I'm old enough but I think that was before we had a TV. I'm going to guess the Fender light/siren should be on the driver fender.

AzTom

Thanks, Tom. I appreciate the compliment.

No, the big ... stupid ... error I made ... will be revealed in my next post.

danno.....nice build...super clean and well detailed...

Thanks, Neal. I appreciate your comments.

[Harry P.]

Is the battery wired correctly? I can't see any other problem, unless it's a technical thing in regards to rescue vehicles that only an "insider" like you would know.

[Danno]

Okay, here it is.

The great, big STUPID error I made when building this rig, is in the markings.

The "Rescue 8" program was about the Los Angeles COUNTY Fire Department and I plastered the very attractive but totally wrong Los Angeles CITY seal on the doors! Yikes!

I didn't even realize it or think about it until years later when I was researching the "Emergency!" Squad 51 Rescue truck and its history. All of a sudden the big light went on! Holy cow, Batman! Wrong agency markings on the doors of Rescue 8! DUH!

Boy, did I feel like an idiot. And yet, over all these years, no one ever noticed it ... or mentioned it if they did. (It has even won a few IPMS awards. At least I got the rivets right, I guess!)

I can't tell you how many times I've considered stripping it down to take those LA City seals off ... but then, I've figured WTH. Got along with 'em for all these years, I'll get along with 'em a few more.

Now you all know my deepest, darkest secret! Just don't tell Martay!

PS: I'm a lot more careful with my project research now! LOL.

[jeffs396]

Nice panel, correct or not!

[Danno]

Nice panel, correct or not!

Thanks, Jeff. I appreciate it.

[AzTom]

Okay, here it is.

The great, big STUPID error I made when building this rig, is in the markings.

The "Rescue 8" program was about the Los Angeles COUNTY Fire Department and I plastered the very attractive but totally wrong Los Angeles CITY seal on the doors! Yikes!

I didn't even realize it or think about it until years later when I was researching the "Emergency!" Squad 51 Rescue truck and its history. All of a sudden the big light went on! Holy cow, Batman! Wrong agency markings on the doors of Rescue 8! DUH!

Boy, did I feel like an idiot. And yet, over all these years, no one ever noticed it ... or mentioned it if they did. (It has even won a few IPMS awards. At least I got the rivets right, I guess!)

I can't tell you how many times I've considered stripping it down to take those LA City seals off ... but then, I've figured WTH. Got along with 'em for all these years, I'll get along with 'em a few more.

Now you all know my deepest, darkest secret! Just don't tell Martay!

PS: I'm a lot more careful with my project research now! LOL.

Dan, You could have taken that secret to your grave. I can't imagine anyone knowing the show that well and knowing the difference between the County and City seals.

Anyway, it is a great build and as stated I was only guessing about the siren.

AzTom

[BHarrison]

This fireman thinks its cool!

[horsepower]

you could always tell people that the City also had an emergency response vehicle that just by chance was also squad 8, if they didn't even remember the TV series, who could argue the reasoning?

[chrismooney]

I keep searching for Squad 8 on line -----Nothing!! this is a great Build.. i like all the after marked parts sourced out for it. and at a time when there was little after marked out there... great job...