Cop Car guys... Unity Spitfire "gumball"?

[Chuck Most]

I'm planning to model a couple of Michigan State Police units, and that of course means I'm in need of some Unity Spitfire RV 25/RV 26 "gumball" roof flashers.... nothing else looks right on one! Any kit or aftermarket sources for one? I'd really rather not have 'close enough' for this one, but if I have to settle that's what I'll do...

[Erik Smith]

I looked at the Jo-Han Fury police car and it has similar in blue lens.

I can send you one or two from an old (the lenses aren't molded perfectly, blue is swirly) version if interested.

[Danno]

Chuck,

This guy?

If memory serves me well, Erik is right. The only kit I can recall including a reasonable replica is the JoHan Plymouth Police Pursuit kit. And, he's right - it's blue. But the JoHan lenses can be stripped of color in the purple pond.

I don't recall any aftermarket source for this particular beacon, but policecarmodels.com has a similar piece. I think it's a little undersized for the Unity Spitfire, but maybe it will do for you.

They have the most comprehensive inventory of aftermarket emergency vehicle stuff.

[Joker]

The Chuck Miller Fire Truck has one I didn't use.

It's yours for a pm.

[Danno]

The Fire Truck's beacon is too small for Chuck's purpose. It's a different beacon, not a Unity Spitfire.

[Chuck Most]

Thanks guys!

Erik I'll keep it in mind- I should have the flashers from that kit some place, if not I'll let you know

Danno- yes ineed, that's the one.

James- thanks, but Danno's right- the flasher in the Fire Truck looks quite a bit too small to work.

[Agent G]

Chuck if you can find an old Yodel "American Police" Plymouth or Dodge kit, one or more had a twin beacon set up that was like 1/20th scale. A bit of cutting and you'd have two usable Unity's.

G

[Edsel-Dan]

They were 1/24, and a Direct copy of Jo-Han's set up!!

I have the LAPD Dodge kit Original Issue!

Yes the caps are clear, but, look too small foer that Large beacon!

I have the Lindberg 1/20 scale Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee Michigan SP

unit (I live in Maryland so Also MSP!)

Dome cap is molded red not clear or in pieces.

That beacon looks to be about 12 inch diameter or maybe even 14.

The Jo-Han/Yodel pieces are not that large.

You have to look CAREFULLY at Jo-Han Detroit Blue caps too

Later issued Are MOLDED in Blue and will NOT strip!!!!

You could make4 the Base, and rotator inside easily.

I have,

The look for a Blister pack the has the Dome like that and use it.

Mask the 2 clear lines and time the rest red

I saw one of those lit up at night and it made the thing look PINK!!!

NOT many were used arround here

I only ever saw that one!!!

The only other options I know of, are taking that Lindberg 1/20 piece and Cutting it apart

finding Clear the correct diameter, (or sheet thick enough)

and reassembling the dome sandwich style

I too would like a few of these. And CORRECT, Not like the Lindberg piece!!!

One question

Are there 2 or 4 sealed beams on that rotator??

[Danno]

The larger diameter beacons such as the Unity Spitfire (and the Federal 184 series) were four-beam beacons. The Federal 14s and similar were two-beam beacons.

[lordairgtar]

Do the beacons in the AMT 70 Ford Police car have what you need? I know they depict a twin set up on a rack, but could be separated.

[lordairgtar]

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-12496200801054_2272_34507820

http://www.policecarmodels.com/1smbuliforpo.html

[Danno]

The beacons in the '70 Ford are much too small and misshapen to replicate the four-beam Unity Spitfire.

The lightbar in the '70 Ford is a gutter-mount Federal Visabar, and the beacons in that kit are poor representations of two-beam Federal 14 units. I say the kit parts are poor and misshapen because they have way too much taper ~~ they are grossly more conical than the real things.

[Edsel-Dan]

I believe the Lights in the 70 Ford Police Interceptor,

are closer to First Gen Strobe's than any type rotator.

I remember that Original issues of this, the 70 Impala SS Fire Chief,

Chevy Van Police & Rescue had Blue lenses with vertical 'fins'

for want of a better word, on the outer surface. There were also grooves/flutes/fins on the top!

They were also Less translucent than the reds which were Almost transparent

They were closer in effect to the Ambers of the time

The Van kits had Ambers in the same shape, & size.

Another reason I believe them to be Strobes vs Rotators is th e design of the base.

I guess they Could be a Single Reflector rotator, but that dome effect core looks more like a Strobe element

Best option outside of scratch-building, is check Policecarmodels.com

to see what sizes they have.

Or try to copy th e Lindber piece.

But, the core is only a 2 beam rotator.

Though that can be modified.

I too would love a few of this beacon in scale!!

[Chuck Most]

Are there 2 or 4 sealed beams on that rotator??

Just fun fact with the MSP becons- many of the Spitfires currently in use (which are on average about 25-30 years old, having been fitted to several cruisers at this point) have been switched over to LEDs, replacing the original sealed-beams. REALLY difficult to miss at night!

[fat50]

I bought a over sized red dice from a hobby shop dealing in Dungon & Dragon play. Drilled the center enough to chuck it up in the moto tool and turned it to the proper size.

[Edsel-Dan]

Nice, But the STOP sign on the hood is Backwards.

STOP should be readable from the right side not left.

I will have to look for some large clear blocks to do that with too

I would start with Clear not clear red so I could have the 2 Clear bands in the cap

Like Michigan State Police do/did!!

(I can't say MSP As I too have them here, But MARYLAND State Police!)

Also as to my question about these being 2 of 4 beam,

The one in the photo at the beginning of this topic has 2 beams in it not 4

I saved a copy of the pic, and just did a close up look.

[niteowl7710]

Just fun fact with the MSP becons- many of the Spitfires currently in use (which are on average about 25-30 years old, having been fitted to several cruisers at this point) have been switched over to LEDs, replacing the original sealed-beams. REALLY difficult to miss at night!

Personally I think the Spitfires were impossible to miss. In the day and age with strobes and LEDs they mounted 4 spotlight bulbs on the roof and went "Look at Me! You Can See Me From a Mile Away!!" - which was the effective sight distance for the 4 beam (and they really are just 4 Unity spotlight bulbs) Spitfires. But even Unity was changing, and spotlights have become LEDs...so after much fiddling and testing, they sealed beams are on their way out as Chuck mentions to be replaced by LED versions. The new light is technically a new thing Unity & Whelen came up with, as the brand new lights have a dome that is different (all red, no clear "stripes") and the base is also smaller with less "lip" to fit the dome onto...A lot of the old school troopers have set their flash patterns to "rotate" giving the effect of the old Spitfires, it's really a pretty ugly disjointed thing to look at when it's just on a random flash pattern.

[Chuck Most]

Yeah- the random pattern is just plain choppy, I really wish they'd just make them all so they rotate, or at least look like they're rotating.