Kenworth fire truck help!

[explorer2770]

Guys, I made a huge mistake and need some help. A couple of years ago, I bought a Revell Snap Kenworth secretly hoping that the tires would be different from the Peterbilt kit, but I found out the hard way that they weren't, if only I had visited this site first! Anyway, I decided to make the best of a bad deal and started to make a fire truck out of this kit and went about hacking up the Kenworth, which is a lot more difficult than the Peterbilt kit. After the sleeper was removed, I used the left-over sleeper from the other Peterbilt kit that I just recently finished modifying into a fire truck to make the back panel of the cab. Then, one thing led to another, and I put everything back in the box with the promise to turn it into something at a later date.

Needing something to work on while I figure out some issues with my brush truck suspensions, I dug this back out and have decided to finish it up. As it turns out, everything is in the box except what my plans were to turn this into a fire truck. And now after all this time, I simply can't remember what I wanted to do with it.

So, I need some help determining what to do with this kit.

I have four ideas that I brain stormed tonight, but I can't put my finger on which option to make. Therefore, I'm asking you guys for some advice to help me get this one done. Here's the options that I've come up with:

Option 1: A tandem rear axle dryside tanker similar to this one at Evergreen FPD, but in red: https://flic.kr/p/7dLXJc

Option 2: A single rear axle pumper, similar to this former Seattle fire truck: http://www.lastresortfd.org/319-E-5-FBc.jpg

Option 3: A heavy rescue with a crane from the Italeri truck accessory kit, similar to this truck: http://www.fdvfd.com/images/apparatus/RESCUE-SQUAD-5.jpg

Option 4: An early HazMat using the delivery body from the recently re-released AMT Ford C-600 Delivery van kit.

Option 5: Something that I haven't thought of yet.

Well, that's all I can come up with after think about this build for awhile.

Thanks for any insight you guys can give me!

[Jim B]

I'm really digging that heavy rescue! I think that would be a very cool project. Isn't the truck in the photo a C500? Sure looks like one. I like that pumper, too; but I think you'd be better of with the AMT kit as that's the older style cab.

[hooknladderno1]

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

[explorer2770]

Jim, I'm digging the heavy rescue as well. Fifth District VFD's Rescue 5 is a Kenworth T800 with 2005 Pierce body work and Job Number 15914. If I remember correctly, FDVFD supplied the Kenworth with the crane to Pierce to have them finish off the rescue, but don't quote me on that or the year of the Kenworth. Most of the information I have found suggests that the Kenworth is a 2005, but I don’t have confirmation on that. I know that the Revell kit is a 1976-82 W900 and I don't plan to mark this for FDVFD, so I’m okay with taking some liberties to build a heavy rescue with crane on a W900 chassis.

David, West Routt’s heavy rescue looks very nice. I don’t have any FAMBA newsletters, but I imagine the plans aren’t much different than some of the old E-One rescue drawings I have saved on my computer. I still have plans to make some very large heavy rescues, even a trailer drawn rescue, but right now a crane rescue just feels right for this Kenworth. That, and it would give me some practice before I try making an ALF Eagle crane rescue truck.

[GLMFAA1]

I have blueprints for this rig if you want heavy rescue, yes that is a crane at the back

greg

[explorer2770]

Greg, I love Conneaut's truck. Any idea if it is still around? And yes, I'd love to have a copy of that truck's blueprints...I have another crane or two in my stash! If only I could figure out which Peterbilt model to use for as a base...maybe Tim could help me identify this one from 1991.

[window]

hey guys, where could I get plans of heavy rescue trucks? I have a couple of cranes, and was thinking of using one for a rescue truck.

Thanks,

Matt

[explorer2770]

Matt,

There are many fire apparatus manufacturer websites that have drawing files in PDF format.

Here is a list of some of the ones I check on a regular basis:

Pierce MFG, New Deliveries, search for Rescue

Marion Fire, search under New Deliveries by vehicle type

SVI Trucks, New Deliveries by type

Hackney Emergency Vehicles, new deliveries by type

Seagrave, recent deliveries by type

Maintainer Custom Bodies, stock vehicles only

There are other places that make fire trucks, but a lot of them don't offer drawings online any longer. If you don't find what you are looking for, I might have a few drawings saved that could help out, so PM me.

If you want to follow with what I'm using for my build, a modified Pierce/FDNY heavy rescue body, send me a PM with your email address and I'll get that to you after I finish up my vacation.

Hope this all helps.