This is on the way via Ebay, old Ford Ecoline van

[English Jules]

Looked around, im guessing its the same as the Phantom boxing. Never seen the kit but people said it would be idea for a Ambulance. I have the AMT Emergency 911 but know the front is many years different to the rest of the kit, i plan to use it sometime in a vignette, a head on crash.

Anyway can anyone give me some tips etc about this one? thanks
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-25-AMT-Ford-Econoline-Custom-Van-/151302208558?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=f66vt1%252BRhPdQWx2CJK34pxBNBsw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

[martinfan5]

You will have to extend the wheelbase if you want to make it into a ambulance

[English Jules]

ah thanks, no one mentioned that lol. I will try to find some pics although if Joe Public wont notice....unless theres a better kit out there i can use instead

[Aaronw]

With that vintage of van, extending the wheelbase is optional. In the 70s ambulance regulation was pretty lax, if you could fit a gurney in the back you could call it an ambulance. Once you get into the 80s the rules started getting stricter which was a large part of the reason you saw the large station wagon style ambulances go away.

[Tom Geiger]

Once you get into the 80s the rules started getting stricter which was a large part of the reason you saw the large station wagon style ambulances go away.

I think it was more the advances in technology, both medical and communications that led to the larger truck body ambulances of today. Back in the day it was a gurney and a radio. Today it's pretty much an emergency room on wheels and the patient is hooked into the hospital's systems, taking vital readings, as they roll.

You still see some van based 'ambulances' today but they're pretty much owned by private services for transport of stable patients between facilities.

[English Jules]

I think it was more the advances in technology, both medical and communications that led to the larger truck body ambulances of today. Back in the day it was a gurney and a radio. Today it's pretty much an emergency room on wheels and the patient is hooked into the hospital's systems, taking vital readings, as they roll.

You still see some van based 'ambulances' today but they're pretty much owned by private services for transport of stable patients between facilities.

I have a couple of decal sheets by Chimmneyville that look different to what i would have expected from a EMS

[Aaronw]

No it was primarily regulation, in 1981-82 the US Dept. of Transportation issued specifications for ambulances under the standard KKK-1822. This spelled out payload requirements, warning devices, and minimum equipment carried among other things. The old professional car ambulances were for the most part unable to meet these standards and were phased out of use.

Modern emergency medical services is quite young in the US. In 1966 a research paper was released, Accidental death and disability, the neglected disease of modern society, and it changed the way emergency services were run. One of the interesting points in the paper was that at that time 50% of ambulances in the US were operated by funeral homes. In 1966 the US DOT began to issue standards for medical training of ambulance personnel, basic standards for service, equipment etc.

Amazingly enough the equipment hasn't changed all that much from the days of Emergency! except to get smaller, more efficient and more capable. The first portable defibrillators weighed more than 30lbs, a modern defibrillator weighs less than 15lbs. Many separate pieces of equipment are now combined.

A large part of the bigger medium duty truck based ambulances is planned life expectancy. The life of an ambulance is hard. A light duty truck or van based ambulance in a busy system may be on a replacement cycle of 3-5 years. A medium duty in the same system may last 10-15 years. Twice the price with 3x the life, can make them more economical over a period of time. The large ambulances also have room for additional equipment, rescue or firefighting gear which make them useful where they may have multiple jobs such as a fire department run service. The van based ambulances are still rather common particularly in rural areas where their smaller size makes them better able to maneuver on narrow, poorly maintained roads.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Aaronw

[Agent G]

A van was often used as a prisoner transport vehicle by the PD. Quite a few were also used by the Laboratory Division being driven by the evidence technicians (CSI). A bad accident scene would see a van of both types.

G

[English Jules]

A van was often used as a prisoner transport vehicle by the PD. Quite a few were also used by the Laboratory Division being driven by the evidence technicians (CSI). A bad accident scene would see a van of both types.

G

I had noticed that on lots of pics i looked at by chance.