These 5 arrived from the US today. :-)

[English Jules]

I like that CHP car. I do have a perverse thing for a all white CHP car, commercial vehicles. I like to add the extra lights inside to the front and rear. I plan on doing a unmarked car, maybe FHP with 2 figures on a traffic stop with a speeding car on side of the highway.

The interrior i am doing this very minute, i plan on being a NYPD, not sure how it will look, what type of light bar, what of the 3 wheels to use etc. I like the V shape light bar but with the extra arm light things that fold and go into the air....something a little different.

If i do a scene with 2 cop cars, even if the same type of car, i like to vary a little, i can look at a 100 cars inside and out and each one will have a sight difference, from placing of arials, to other little things.

Anyway with this interior, i have mixed and matched a little, as i want to try to keep it a bit lighter inside, as once its all completed it would be very dark inside. Seen a few diff colours and styles of door trims etc.

[Agent G]

The extra arms are a fixture unique to the NYPD Traffic division. That's called a "McDermott Light Bar" after the inventor. Google that phrase and you'll find images to assist in the construction.

NYPD radio cars are actually pretty plain inside. A radio and a combo siren/light controller are pretty much it. They have way too many cars to add all the gizmos to all of them.

G

[English Jules]

The extra arms are a fixture unique to the NYPD Traffic division. That's called a "McDermott Light Bar" after the inventor. Google that phrase and you'll find images to assist in the construction.

NYPD radio cars are actually pretty plain inside. A radio and a combo siren/light controller are pretty much it. They have way too many cars to add all the gizmos to all of them.

G

ah yeah thats the name, forgot it, but didnt know it was named after the guy. good to know.

yup seen a lot of interiors, some pretty basic and not as complicated cop centre console.

I like how some cars have white side mirrors, some have black, some have lights built in and some dont. its great they give you both in the kit. oh i found the front push bar parts and made that. Just to see what it looked like

[Agent G]

A radio car assigned to district patrol would be rather basic. Specialized divisions receive equipment more applicable to their daily duties. Traffic cars have radar and videocameras along with the specialized light bars. Emergency services, SWAT and the like all have their own preferences as well.

When you buy so many cars at the same time, contracts are let months if not years in advance. Wheels, mirrors, and all the minor fitments change while cars are on the production line. NYPD not only buys the cars, for each car they purchase a replacement set of doors, hood, trunk, wheels and bumpers. Dings and wrecks are repaired as fast as possible that way. Fleet management is a major undertaking requiring an entire division of people from mechanics to admin.

The three major expenditures in a police budget are salaries, fleet and facility maintainence.

G

[English Jules]

Cool. thanks. I have seen Impalas, old Caprice cars in pics with slight dents in panels

[Agent G]

In a bigger city such as New York or Chicago, the car almost has to be demolished to be sent into the body shop immediately. Most major cities have their own fleet maintainence facility with a body shop going 24/7/365, but there's still quite a back up. That's just the nature of the beast. Ours in St Louis were repaired rather quickly though, good short turn around time.

G