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Fire and Rescue and Emergency Vehicles Here is a spot for all them important emergency vehicle builds.


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  #1  
Old 02-21-2018, 07:52 PM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Fire trucks where do you start?

Love the San Francisco Tractor Seagrave Tractor aerial. Where do you start. Obviously custom built. I want to order a Tamiya kit and modify it. Is the body work in plastic or metal? Metal is a whole new ball game. Of course I love American LaFrance (I actually own a real one, a 1963). But that would be a dream. Any suggestions for a kit to get started with or how to fab the metal bodies and detail work. I assume there are not any fire apparatus RC kits in big scale. Cliffhanger in Pittsburgh
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  #2  
Old 02-21-2018, 08:18 PM
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jack van jack van is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

haha if you take a page out my book first you need money then you do what i do pay what ever they ask for haha

i am still working on the money part lol
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Old 02-21-2018, 08:29 PM
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

For a seagrave tractor ariel, i'd probably start with which ever tractor kit was best price, maybe buy a trailer kit but probably just some trailer parts kingpin, rails, axle. Is it a tiller or straight axle?

Then i'd go buy a pile of styrene sheets of various thickness, bondene or tenax. Then spend a LONG time with copy paper making sure i was happy with axle width, tire size, and planned body scale before i started cutting plastic.

I'd probably also try to contact seagrave, tell them the plan, and see if they might be willing to share some dimentions or drawings to build a one-off.

Also, i'm probably going to ask you for many pics of your American LaFrance, i'm wanting to build a 900 series.
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Old 02-22-2018, 06:52 PM
Mustang46555 Mustang46555 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

AMT used to market quite a few different LaFrance models in 1/25th scale. It also looks like Trumpeter is making several now and I recall seeing a Seagrave. You can pick up one of these and use the 1/25th body to make templates, then blow them up on a copier to 1/14 scale. A standard Tamiya tire gives you a good double check of your enlargement percentage.
I've had real good luck using this method to make a 1/16 scale Puma Armored car starting with a 1/35 model. Having the smaller cab will also give you a visual on all the contours of the nose.
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Old 02-23-2018, 05:36 PM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

Sorry I didn't get back sooner. (work you know).
Mustang when you say make a template do you mean trace the body parts on paper. Or maybe photograph them and print them... I have extensive amt alf kits in stock. Also one trumpeter Eagle.

I am moving from static models to the RC.
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Old 02-23-2018, 09:46 PM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

Yes Jack Van. money is the key. Can't believe the price of the wedco kits. I plan on taking it a step at a time. I bought a cheap RC for now and put some led lights on it.
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Old 02-23-2018, 09:50 PM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

Frizzen, I see that the globe liner would be a good candidate. But the cab has to be moved forward and lowered. I am used to modifying styrene. I have made several ALF 900 cabs into Century cabs. I now see you can buy them. If you are interested I can recall the source. YEs, I will scare up some photos of my ALF. I am pres of the antique fire assoc here in pittsburgh and we run the annual muster and pump from the river.
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Old 02-23-2018, 09:52 PM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

The biggest problem with fabricating from scratch is symmetry. another thought, a straight chassis is tempting but it would be a lot of fun to drive a trailer. But that would mean a tractor aerial and fabricating an aerial would be very tedious especially it if operated. Perhaps a trailer command center? That might be reaching a bit.
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Old 02-24-2018, 04:00 AM
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

I've seen a couple where someone started with 2 globeliner cabs did a front half/back half to get the stretch and 2 level roof to keep building out from there.

These might help if you start running low on motivation, since it sounds like fabricating isn't an issue.
http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=82630

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=44524

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18816

My 1962 ALF 900 is already a steel body, i'm still needing to grab a semi truck and 'do magic', then i can try to go crazy with detailing.

The annual muster sounds awesome, i'd like to see some of those pics too.
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Old 02-24-2018, 06:04 AM
Mustang46555 Mustang46555 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

Sorry the reply took a bit.
Yes, I traced the panel to be duplicated on paper then blew it up to the desired scale. Once the size is right you can trace your new template on styrene sheet. Finding the right enlargement percentage takes some time as the copiers I've tried all produce a slightly different result. Adobe Photoshop and a home printer scanner will work for most parts. The wrecker body on my old wrecker build was created this way from a photograph I found on the internet. I used a Tamiya tire as my guide, enlarged the photo until the tires matched then printed out my "new" template.
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Old 02-24-2018, 07:28 PM
Efroeh Efroeh is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

Quote:
Originally Posted by frizzen View Post
I've seen a couple where someone started with 2 globeliner cabs did a front half/back half to get the stretch and 2 level roof to keep building out from there.

These might help if you start running low on motivation, since it sounds like fabricating isn't an issue.
http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=82630

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=44524

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18816

My 1962 ALF 900 is already a steel body, i'm still needing to grab a semi truck and 'do magic', then i can try to go crazy with detailing.

The annual muster sounds awesome, i'd like to see some of those pics too.
those are some amazing builds. look forward to seeing what op does.

found a video of a sweet looking ladder truck.
https://youtu.be/LdGhp2hQDhw

Last edited by Efroeh; 02-24-2018 at 07:37 PM.
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  #12  
Old 02-25-2018, 08:03 AM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

Building in this large scale with styrene will be difficult. Much reinforcing and thick sheeting would be needed. And a good bond like epoxy. As for plans, you could photograph but there would have to be no distortion or perspective. A normal lens (not tele photo or wide angle) would be needed. Yes I will get some photos of my ALF but I have to figure out how to post them. I am new to chatting. Never had anything this interesting to chat about.
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Old 02-25-2018, 08:14 AM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

Yes, two cabs would do it. Otherwise you would have to chop and extend which can he tricky but it is cheaper. I checked some of those links. Yes, very inspiring. There is definitely a market here. A sixty two ALF in steel. Is that a model? What scale. I have to figure out how to post photos.
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Old 02-25-2018, 08:15 AM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

This is very reassuring that we can work in plastic at this scale. That San Fran ladder truck doesn't look like plastic. It looks so real.
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  #15  
Old 02-25-2018, 09:11 AM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

I have looked and can't figure out how to post a photo to this chat site.
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  #16  
Old 02-25-2018, 02:38 PM
Efroeh Efroeh is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ad.php?t=12641
lots of info and links in there
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  #17  
Old 02-25-2018, 05:00 PM
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

I really like imgur for hosting pics, but there are a lot of options. Find a host, and we'll walk you through posting.

Most scratch built bodies seem to start with atleast 0.040" - 0.080" styrene for the initial panels, then either cut in detail, or add thin panels on top. Gusseting corners and internal bracing really help with large flat areas not warping.

--
My ALF was my dads built by amf wen-mac, purchased for him new by my grandpa at a Texaco station in 62.

I believe it's in the 1/12 to 1/14 scale range. Some measurements would help determine actual scale. Sorry for the continual hijack, i like fire apparatus...
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  #18  
Old 02-25-2018, 09:00 PM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

That makes a lot of sense. Thick panels and gusseting the joints. I will look for a host. Would that be like somewhere where I can post videos and stuff. I give you the user ID and password?

Oh my gorsh. I have a TExaco pumper which My dad bought for me. Yes it is the big scale. I also have a similar ambulance but i have never seen that police car. It looks like an Amecian Motors maybe a matador
Liking fire apparatus is a good thing. Are you in the US or Euro?

cliffhanger
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  #19  
Old 02-25-2018, 10:24 PM
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

Tutorials for posting from: Post image, flickr, imgur
http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...?t=4057&page=2
Usually just photo hosts, youtube seems to be the big video thing around here.

You are correct, that's an AMC Matador, Adam-12. The ambulance is about 1/16, the police is about 1/14. I'm in Usa, indiana. Where are you?
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What do ya mean "Cars are neither Trucks or Construction"?
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Old 02-26-2018, 08:58 PM
cliffhanger2355 cliffhanger2355 is offline
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Default Re: Fire trucks where do you start?

Yes, Adam 12. The roof red light lens size threw me off. I am near Pittsburgh. My dad went to Tri State (Triune). I was at the national fire muster in Indianapolis back around 2005. I also visited and rode along with an arson inversitgator in Kokomo. I will work on the photo posting.
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