PlaymoFriends
Creative => Customs Gallery => Ships & Vehicles => Topic started by: playmofire on November 21, 2005, 20:39:54
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This isn't the fire engine I originally intended to show, but work on that one hasn't progressed as fast as I had hoped. So here goes with a water carrier (WCr).
A modern UK fire engine carries 1800 litres of water and a pump with a maximum throughput of 2,200 litres per minute. Normally, fire engines use the water in their tank initially at a fire and as soon as possible connect their pump to the mains water supply via a hydrant. However, in rural areas there can be problems with mains water supplies because of low mains pressure. (When I was a volunteer photographer with my local brigade, the criteria for calling me out to a fire was if it required four pumps or more. Almost invariably, however, the problem was one of poor water supplies with one fire engine fighting the fire and the other three keeping it suplied with water, rather than a "goer" - i.e. a good big fire.) As a reuslt, brigades covering rural areas often have a WCr with a 10,000 litre capacity tank. This can ferry water to the scene of a fire, dump it in one go into a portable tank which the appliances fighting the fire can then use, while the WCr goes off for more water.
Copt Hewick Volunteer Fire Brigade covers a largely rural area and, like a real fire brigade in similar circumstances, has a WCr. This was built in the brigade workshops using the chassi from a 3880 fire engine and the tank from the airport refueller. The 3880 chassis needed a bit of building work on it to support the tank.
Here are the first three pics.
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Like all CHVFB fireifghting appliances, the WCr carries a front -mounted pump instead of a winch. The pump is basically there for the purpose of filling the tank, but it can also be used to pump water. As a result, the WCr acts as a reserve pump (though one without rescue capability) if necessary.
The rear of the pump carries a pattern of marking s designed to make it look wider than it is for safety purposes, the idea being that drivers of vehicles passing it when it is working will give it an extra wide berth.
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On the driver's side, two lengths of suction hose are carried in specially built racks. These are connected to the pump to pump water from, say, a stream or lake into the tank or used to connect to a hydrant.
At the rear on the same side, a hydrant standpipe is carried to allow access to the water mains.
On the other side at the rear, a hydrant key is carried.
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I'll continue tomorrow as I keep getting the message that I've already posted my next post!
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Really nice pictures. The water carrier looks very realistic. And of course, you know what you are talking about :)
Thanks for the information, it was very interesting. It is allways interesting to learn some of the background of good customs :)
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Well, after the frustrations of late last night (partly my fault as I hadn't checked the file sizes carefully enough, but also I kept being told I'd already posted a post which I hadn't) I'll post the last few pics.
On the top of the tank is a tool box containing basic hand tools such as spanners, a hammer and screwdriver, together with hose connectors. There's also a spare hydrant key, just in case the other one gets lost or is stolen off the appliance. (Yes, there are dishonest klickies who would steal equipment from fire engines!)
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The last two pics now.
A small ladder is carried behind the cab, not for rescue purposes but for access, e.g. getting down a steep river bank with hoses etc.
A spade is also carried for use when pumping water from a shallow water supply such as a small stream. The crew can dig out the stream bed to form a pool in which the water can collect and then be pumped into the tanker.
The second photo also shows the pump control panel which is the standard sticker from the airport tanker.
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Some information on materials etc now.
The livery in yellow was done with decals from Mabex. They specialise in OO/HO and 1/50 bus decals, but these can be used for other purposes. They also have some specialist fire,police and ambulance decals which are too small for Playmobil vehicles but can be used on figures. The company is small but give a very fast service. They do strips in different widths and colours which are also useful.
The rear of the 3880 chassis needed building up and I used grey ABS for the rectangular sections and white plastic sheet by Evergreen for levelling out the chassis. The white sheet had to be built up in layers to get the chassis level. White plastic channel was used for the hose racks. In future, I'm going to use only grey ABS as this is easier to work with and needn't be painted if you want grey. If you do have to paint it, it takes paint better than the white plastic.
The tool box is basically a piece I bought from an electronics supplier and is designed to take computer components. Originally it had small projections at each end but these were sawn off. The lid is made from white plastic.
The paint used was Polar Grey acrylic car spray.
Glueing was done done with two-pack epoxy 90 second Araldite. The two-pack epoxies have the advantage that you can usually take things apart if you don't get things lined up pefectly when you glue. You can't do this with a polystyrene glue such as Polyweld.
Thanks for looking at this thread, and I hope you found it interesting.
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I'm stunned by the attention to detail and the quality of your craftsmanship! :o 8-)
This is a marvellous conversion. Thank you for going to so much trouble to explain what you used and how you made this. :)
Sorry to hear you had some problems posting the pics. I'm not sure why you got the error message about having already posted, unless it was caused by trying to submit the post too soon after the first attempt. :-\
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I'm stunned by the attention to detail and the quality of your craftsmanship! :o 8-)
This is a marvellous conversion. Thank you for going to so much trouble to explain what you used and how you made this. :)
Sorry to hear you had some problems posting the pics. I'm not sure why you got the error message about having already posted, unless it was caused by trying to submit the post too soon after the first attempt. :-\
Thanks for your kind comments, Sylvia. They are much appreciate.
I think you're right about the reason for the error message.
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Hello Gordon :wave:
Thank you very much for sharing your water carrier with us, it certainly is an excellent custom and very finely made. Also thank you for taking the time to give us some background and to explain its uses. I was really interested to learn how the spade could be put to use, thats something i had not thought about. It certainly would prove a very interesting activity to see in a photo story.
Regards Tim :)
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With you around, our klickies should know that they will be well taken care of , regardless of the size of the fire.
Thanks for sharing
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Hi Kristian, Tim and Meg :wave:
Thanks for the kind feedback. It's much appreciated. If I were doing it again, I'd make a number of changes to the approach, but that's experience for you.
If my brigade can't cope, then Tim will also help, I know.
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Hello Gordon
My fire stations are allways on standby if and when you need extra engines for a big fire. Wow :o i can just imagine it now, both our fire services in one place at the same time, it certainly would be a sight to see. It would also make a huge photo story !!
Kindest Regards Tim
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Just as long as no klickies are hurt during the photo story
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This is really very impressive Gordon! It looks like it came out of a blue box only more realistic! I love all the detail and your explanations of the uses of the various equipment and details. Thank you also for the info on materials used.
I'm sure you get asked this a lot but I'm interested to know where you gained your interest in and knowledge of fire fighting vehicles? It's obviously a very specialized area.
Thanks for the excellent presentation! : :)
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Hi Psyche, and thanks for your kind words, they're much appreciated.
As for how I got interested in fire engines, my interest in photography led me to it as they are great things to photograph. In addition, I also manged to get some good pics of local fires with the result that for five years I was volunteer photographer (actually for most of the time, only photographer) with the local fire brigade, covering major incidents as well as social things such as open days, charity events and so on. Unfortunately, there was a lot of internal politicking at times and in the end I resigned because of this. That and reading around the subject is the source of my knowledge.
I hope to post some more pics shortly, starting with firefighters matchboxluc has modified for me.
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His fire fighters can do the twist :P
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Thanks for sharing your photos Gordon! I confess it took me a while to look at this thread because I don't have a great deal of interest in the rescue theme, but your pics are terrific and your descriptions of the tools fascinating! I look forward to seeing and hearing about your next fire fighting custom!
Red
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Thanks for the explanation Gordon. I always find it interesting how one interest can lead one in places they may never have thought they would go. You route to fire rescue is a fascinating one. I'm an amature outdoor photography buff myself but I was let to that first by my interest in photography combined with my love of flowers and trees which led to a heightened interest in outdoor photography which led to a wider interest in outdoor hiking and camping...one thing lead to another. 8} I'm just lately learning to take decent interior photos but I'll get there.
I look forward to seeing and hearing about your next fire fighting custom!
As do I! :D
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Thanks for the kind comments, Red and Psyche. The latest custom is slow in coming on so I plan to post some pics (hopefully this week) of the "twisty" firefighters mbl made for me and then some of my customised 3781 turntable ladder. This will give me the time, weather permitting, to get on with the ongoing custom based on the 3614 van.
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Weather -- its freezing cold outside
In the single digits on the Farenheit scale
that is around negative single digits on the Celcius scale.
BRR its cold outside
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.BRR its cold outside
Not too bad here with a bit of sun and very cold hard rain today, but -2C tonight.
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Hello, Gordon ...
This is the first custom that I have had the pleasure to see from you! WOW! ... :wow: ... :wow: ... :wow: ...
Even with your incredibly detailed explanations, I don't think that everyone realizes the amount of time, skill, thought and creativity you put into this vehicle. May I suggest that you take some photos of the actual "work in progress" for your next project? I think that actually seeing what's involved in in a conversion of this magnitude will blow everyone's socks off.
Well done, Gordon!
Did I say how impressed I am? ... ;)
All the best,
Richard
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Thank you Richard for your comments :-[. I had intended to do photos showing work in progress, but having done one I had a period when I was able to get on really quickly and fogot to do any more! However, with my latest project I've been a bit more organised thoughnot much. :)
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Just come over here from your latest post (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=509.0) -- I actually really, really like the stand hydrant; I need this one too, because here in Germany you can see these quite often (or at least I see them in cases the fire brigade gives some presentations/demonstrations or have some missions and needs water). Is this a customized piece or is this available in a set? (if the later one, from which set is it, else from which parts have you made it, so I can try to reproduce one too.)
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Hi Jo, it comes from one of the garden sets, in this particular case the Garden Superset. The part number is 30 24 1600.
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Thank you Gordon. This will be for sure on my next DS order list.
I'm just curious: do you remember which SuperSet this was? I was looking around a little bit, searching for this item, but didn't found it.
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It was 3134, Jo. The same hydrant appears in the allotment gardening set.
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Thats awesome playmofire :wow: :wow: :wow: Great
work playmofire. :)9
baden
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Thank you, b-w, it's good of you to say so. :wave: