PlaymoFriends
Creative => Customs Gallery => Ships & Vehicles => Topic started by: Tim_w on January 14, 2006, 17:14:04
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Hello All :wave:
Here is another specialist vehicle taken from my Playmobil Fire Service. This time we have a Major Rescue Unit or MRU. As this is such a specialist vehicle here is a basic outline explaining what a real MRU is and what it does.
Most fire brigades across the country have several MRU’s although they can have various designations. Some brigades call them Rescue Tenders and others call them Emergency Tenders. As with the regular fire engine’s different brigades choose different vehicle layouts and manufacturers so there is a lot of variety.
An MRU has several different roles and uses but the main one is to support fire engines at serious crashes involving cars, heavy goods vehicles, planes and trains. This type of work usually involves large or heavy vehicles so the MRU carry’s amongst other things a heavier version of the regular cutting equipment found on a normal fire appliance. As well as cutting equipment they also carry a large selection of tool’s, jacks, props, lifting equipment, ropes, lights etc. They also carry duplicates of the basic equipment found on standard fire engines.
Additionally as well as attending vehicle accidents MRU’s can be used to rescue people trapped in trenches, machinery, collapsed buildings and so on.
My Playmobil MRU:
My vehicle is based on a standard 3880 towing a 3178 trailer. This set up is a temporary until I find a vehicle, which alone is capable of carrying all my equipment. The most significant change I made is the mounting of a heavy winch on the front bumper. This is a direct replacement of the small version that comes with the set. I have also fitted an extendable light pole into the roof of the vehicle. To complete the overall look I painted the rear of the vehicle yellow for high visibility and added warning stickers and blue lights.
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In the first picture you can see the light mast, which can be raised and lowered. The second picture shows the onboard generator that I created in the back by drilling some holes to accept my custom electrical leads (See other Post).
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The pictures below show the wide range of equipment carried on the vehicle. There are several close up shots included for our resident fire fan’s or anyone else who is curious about a certain item.
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Here is a picture showing the wide range of equipment carried in the trailer. The added bonus of using the trailer is that the spotlights mounted on top actually work. I have used them in a photo story before and the effect is excellent.
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Well, that's quite staggering, Tim. What with all the equipment, the clever customs of stuff and the new uses you've thought up for some items, I'm lost for words! Some of the mysteries of your DS orders are being cleared up now.
I hope you will post pics showing how some of the pieces of equipment fit together and are used.
I like the rear end of the appliance. Could we have a top view of it with the equipment on?
I'll see if I have some spare facetted "jewels" which make excellent blue and orange flashers and send you some to see.
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Hello Gordon :)
Thank you very much indeed for your kind feedback and for your offer of a sample of the blue lights :)9. I allways appreciate your feedback on my fire service because i really do consider you to be at the top of this particular field. Infact i remember you were the one who inspired me to actually 'go for it' in the very beginning !!
As for the equipment there are certainly some mysteries on the DS order even for me :lol:. I see something and think 'wow' that could be usefull for a future project and order it. Sometimes the parts sit unused for a while untill i have a flash of inspiration. You might have noticed the orange tools which where originally designed as weeding tools for one of the garden centre set's. I thought the big one could easily double as a breaking in tool and the small one could be used to prise open car door lines to get the spreaders in.
The rear of the appliance has taken some time to develope allthough i feel it is pretty much there now. I decided to double up the warning lights on the inside of the door after seeing a similar design on an ambulance tailgate. A design which allows warning lights to be visible even when the door is open and covering the other set.
I do as it happens have a second set of pictures waiting to go showing the new equipment being demonstrated. I am planning to get these posted either this evening or tomorrow. I will also see if i can get a picture taken of the equipment on the roof allthough what goes up there has yet to be completley decided on.
Kindest Regards Tim :)
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You have done it once again :D Great!
Your klickies must be the safest klickies in the world :) Do you also do ambulances and other medical units?
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Hey Tim.
That's a very well equipped unit. I like the detail, especially the laptop in the cab, very cool. In the back of the 3880, are the holes for water supply or something else? How you have everything put together is very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Ben
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Hello Kristian and Ben
Thank you both for the kind feedback it is really appreciated.
Kristian
I currently have 3 Ambulances, 1 Rapid Response Vehicle, 1 Rapid Response Motorcycle and 2 Helicopters. Eventually i plan on expanding my ground Ambulance service and adding a few specialist vehicles. At the moment however the fire service is a top priority :).
Ben
The holes in the back are the plug sockets for a 'pretend' onboard electrical generator. I have made some extension leads with plugs on the end which in turn can be plugged into lights or my air compressor. In the next hour or so i plan on adding a post showing this new equipment being demonstrated.
Kindest Regards Tim
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Thanks Tim, I'm looking forward to those pictures.
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You have out done yourself
I dont know what everything is, but it sure is cool
I have a question about some of your tools, but that is because something similar identical came in an odd lot
you have two jacs, with red screw tops coming out of them. The red tops are divided into quarters.
Are those red screw things ... lego?
If they are lego, then do you need anymore, I have 1 or 2 of them floating around here with no use for them
Meg
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Hello Meg :wave:
Thank you very much indeed for your kind reply it is very much appreciated. I am really pleased that you have taken an interest in this theme and are asking any questions you might need answers to :).
The tops of the jacks are a Playmobil produced part and where orignially axle stands out of one of the garage sets. I imagine the Lego version is quite similar in style as they are quite a generic design. Thank you for the kind offer of sending me yours but i just ordered quite a few from DS :). Besides i would not want you to go to all that trouble just for me.
Just for your reference and if your not familiar with one an axle stand is basically a stand that you can safely rest a car on when your working on it. The top can be raised or lowered to bring it into contact with the underside of the car depending on how high it may be off the ground. You can allways lower the car down with the jack to meet the top of the axle stand instead .
Kindest Regards Tim :)
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This is the piece Tim is referring to, Meg. Here it is in the 3614 racing service truck.
Looking at Tim's pics, he has somehow cunningly combined the red part with part of a fire extinguisher body.
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Gordon, thanks for the source pictures.
It turns out I have two complete jacks with a third red screw piece
I didnt know they were PM.
Tim is extremely creative, isnt he?
M
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Great vehicles again Tim.
I like the back of the unit painted yellow and the detail to the generator great ideas very well done. I am just amazed as to how much stuff you get in your vehicles.
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Hello Garry :)9
Thank you very much for your kind feedback it is allways really appreciated :)9. Getting all that equipment onto the fire engines causes its own set of problems especially when it comes to putting it all back in the right places after using it 8} !!
Kindest Regards Tim :wave:
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In the first picture you can see the light mast, which can be raised and lowered. The second picture shows the onboard generator that I created in the back by drilling some holes to accept my custom electrical leads (See other Post).
Hi Tim,
where do you have these nice displays in the OnboardGenerator.jpg picture from?
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Hello Little Jo
Thank you for your question. It is great to see that you have taken an active step in setting up your Playmobil fire service. I really cannot wait to see what you decide to create in terms of future projects. My fire service has certainly become an obsession :lol:
To answer your question the details for the on-board generator come from the sticker sheet to the 3925 Ambulance http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-89-3280 (http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-89-3280)
I ordered about 15 of this particular sticker sheet from DS because it has lots of uses. I carefully cut out the switches and dials with a craft knife.
Kindest Regards Tim
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To answer your question the details for the on-board generator come from the sticker sheet to the 3925 Ambulance http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-89-3280 (http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-89-3280)
I ordered about 15 of this particular sticker sheet from DS because it has lots of uses.
Oh, clever idea! Thanks for the info.
I have to order one for myself too (one I think is enough for me, because with my scanner and some blank sticker material I can reproduce some further ones ;D). Maybe I can come back on you for a scan in the case this sticker is no longer available at DS.
:hmm: Hm, I also have to check some other sets where stickers with displays are included (e.g. from the airplane) ... maybe there is also some suitable stuff available.