PlaymoFriends
Creative => Customs Gallery => Ships & Vehicles => Topic started by: playmofire on February 02, 2006, 19:32:31
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Although I have a general interest in fire engines, I have an especial one in German fire engines and brigades, and I've always liked the light fire engines many German volunteer brigades have based on the rectangular style Mercedes-Benz van which predated the Sprinter model. I bought my first 3880 fire engine in 1987 (a silver wedding present to myself!) and when I saw the 3614 racing service truck in the mini-catalogue which came with the 3880, I began thinking about turning one into an LF8. After a lot of thought and one or two prototypes, now, after just over 8 years, here is the first version which has proved very popular with the Copt Hewick crews in rural areas. Already, there are plans for a revised version and for a rescue tender. As you can see, the appliance is quite different from Copt Hewick's most recent machine, the water carrier (see it here:
http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=220.0)
Unfortunately, the weather has been too cold for me to get out and photograph the finished version, so here are some "inbuild" pics which I was going to save to the end, when I will also show some pics of actual machines. There is a brief descriptive text on each pic.
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Here are some detail shots of the stowage arrangements. There are also stowage racks to go above the one shown here, but those can only be photographed once the body is on.
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Lastly, details of the BA (breathing apparatus stowage) behind the front seats. The finished vehicle carries a crew of four, with BA for two of them.
I hope that if there is an improvement in the weather in the next few days I can take the photos of the finished machine and post them. Meanwhile, thanks for taking the time to look at the pics.
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Wow! That is phenomenal Gordon! Building your own PM fire truck from the ground up... Amazing! :omg:
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Yes, it is amazing. The fire theme seems to particularly draw in the vehicle customizers more than other themes. It appeals to me I think because it is all rather gadgety, and I like gadgets and equipment. I don't have any fire engines :o myself.
Yet.
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hey Gordon,
that looks pretty cool, I cant wait to see the finished product. I like all the storage racks
Ben
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Hi Gordon!
What a challenging project you have taken on! 8-) I really admire this ability that vehicle customisers have which allows them to look at 2 different vehicles and see the possibilities for combining the parts to make another completely new one! :wow:
Thanks for all the photos showing the work in progress. I'm also looking forward to seeing the finished truck. :yup:
Hope the weather improves soon down your way. :)
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Hello Gordon :)9
This is excellent i cannot wait to see the finished version. I really do like how you made the slide out trays in the back and the mounting for the BA sets.
Kindest Regards Tim :)
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Great photos Gordon, I like to see how it's done. :)
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Thanks to all for their kind and encouraging comments. An improvement in the weather and in my cold/sinus infection (penicillin is a wonderful thing!) have meant I've been able to complete the pics, so here are shots of the LF8 with its body on etc.
As before, there is explanatory text on the photos.
So first, some shots of the appliance with its body on and all shelving and storage devices in place, but before fitting out.
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Now, the same but with equipment stowed in place.
The small metal box in front of the chainsaw holds spare chains and tools.
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Now, details of the storage facilities on the rear doors and safety features on the crew cab door at the side.
The clips on the rear doors are System-X equipment holders in silver, part number 30 21 0700.
The side door for the crew cab carries a reflective warning triangle plus two orange warning lights high up which would light up automatically when the door was opened and then flash.
The final pic in this group is of the crew cab accommodation.
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Now two shots showing the use of the roof for a triple extension ladder in the centre, two lengths of suction hose (for drawing water from a hydrant or lifting it from a pond or stream) on the offside, and a length of suction with a filter on (the length which actually goes into the stream or pond, the filter filtering out mud and other stuff which might block the pump), together with a ceiling hook (pike pole in the USA).
The other two pics show the rear access step in use as a crew member pulls out the hose reel tray (there is also a side access step to the crew cab), and a crew member pulling out the rear equipment tray with hand sawing tools in.
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Finally, three external views, and a "thank you" from the crew.
The ladder on the rear door is fom a 3880 fire engine with the fixing "posts" cut off. If is held in place by two black System-X equipment holders, part number 30 20 9950 and are found in sets 3112 and 3203.
The searchlight is by a German firm called Robbe and is really for a model ship. It can be wired up to work. In addition, the roof of the appliance has in the wring for flashing blue lights and these can be fitted fairly easily if I want to use them. Like the searchlight, these are also made by Robbe.
Lastly, as the crew say, "Thank you" for taking the time to look at these pics. I hope you found them interesting and useful for your own customs, whatever theme you collect.
The next custom I do is defintiely going to be a simple one, probably devising storage shelving for the 3880 fire engine.
Thanks for your time. :)
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Hello, Gordon ...
This vehicle is so professionally customised, that if you hadn't shown the "work in progress" photos, it would have been very difficult to see what was yours and what was original Playmobil.
Even though I am a Playmobil train enthusiast and could learn much from your techniques, I have never customized any LGB or Playmobil trains.
Unfortunately, what I really wanted to customize were the two 1900 (Belle Époque) vehicles. Now they are so valuable, that I daren't touch them.
Hopefully, Zirndorf will reissue them as they did with the bi-plane. These two vehicles would really lend themselves well to historical fire fighting equipment as well as to late Victorian military vehicles.
Thanks again for sharing a really informative post and a great customized vehicle.
All the best,
Richard
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Very interesting photos. You know what you are talking about. I enjoyed them a lot!! ;D
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Hey Gordon,
Thats really cool. I like all the little details and the storage of equipment. I like the jump seats in the back, thats a very good idea. :yup: It gives me lots of ideas for my own custom unit (that should be done soon). I'm looking forward to seeing this unit in action. Very well done Gordon, thanks.
Ben
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Wow, this is a cool vehicle. :omg: And how everythings fits so well into it. Very nice details, e.g. the "structured floor" or the customized warning lights with some "real" lenses (as far as I can see from the side shot).
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Gordon, all I can say is that is a beautiful vehicle! WELL DONE!
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This vehicle is so professionally customised, that if you hadn't shown the "work in progress" photos, it would have been very difficult to see what was yours and what was original Playmobil.
I'll second that. :yup:
You must be very happy with the end result of all your hard work, Gordon. The vehicle looks perfect from every angle! 8-)
Thanks for all the pictures and the detailed explanations. :)9
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Hello Gordon :)
This is an absolutley amazing custom. I was expecting something really impressive but this is astounding :wow:. I really do like how everything has its own specific place on the vehicle, everything has been so well thought out !! I really can't wait for your next custom :)9
Kindest Regards Tim
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Very nicely done, it's so neat on the inside everything has its own little place. I too like the extra seating in the back and the textured flooring used in that part of the vehicle. 8-)
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Many thanks to everyone for their kind comments; they are very much appreciated, not so much from the point of view of the praise as from knowing that you've given someone else some pleasure/enjoyment as well as yourself, if you follow me.
Unfortunately, what I really wanted to customize were the two 1900 (Belle Époque) vehicles. Now they are so valuable, that I daren't touch them.
Hopefully, Zirndorf will reissue them as they did with the bi-plane. These two vehicles would really lend themselves well to historical fire fighting equipment as well as to late Victorian military vehicles.
I'm sure, Richard, that there are some customs of these as turn of the century fire engines on playmo-portal by flori. I'll see if I can find them for you.
I like the jump seats in the back, thats a very good idea. :yup: It gives me lots of ideas for my own custom unit (that should be done soon). I'm looking forward to seeing this unit in action.
As I'm sure you've guessed, Ben, the seats are cut out from the cab interior of the ambulance. It was easier to do than I expected. I then mounted them on some plastic (ABS) angle pieces to get the correct height and glued them by the back to the dividing partition. They are just too near the floor to make use of the space between the supports for under-seat storage, but having them higher ruins the "balance" of the setup.
the customized warning lights with some "real" lenses
These are flat-backed "jewels" with faceted (angled) face used by craft workers for jewellery. I'll scan some examples as they come in different sizes and colours and post a pic of them.
Very nice details, e.g. the "structured floor"
I too like the extra seating in the back and the textured flooring used in that part of the vehicle. 8-)
The textured flooring is made by a firm called Wills for HO/OO railways. It's really designed for making walkways on gantries or weighbridges but works equally well at Playmobil scale for flooring or for rooftop storage areas. It comes in a medium grey, but I had to paint the floor because it got marked by some polystyrene cement.
Once again, many thanks for taking the time to look at my custom and comment on it. And I hope to have some action shots once I can get something set up outside again.
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Thats awesome Playmofire. i am amased :wow: :wow: :wow:
Great work.
baden
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Thats awesome Playmofire. i am amased :wow: :wow: :wow:
Great work.
baden
Thank you; your words are very kind. :)