Playmobil Aerial Ladder Platform (Fire Service Custom)

[Tim_w]

Hello Everyone ,

This is my custom Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) based on a previous failed attempt using the same vehicle. After several years in storage due to an impractical design i decided to try again using new skills and special parts from DS. It is still classed as a work in progress as i intend to redesign the stabilisers so they can take a lot more strain when the ladder is in full use. Apart from the stabilisers its pretty much complete so i thought i would share it with you, after a brief description on what it is used for that is.

Aerial Ladder Platform:

An ALP is a special appliance used to fight fires in tall buildings such as factories, office blocks, tower blocks and hospitals. As well as fighting fires in tall buildings it is used to rescue people who are trapped and out of reach of the standard ladders used on fire engines. Due to its flexibility it has many different and varying uses and is not only used in its standard roll. It can be used as an observation platform so senior officers can survey the scenes of major accidents or large fires. It can also be used as a crane to lift things but more interestingly it can be used to gain access to places lower than the vehicle itself. In other words you could park the ALP at the top of a railway cutting and use the platform and ladder to gain access to the line below.
There are many different types of aerial platforms the world over but most do the same job. Some  of them have hydraulic booms instead of ladders and some just have extendable ladders without baskets at the end. Just as there are different types of appliance there are many different designations as well (ALP = Aerial Ladder Platform, HP = Hydraulic Platform, TTL = Turn Table Ladder to name but a few) I am sure Gordon would be able to give us an insight to the German variants and Bill the US counterparts.
ALP's are specialist appliances and are only based at certain fire stations throughout the brigade area. As a result they are called out to attend fires in surrounding towns when needed. The theory being they don't get used enough to warrant every station having one and due to this they can cover wider areas as they are 'less' likely to be needed in two places at once. This doesn't mean that it hasn't happened and brigade resources can be stretched by two large fires breaking out on the same night.

With the introduction over i think it is time to take a look at the vehicle in question:

[Tim_w]

The basket folds up underneath the ladder in the space behind the cab when not in use.



Hydraulic folding mechanism to raise and lower the end ladder and basket. This is the mechanism i was unable to get right the first time around and what ultimatley scrapped the project for a time.



The rear end of the standard ladder has been heavily modified to allow it to be raised past the normal operating capabilities of a standard Playmobil ladder truck. This simple modification alone allows the ladder to reach a lot higher than normal.

[Tim_w]

Most aerials only require a two man crew to operate so the cab was modified to reflect this. The modification also allowed me to stow the basket behind the cab when not in use. The cab interior has been modernised and includes a GPS system, radio telephone and mobile phone holder. The GPS is used when the appliance is attending incidents out of its normal operating area.



The business end of things is at the rear of the vehicle. Most aerials do not require pumps because they work with pumping appliances. Instead they have a collector head (to the right of the picture) to receive and send the water up the ladder. In the centre of the picture is the computer, which is used to controll the stabilisers and other aspects of the vehicle including any flood lighting. In the future the computer will be modified to allow the operator to work the ladder whilst away from the operators seat. There is also a radio telephone so the operator can keep in touch with the fire fighter at the top of the ladder.

[Tim_w]

These are the stabilisers, which you guessed it stabilise the vehicle whilst it is being used. Unfortunately they are not substantial enough to take the full weight of the ladder when its being used through its full range of operation and replacements are on order. These are quite complex pieces of kit and using the computer system actually 'level' the vehicle ready for use. Data is also transmitted back to the computer so all aspects of operation can be monitored including the load on the basket. The road cone is quite a simple piece of kit employed to stop people walking into the stabiliser legs . Spreader plates are used underneath the stabiliser feet to further spread the load and to stop the stabilisers digging into the road surface.

[Tim_w]

Fire fighters can gain access to the basket either by climbing up the ladder or by simply getting into the basket when its on the ground. This picture shows the ladder fully raised and the basket sitting on the ground.



When fire fighters are working on the ladder or in the basket they need to wear safety harnesses in case they fall. The fire fighter here is demonstrating the use of such a piece of equipment. Modifications to the basket itself will be discussed further on in the thread.

[Tim_w]

This picture shows the ladder allmost fully extended. Both of the main ladders are at their maximum and all that needs to be done is to raise the end ladder. The ladders are longer than on the standard Playmobil fire engine which is why they over hang the cab by so much. This was common on some of the old Turn Table Ladders making the buisness of driving them very difficult and highly skilled job.

[Tim_w]

A picture showing the ladder fully extended. It was quite windy and raining slightly outside and the ladder was blowing about a bit so i couldnt get the shots i wanted to. I really should have got a picture of it next to one of my standard pumping appliances to show the size difference.

[Tim_w]

The basket is fitted with a set of high powered floodlights to aid the ALP's use at night. As well as allowing the fire fighters in the basket to see what they are doing the floodlights can be used for scene lighting. This can even extend to the ALP being used as a lighting tower at the scene of a major accident, a true multipurpose appliance.



As well as being operated from the ground any fire fighter in the basket can move the ladder and turn table using the controlls shown in this picture. The radio telephone is close by so communication can be made with fire fighters on the ground.



The heat produced in the basket while it is over a large fire can become quite intense so water sprinklers are fitted to the base of the basket. They spray a high pressure water fog out from the bottom of the basket to reduce the heat for crew comfort.

[Bill Blackhurst]

Excellent custom  Tim! It is amazing the concepts you come up with, & execute!

[Tim_w]

Hello Bill,

Thank you very much indeed for the kind feedback . It has been a long time coming but i finally got round to sorting out the original problems and getting the appliance back in service. Just like in real life i like to give some of my old vehicles a new lease of life from time to time. As soon as i get good enough weather for it i will start work on a thread explaining how my fire service works.

Tim