Re-equipping Copt Hewick Volunteer Fire Brigade

[playmofire]

Copt Hewick Volunteer Fire Brigade is under-going a change.  I've been doing a bit of research following Norfolk Fire and Rescue's website following the incidents page (http://www.norfolkfireservice.gov.uk/Incidents.html - although there seems to be a problem at the moment, 15:34 13/04).  Norfolk is a largely rural brigade, as is CHVFB, and the research shows that approx 70% of incidents are on pump attendance, 25% require two pumps and 3% three pumps, so overall 98% of calls are three pumps or less.   As a result, and partly, too, to save space, I'm reducing the brigade's size to to three pumps, 1 TL, 1 water-carrier, 1 general purpose unit, plus other (as yet to be decided) vehicles, e.g. the little Smart car and 3181 G-Class 4x4, and trailers, e.g. the 3178 trailer.  This topic will follow this process through.  The three pumps will, at least initially, be the two new 4821s and one 3880.  The last will be equipped with the ladder gantry from the German mega-fire set.  (See photo 1.)   The water-carrier and general purpose unit will be modified versions of the existing water-carrier and GP unit.  You can see there here:

http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=220.0

and here respectively:

http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=1745.0

There will also, for the first time, be a fire station (a modified version of the 4819) to accommodate the front line vehicles with a separate building for auxiliary units such as the trailers.

Inevitably, the changes will mean redundant vehicles and firecrew, but every effort will be made to deploy these usefully amongst other brigades where possible of via the eBay recruitment centre.

[playmofire]

The 4821 pump has been reviewed in detail

http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=4135.0

and the story of the extra 4821 from the toyshop has been told

http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=4332.0

so here are details on the deployment and equipping of the two new pumps in the revised brigade.

These two pumps will be the main pumps and will run as CH/1 (first away) and CH/2.  They are equipped as pump/rescue units so can tackle fires and road traffic incidents.  However, they are slightly different in their equipment, as the photos show.

The external differences can be seen in the first photo.  CH/1 is on the right and is fitted with two double extension ladders on the roof, has no water monitor and the giraffe lights are fitted on the rear, right door.  It also has a winch stored on the roof at the moment prior to fitting to the front of the machine.  Both vehicles will have a front-mounted winch.  CH/2 doesn't carry any rescue ladders but has the water monitor fitted.  The giraffe light is fitted on the roof and a hose reel attached to the right, rear door.

The equipment carried internally is the same for both except that CH/1 will carry  two internally fitted hose reels and a CAFS hose reel jet, while CH/2 will have only one internally fitted hose reel and no CAFS hose reel jet, but will carry four containers of foam concentrate in place of the second internal hose reel (photo 2).

There has also been a change to equipment carried compared with the review report.  Neither will carry the PPV fan and instead will have a different right hand side front locker arrangement in its place.  This will consist of three vertical storage units containing (from bottom to top) small gear (i.e. hand tools and axe) plus a torch, 2 spare BA cylinders, and hose connectors and related equipment.  (Photo 3)

[playmofire]

Lastly, here is a full equipment list for the two 4821 pumps.

4821 equipment list by function



Fire fighting equipment

3 x hard suction hose
1 x suction basket
2 x silver branches
2 x straight hose connectors
2 x blue hose reel jets
2 x bent hose connectors
2 x hose reels
2 x hose ramps
1 x divider/breecher
2 x foam branches
2 x beaters
4 x containers of foam (CH/2 only)
1 x CAFS branch (CH/1 only)
1 x portable pump
2 x ground monitors
1 x hydrant standpipe
1 x hydrant key
2 x BA cylinders
4 x silver hose connectors



Rescue equipment

1 x compressor unit
1 x spreaders
1 x cutters
1 x pedal cutters
2 x chocks
2 x double extension ladders (CH/1 only)


Tools

1 x broom
1 x shovel
1 x pickaxe
1 x breaking and entering set
1 x medium crowbar
1 x large and small fire axe
1 x axe (yellow handled)
1 x ceiling hook
1 x sack granules
1 x bucket
1 x torch
1 x hand tool set (screwdriver, hammer,
tyre bar, double ended spanner, ring spanner,
wrench)


Miscellaneous items

3 x traffic cones
1 x fuel can
1 x warning triangle

Shortly, I will post details of the equipment carried by the 4820 TL and details of some minor custom work on it.

[Wolf Knight]

Wow!!!! So many little and important details Gordon!!! This is amazing, how your customs are an attempt, and successful ones at that, to solve real life problems!!! Something that both Playmobil and the Fire Department must really take into consideration!!!! 
Also had a quick look at your water carrier and the flatbed truck!!! Very beautiful and very functional!!

[flatcat]

What a great fleet Gordon - I really like what you have done with the new pumpers and I can't wait to see the rest of your fine - tuned fleet. What is the fire mega set you mentioned please?

I may be looking at recruiting some 3880's into my collection as I cut my only one up for my custom

[playmofire]

Wow!!!! So many little and important details Gordon!!! This is amazing, how your customs are an attempt, and successful ones at that, to solve real life problems!!! Something that both Playmobil and the Fire Department must really take into consideration!!!! 
Also had a quick look at your water carrier and the flatbed truck!!! Very beautiful and very functional!!

Thank you very much for your comments, Wolf Knight, they are much appreciated.  I'm still working on how to store the traffic cones inside by using smaller ones, but I suspect that it won't be possible. 

[playmofire]

What a great fleet Gordon - I really like what you have done with the new pumpers and I can't wait to see the rest of your fine - tuned fleet. What is the fire mega set you mentioned please?

I may be looking at recruiting some 3880's into my collection as I cut my only one up for my custom

Thank you, Damo.  It will be some time before I can do the extra work on the water-carrier and the GP lorry, but as soon as I do I'll post details and photos.

Here is the mega set:

http://playmodb.org/setpics/4096.jpg

Keep me informed by PM about your needs for 3880s and I'm sure we can reach a deal.

[playmofire]

The Norfolk Fire and Rescue incidents page is back up now:

http://norfolkfireservice.gov.uk/Incidents.html

[Bill Blackhurst]

Excellent updated fleet & fire brigade, Gordon!