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Finding the key parts critical for making the model possible

In this project, we'll explore how to find parts needed for a project, how to modify existing parts in order to get closer to the real prototype, how to do some basic conversions and scratchbuild some cabinetwork as well as how to outfit the truck with some great super detailed accessories.

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One of the old trucks we had on the Ogdensburg Fire Department when I was a member was this old early '50s Ford F-5 brush truck. It was used as the department's utility truck and equipped for clean-up and brush fires and as I remember it was a bear to drive. Shifting the manual transmission was nigh unto an art form and took some getting used to. Even then, the gearing was such that, combined with the age of the old girl, if we had to go up to the top of the local mountain to Edison's Pond, it was going to be a long and puckersom drive in low gear. I thought the old truck was cool, but agile would never be an adjective that would appropriately apply.

I've had a ton of questions from modelers as to how to get started in building model fire apparatus and what the difference is between super detailing and scratchbuilding. When trying to find a model that could aptly define the two and act as a good project for modelers wanting to break out of just building kits, I realized that this truck has a lot of things that can help a modeler make the leap out of the box and dive into the skills needed to become a well-practiced scratchbuilder.

Squad 51 looks deceptively easy to build. The Devil is in the details...

Most of my projects begin with a real vehicle or prototype that I then try to replicate. These are some samples of the real thing and you can click on the link below to take you to other material used to build the model.

Building a LA County Paramedic Wagon

Tim Bongard

Detailed Models

and

Building Projects

Life is a scratchbuilding project

Build On &

Build Boldly!

Prototype

Gallery

Project Launch