MOC: American Fire Truck

[Delta 38]

Looks quite detailed. I like the method used for the grill and windscreen wipers.

[ImLost]

Width of minifig vehicles is a regularly reoccurring topic of conversation. American fire engines can be very big, particularly this type (combining functions of a pumper and a ladder truck), but they're not wider than a regular truck. I personally feel that 8 wide is already a bit too big for minifig scale vehicles and making it even wider would mean that it would completely dwarf any figure standing next to it.

Of course making it bigger means that it becomes progressively easier to add details (part of the reason why most of my fire-engines are 14 studs wide and why I don't include minifigs).

I'm not sure whether I'd see that as a weakness. On many of these trucks the cab does have a lot of little bells and whistles while the rest of the body is a bit simple. If you do want to add more stuff to the back, I'd suggest adding a few lights to the top of the body (a few floodlights and a few rotating lights) and perhaps some handrails. It's on a larger scale and but you can see the sort of things I mean on my the back of my FDNY fire engine.

I look forward to seeing the finished product.

Cheers,

Ralph

Thanks, Ralph. You are right in that any vehicle wider than 8 studs will not be compatible with minifigs, which is why I resisted the urge to make it wider. Still, compared to photos of real-life American fire trucks, my model looks too narrow in comparision. Main reason is that my headlights are too big. Oh well.

As for the rest of the truck's body, I have redesigned the turntable to make it look more realistic and added some railings like you said. I also took your advice and added more detail to the pump control panel (see the bottom of this post for photos). But because I only have 1-stud round pieces to work with, I'm still not happy with how the pump control panel looks.

BTW, I've seen your FDNY truck before. Just awesome! I'm tempted to make my truck with 6 wheels too but I'm afraid doing that will make my model too long for an 8-wide vehicle.

Just my two cents, but...

Never forget that it is only you who can decide about

what you create, and when you're happy with it!

If you feel that this is exactly what you're aiming for,

then bingo! I'd say!

Cheers!

JJ

Good advice JJ. I'm pretty happy with how my truck has turned out. But I'm one of those picky people who is never completely satisfied!

Looks quite detailed. I like the method used for the grill and windscreen wipers.

Thanks, Delta 38. The grill was originally 4-wide but that pushed the headlights to the very edge of the truck. I felt there needs to be some space between the edge of the truck and each headlight so I narrowed the grill to 3-wide.

Anyways, here is an updated version of my truck. A lot of the changes are inspired by looking at Steven Asbury's amazing 6-wide fire apparatus's.

I completley redesigned the turntable to make it more realistic. The old turntable used to be from the truck in 7208 Fire Station. Although i liked how that turntable looked, I felt it was too bulky. Thus I made a new one that takes up half the space and look more life-like. I also moved the turntable to the very back of the truck. This allows a storage area in front of it.

I have also added a new basket to the ladder that is much more realistic, based on Asbury's work as well as real-life photos. My original basket was too simple and doesn't look very safe!

I have added more detail to the pump control panel. By detail, I mean I just saturated the plate with many 1x1 round stud pieces. I am not happy with how the pump control panel looks but I'll live with it. I have also added some tan plates on top of the pump control. Those are supposed to represent folded hoses.

The back of the truck has recieved some minor refinements and the cab now actually has a steering wheel! Woohoo!

This is still a work-in-progress. I'm thinking about adding outtriggers. The part of the truck I am least happy with is the section directly in front of the turntable (with the fire sticker on it). I feel it looks too bulky and lacks detail. Suggestions welcome.

Edited March 8, 2010 by ImLost

[Ralph_S]

Thanks, Ralph. You are right in that any vehicle wider than 8 studs will not be compatible with minifigs, which is why I resisted the urge to make it wider. Still, compared to photos of real-life American fire trucks, my model looks too narrow in comparision. Main reason is that my headlights are too big. Oh well.

As for the rest of the truck's body, I have redesigned the turntable to make it look more realistic and added some railings like you said. I also took your advice and added more detail to the pump control panel (see the bottom of this post for photos). But because I only have 1-stud round pieces to work with, I'm still not happy with how the pump control panel looks.

BTW, I've seen your FDNY truck before. Just awesome! I'm tempted to make my truck with 6 wheels too but I'm afraid doing that will make my model too long for an 8-wide vehicle.

Let me start by telling you that this second version looks a lot more complete than the first and I already liked that one. It would be worth investing in a few more 1x1 tiles with a dial pattern, but your current compromise looks more than acceptable to me. I love the railings you added and the beefed-up basket. The various bits of equipment stored under the ladder also look pretty good to me. You could probably get away with adding one more axle, but it would mean a major rearrangement of the rear end of the truck and probably isn't worth while. It looks nicely proportioned as is.

The scale really is a personal choice. 8-wide might be a bit big for my minifigs according to my personal taste, but I think the truck looks good and I wouldn't mess with it. I think it would be hard to have the same functionality on a smaller vehicle, although I am tempted to have a go. I wouldn't mind having a ladder truck to accompany my own minifig scale US pumper. That the headlights might seem a bit big compared to the size of the truck doesn't strike me as much of a problem. It is one of those compromises you'll always run into when building an approximate scale model out of LEGO.

Cheers,

Ralph

[lightningtiger]

Looks even better 'ImLost' - finally those pump controls look more realistic.

Yay, for steering wheels !

Great work 'ImLost' and I'm a conformist! !

[Ras 74]

"Still work in progress", what are you Lost?

One of the very best Fire Trucks I ever seen in minifig scale

I watch Rescue me and this truck really looks like the real deal.

Very awesome details. Likes that both the front doors and the back doors can be opened for instance.

A set I would buy if it was official.

[ImLost]

Let me start by telling you that this second version looks a lot more complete than the first and I already liked that one. It would be worth investing in a few more 1x1 tiles with a dial pattern, but your current compromise looks more than acceptable to me. I love the railings you added and the beefed-up basket. The various bits of equipment stored under the ladder also look pretty good to me. You could probably get away with adding one more axle, but it would mean a major rearrangement of the rear end of the truck and probably isn't worth while. It looks nicely proportioned as is.

The scale really is a personal choice. 8-wide might be a bit big for my minifigs according to my personal taste, but I think the truck looks good and I wouldn't mess with it. I think it would be hard to have the same functionality on a smaller vehicle, although I am tempted to have a go. I wouldn't mind having a ladder truck to accompany my own minifig scale US pumper. That the headlights might seem a bit big compared to the size of the truck doesn't strike me as much of a problem. It is one of those compromises you'll always run into when building an approximate scale model out of LEGO.

Cheers,

Ralph

Thanks again, Ralph. I'll order some dial-pattern tiles in the future but right now, I'm trying to hold off on buying more LEGO. After all, it took one 7208 Fire Station, two 7239 Fire Trucks, one 5867 Super Speedster, and one 7633 Construction Site just to build this truck. Total cost- over $250!

I'm considering installing an extra wheel axle because if I'm going to add outrigger's, I'll need extra length to accomodate them. But I like the truck as it is so I'm kind of torn.

I can't wait to see you build a ladder truck. I've seen your U.S. Rescue Pumper (you're talkig about the red, white, and blue one, right?). I love the SNOT technique you used to create the stripe pattern. The truck as a whole looks like a mosaic, which I love.

Looks even better 'ImLost' - finally those pump controls look more realistic.

Yay, for steering wheels !

Great work 'ImLost' and I'm a conformist! !

Thanks, Lightningtiger. I can't believe it took me two weeks before I added a steering wheel!

"Still work in progress", what are you Lost?

One of the very best Fire Trucks I ever seen in minifig scale

I watch Rescue me and this truck really looks like the real deal.

Very awesome details. Likes that both the front doors and the back doors can be opened for instance.

A set I would buy if it was official.

Thanks, Ras 74.

Edited March 9, 2010 by ImLost

[Ralph_S]

Thanks again, Ralph. I'll order some dial-pattern tiles in the future but right now, I'm trying to hold off on buying more LEGO. After all, it took one 7208 Fire Station, two 7239 Fire Trucks, one 5867 Super Speedster, and one 7633 Construction Site just to build this truck. Total cost- over $250!

I'm considering installing an extra wheel axle because if I'm going to add outrigger's, I'll need extra length to accomodate them. But I like the truck as it is so I'm kind of torn.

I can't wait to see you build a ladder truck. I've seen your U.S. Rescue Pumper (you're talkig about the red, white, and blue one, right?). I love the SNOT technique you used to create the stripe pattern. The truck as a whole looks like a mosaic, which I love.

Building detailed models of real vehicles always takes a lot of parts and no matter how large your collection is, whenever you'll build something new you'll find that there is a particular part that you don't have enough of. At least that's my experience. I can understand that you have to draw the line somewhere. I can definitely recommend bricklink though. The price per part might be high (somewhat dependent on what it is), but you can buy the part you need in a much more focussed way.

The pumper I referred to indeed was the one with the blue and white stripe. I feared the same thing you mentioned earlier, namely that the back would look a bit plain. The striping was my way to fix that.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing the final version of your truck. I love fire trucks and this is a beauty.

Cheers,

Ralph

[ImLost]

Building detailed models of real vehicles always takes a lot of parts and no matter how large your collection is, whenever you'll build something new you'll find that there is a particular part that you don't have enough of. At least that's my experience. I can understand that you have to draw the line somewhere. I can definitely recommend bricklink though. The price per part might be high (somewhat dependent on what it is), but you can buy the part you need in a much more focussed way.

The pumper I referred to indeed was the one with the blue and white stripe. I feared the same thing you mentioned earlier, namely that the back would look a bit plain. The striping was my way to fix that.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing the final version of your truck. I love fire trucks and this is a beauty.

Cheers,

Ralph

Thanks Ralph. I did what you suggested and ordered more dial-print tiles from PaB. They should be here by next week.

I also tried adding another axle to the truck but it seemed too long for an 8-wide.

Anyways, here is an updated version of my truck, with working outriggers.

The outtriggers still need refining, because they are flimsy as hell! But at least it's a start!

Edited March 20, 2010 by ImLost

[ACCURATEin]

Your firetruck is flawlessly out of control! My pumper that I started working on is mad at me for having neglected it. haha

I wonder what else you will do to fine tune your design.

[ImLost]

Your firetruck is flawlessly out of control! My pumper that I started working on is mad at me for having neglected it. haha

I wonder what else you will do to fine tune your design.

Thanks ACCURATEin. Don't neglect your pumper. From what I saw, it looks quite promising!

Anyways, I am now FINALLY done with my fire truck:

See this topic's first post for the rest of my updated pictures.

Some of my changes since the last update:

1. I have now added dial-print tiles onto my pump control panel.

2. The outriggers have been repositioned to make it closer to the rear axle.

3. My storage lockers used to be just empty space. Now I have added clips, hooks, and shelves.

4. The ladder basket has been shrunk and lights have been added.

5. Redesigned the back of my truck based on Steven Asbury's models.

Finally, I can get on with my next project (most likely another vehicle for my fire fleet). This truck has been such a huge pain!

Edited March 21, 2010 by ImLost

[Rick]

I really like how this turned out!

[MetroiD]

This truck has been such a huge pain!

But it was worth all the effort! I think this is one of the best minifig-scale fire trucks I've seen recently! Needless to say, I was thrilled to finally see its final revision on the frontpage of Classic-Town.net

[ImLost]

I really like how this turned out!

Thanks for the blog, Rick!

But it was worth all the effort! I think this is one of the best minifig-scale fire trucks I've seen recently! Needless to say, I was thrilled to finally see its final revision on the frontpage of Classic-Town.net

Thanks. MetroiD. Although I said this is the final version, right now, I'm resisting the urge to revise it even more! I'm just never satisfied!

[Rick]

Thanks. MetroiD. Although I said this is the final version, right now, I'm resisting the urge to revise it even more! I'm just never satisfied!

I'm afraid that's not possible. It's been blogged, it's final!

[ImLost]

I'm afraid that's not possible. It's been blogged, it's final!

Darn it!!

Okay, so I made one last teenie tiny revision- fenders using upside-down cheese slopes. Okay, now I promise no more changes!

Edited March 24, 2010 by ImLost