Fire Apparatus Model Forums

This is a new project and a venture into a fair amount of soldering. The basis of the build is a request to make the snorkel portion of a Mack L series something like the one in the photo. I was given a bare body to work with and I have the Springfield Mack from which to draw some basic dimensions, namely the wheelbase. From there I was able to scan the photo into my CAD program and scale it to the wheelbase of the Corgi Mack. So we have the basic boom construction in progress and the beginnings of the basket. Misjudged the lighting for the photo in back!! The boom is in its folded position. The boom in its open position. I'll eventually nickel plate the pistons in the hydraulics.

Okay, is there anything you can't model? This I'm sure will look great when completed.

Thanks for sharing

CCFR-45 wrote: ↑

Thu May 06, 2021 2:28 pm

Okay, is there anything you can't model? This I'm sure will look great when completed.

Thanks for sharing

Exact the same thoughts, I really doubt there’s something he can’t build!! RESPECT

Oh god is this going to be good.

More progress on the basket. Still some work to be done but it is getting there. I can now lay the boom and basket up against the photo that is at 1:50 scale. The boom is about 1/4 inch too long in both sections. So I'll cut it in the middle, take out the 1/4" and put it back together with another piece of square tubing inside to line it up for soldering. Then it's back to the base and getting it built up to connect the bottom section of the boom.

1/4” too long? Thought that kinda stuff only happened to me! Oh wait, in my case woulda been 1/4” too short, and even then only after painting it, LOL. Nice progress so far, looks like quality!

Progress in the making. That's my most important product! Where've I heard that before? Anyway here are some photos of work to date. The waterway is done on the left side. The right side is completely different, having swivels that allow the waterway to drop down under the basket and then emerge out in front of it where a monitor could be mounted. The swivel part will be a challenge.

Outstanding! Wow!

Thanks for sharing

The waterway is done. Deciding what to permanently solder in place and what not to permanently set has been fun. It all has to come apart for painting. A way was found to install the waterway so that the basket will continue to remain horizontal when the boom is raised. The base has been mounted in the back of the new body by adding a plate to the bottom of the base and screwing it on from the underside of the body. Just to get a general idea of what the final rig will look like I set the new body on some sheet stock to raise it up to the level of the body of the Springfield Mack. Then I took a photo at eye level. It looks like it will be ok. In the photo it looks like the boom will hit the beacon on the top of the windshield but I think it is just the perspective of the boom being behind the Springfield piece.

This is outstanding Thanks for taking the time to post your progress on this project!