Class 1000 Fire Pump Trailer

[Chariots of Fire]

Been working on something a bit different these past few weeks. Back in the days of WW 2 the US Army ordered a series of fire pump trailers that could be towed behind light duty trucks. The model work is for a Class 1000 trailer that was built by multiple companies such as Hale and Wheeled Coach among others. Maxim Motor Company also built them. Here's the beginning of the build. The drawings came from an Army Technical Manual which gave important dimensions for the build. The trailer included a 6 cylinder Dodge gasoline engine to drive a 500 GPM Hale centrifugal pump.

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Tires are resin castings. The wheels came from an AMT ALF kit. Fenders were cut from a piece of PVC pipe. The body is Evergreen sheet stock. In the second photo the engine has been painted and partially completed. The centrifugal pump started as a resin casting that I used for a previous build of a Class 325 front mount pumper. The detail work was done with various plastic shapes. Common pins were used for the discharge valve handles.

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I made the front wheel for the trailer out of brass stock. The wheel was turned on a lathe with smaller parts from tubing and strip stock. The wheel swivels, turns and can be raised to the stored position when attached to the vehicle used to move the trailer. Also the engine framework was made of brass strip stock and a piece of brass mesh. The top also contains the fuel tank. The pump is connected via a direct drive to the engine.

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Here's where we are today. Much of the painting and detail work has been completed. Still to go are equipment that will be placed in the trailer along with hard suction and hose lines in the bed of the trailer.

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[scubaski]

Nice work

[CCFR-45]

Man that's awesome!

Thanks for sharing

[JoeO]

Love it! Looks great

[kevin54]

WOW! Incredible detail. Thanks for posting.

[mbkfd90]

Totally out of the box. Outstanding

[Rich]

Beautiful!! Thanks Charlie.

[Hazmat]

Man that looks so real, unbelievable Outstanding work, thanks for sharing!!

[Chariots of Fire]

Final work has been completed on this subject. As scratch building projects go, this was a relatively quick one. Even at that it had its moments when things needed to be adjusted or changed. With that behind, here are some photos of the finished project. The last photo shows the trailer and a Class 325 that eventually will find its way to Belgium to a guy who has the real one. The trailer model goes to Hawaii!
For those interested in the details, the engine for the pump is a Dodge 6 cylinder gas engine. It powers a Hale 500 GPM pump by direct drive. Typically the trailer is hauled around by a Dodge WC or Dodge M-37. It was never hauled around by the Class 325. The trailer carried a lot of loose stuff, more than I could manage to show but the idea is there for some of the more important items. 2-1/2" and 1-1/2" hose, lanterns. couplings and adapters, hydrant wrench, tarp, GI gas can, soda/acid extinguisher and carbon tetrachloride extinguisher near the pump panel gages, spanner wrenches, hard suction and suction strainer, fire ax and crow bar.

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[Hazmat]

Man that‘s outstanding Exeptional work!!