Wildland Brush Fire Truck..

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Well I have been a closet builder again I have 5 trucks going but since on a few of them I am making little progress I have not posted on them yet. This one I have had going for about 2 months and finally have some true direction from the client on what they want..

So this client sells a lot of big trucks but they also move a lot of Brush Fire rigs do to are area of the US and the amount of fires we have in the upper plain states. They use the GMC Topkick for the larger version and the F550's and down for the smaller ones so on this model the 4 door GMC Top Kick was the choice. Now these sort of have a Army/Fire truck look to them they sit high and have a more aggressive off road tire on them and carries about 500 gals of water and have winch on the front and a water cannon on the front and 2 hose reels off the rear with some under bed boxes built in in front of the rears is how they want it to look so enuff BS here is what I have so far..

Started with the Proline E-Revo GMC body and cut the bed off of it and a 20 1/2 inch frame and F350 leafs and a TLT front and semi rear with a F350 tranny and slapped a floor pan on it.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/009-34.jpg

Next Front wheel wells to match to the body.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/010-30.jpg
Body On.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/011-26.jpg
Then a back panel to close in the cab.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/013-17.jpg
And then sides to tie in the wheel wells and the back panel.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/014-17.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/015-17.jpg

Then started on the bed.. 3/16 plastic for the bed floor. And 1/4 for the cab protector rack.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/017-13.jpg

Then a tank made out of 4 inch PVC sitting on 1/4x1/2 alum angle all bolted to the frame.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/018-11.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/019-11.jpg

And that is were I am at now I am starting on the under bed boxes and the angle under the bed tail and there will be lots of little detail to do and running boards winch and bumper and water cannon so lots to do..
:D

[sneaky-pete]

Thats looking cool paul.......I bet thats a challenge using that body!

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Thats looking cool Paul.......I bet that's a challenge using that body!

Thanks Much Troy it is not to bad but the pain in the arse part is it is see threw and it is hard to get a good look I want to paint it and I might tomorrow but I am trying to hold off a bit..

[Snowman]

Wow this is gonna be great, I love the tough looks of the topkick.

[SmallHaul]

Cool project Paul! Unique build.

[Brian in PA]

Cool build Paul. Where do you find a body like that?

Brian

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Wow this is gonna be great, I love the tough looks of the topkick.

Thanks Much Snowman I like them too they are sort of a forgotten truck I think out there..

Cool project Paul! Unique build.

Thanks Much Scott.. It is nice to do something different than the large car thing every now and again..

Cool build Paul. Where do you find a body like that?

Brian

Thanks Brian.. the body is a E-Revo body made by Proline they are great body's with great decals and masking kits..

[glorydays24]

Excellent start:D And this going to be a beast that it should be:eek::D;):)
Can't wait for more pic's:p:cool:

Big John

[chaseracer]

looking great as always, can't wait to see it finished

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Excellent start:D And this going to be a beast that it should be:eek::D;):)
Can't wait for more pic's:p:cool:

Big John

looking great as always, can't wait to see it finished


Thanks Much Guys! ;)

I did not get alot done to day but I was having a hard time seeing the over all look with a see threw body so with the little time I had I jumped in and painted the cab..

After paint and decals.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/003-55.jpg

And now staring the detail painting. I will also be doing the mirrors on the cab to but have to make them..
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/002-52.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/001-47.jpg

I think I am going to tint the windows a little and stick seats and a dash in it and make a cover for the motor..

[Mrfish55]

Looking good, have you found a suitable water pump yet? I will check my parts bin I had a nice little one I was saving for my pumper but decided not to do flowing water, too much electronics and $$ to risk getting anything wet. I also have a 5 1/2" light bar sitting here from a customer that never paid, if it fits I give good deal for you. Does the water tank get enclosed inside the rear body or will it be exposed?

[Tamiya Cowboy]

The tank in on the flat bed on the rear of the truck.. Dave shoot me a PM on the pump and the light bar..

[Dreamweaver]

Lookin cool Paul..

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Lookin cool Paul..


Thanks Much Mike..

[Pippoe]

Hi!

very nice truck. Is it 1/10 scale?

Cheers

Pip

[Tamiya Cowboy]

It is more like 12th or just a hair smaller but the tires scale out at 14th and the body is 14th in width?? figure that one out??


But today I did find the Robbie water pump they make and they are cheap and run 6 to 12 in volts so I can run the hole truck on 11.1 Lipo and it will be perfect..

[FreddyGearDrive]

Wow Man,Now this is kool!Can't wait to see this baby done.
How's that cab to work with?
FGD

[spudd]

Sweet Paul!!!! I was looking for a cab like that.. Thanks for the info

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Thanks freddy and spud. The cab is easy to work with easy to paint you just have more detail painting to do to get the scale look right.

[Diesel Demond]

**** paul that is sick just seen it now! At least you went with a duramax!!!!! I ALSO THINK TINTED WINDOWS AND A DASH IS A GREAT IDEA AND JUST GOOD DETAIL TO THE REALISM!

[cabrover]

That is soo cool!:cool:

[Tamiya Cowboy]

**** paul that is sick just seen it now! At least you went with a duramax!!!!! I ALSO THINK TINTED WINDOWS AND A DASH IS A GREAT IDEA AND JUST GOOD DETAIL TO THE REALISM!

That is soo cool!:cool:

Thanks guys for the comments.. I just got the pump for it at the end of last week so Ill be getting back at it here soon..

[CustomClod]

This thing is looking great! Cant wait to see more. Nice work.
Scott

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Thanks Much Scott..

[Snowman]

This build has really made me want to build a 4x4 truck after I finish my peterbilt. A replica of the topkick from transformers would be too cool!

[Diesel Demond]

any updates you non busy working fool!!

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Yeah I have but not yet I have done some work on the bed and made the tool boxes but I am getting some wheels made for the rear before I go any farther on it so updates in a bit

[Tamiya Cowboy]

This build has really made me want to build a 4x4 truck after I finish my peterbilt. A replica of the topkick from transformers would be too cool!

Nick that Proline body I used is the auto bot body if you look at there picks it has the autobot logo on it.. Also if you are wanting to do one you better buy a body now cause they have been discounting about a year after they come out and it has been about that long..

[Smiley]

Any new updates

[Tamiya Cowboy]

nope have not touched any rc stuff since the 15 of Feb

[Smiley]

Okie dokie. Was just checking :-)

[Tamiya Cowboy]

I sort of am having a change of mind. I seen a new one they built were the tank was rectangular with tool boxes down the side so i think I am going to tig up a alum tank and build boxes down the sides instead of open like it is now.

[Smiley]

Oh I see that would look good. The reason I was asking is that on our volunteer fire dept :-). Didn't know if ya mighta give up on it lol

[Tamiya Cowboy]

No I have builders ADD and when I seen this other body my wheels started turning the other way we have many fire truck companies around the area the ideas are endless. I also hanger too get new wheels made by Steve.

[JoseFL10-4]

IS A GOOD IDEA NICE JOB, MORE PIC?

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Back at it again with a different idea I was not liking the tank so my buddy Mike changed the flatbed into a rescue box witch I still plan on putting a water tank in.. The roof is removable and it has inserts so it looks like the doors work once it is painted. This truck is loosely modeled after one in town there's is a 2 door TopKick so here are some new picks..

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/theonlytamiyacowboy021/016.jpg (http://s58.photobucket.com/user/theonlytamiyacowboy/media/theonlytamiyacowboy021/016.jpg.html)

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/theonlytamiyacowboy021/017.jpg (http://s58.photobucket.com/user/theonlytamiyacowboy/media/theonlytamiyacowboy021/017.jpg.html)

Rear bumper installed..
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/theonlytamiyacowboy021/018.jpg (http://s58.photobucket.com/user/theonlytamiyacowboy/media/theonlytamiyacowboy021/018.jpg.html)

Front bumper installed and winch placement.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/theonlytamiyacowboy021/019.jpg (http://s58.photobucket.com/user/theonlytamiyacowboy/media/theonlytamiyacowboy021/019.jpg.html)

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/theonlytamiyacowboy021/021.jpg (http://s58.photobucket.com/user/theonlytamiyacowboy/media/theonlytamiyacowboy021/021.jpg.html)

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/theonlytamiyacowboy/theonlytamiyacowboy021/020.jpg (http://s58.photobucket.com/user/theonlytamiyacowboy/media/theonlytamiyacowboy021/020.jpg.html)

Now I am working on filling in the gap between the bumper and the body like they do on these trucks and I have to make my light bar mount on the front of the box plus running board so more to come..

[Daveroo]

Hi..i like that,the box on the back reminds me of a USFS green machine,(wildland rig).

im no longer active in the fire service,but most all of our rigs in northern California ,structure,wildland,even the mini pumpers ,all have a square water tank,which is baffled as well,i was also told by a salesman from American LaFrance (ALF) years ago that the tanks are built square to help with weight distribution,and center of gravity balance.and ofcourse baffled for "slosh reduction".

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Hi..i like that,the box on the back reminds me of a USFS green machine,(wildland rig).

im no longer active in the fire service,but most all of our rigs in northern California ,structure,wildland,even the mini pumpers ,all have a square water tank,which is baffled as well,i was also told by a salesman from American LaFrance (ALF) years ago that the tanks are built square to help with weight distribution,and center of gravity balance.and ofcourse baffled for "slosh reduction".

Thanks much Dave.. That would make scene about the rectangle tanks having a better COG. That is what I plan to run in this truck..

[Daveroo]

i dont know if it would help or not,but if you go to the Pierce website..

http://www.piercemfg.com/en/home.aspx

there used to be videos of building a truck ,they showed tank placement and pump in fo...might wanna just look and see if there is anything there you can work with?...just a thought.

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Thanks Dave for the link.. I was commissioned by Crimson a few years back to scratch build a pumper truck for them so I go to there factory down the road and get picks and detail stuff I need they build alot of these trucks and just did one for the city FD Rescue dep so I am coping that to a point..

[Daveroo]

thats cool..keep on keepin on