The Fire Engine

PLEASE READ This will answer and/all your questions! (hopefully)

Hi everyone,

This is a model fire engine that I hand built from scratch when I was almost 16 years old. In the video I show some of the features that I incorporated while building this in a total of three complete rebuild-remodeling stages. I still have this fire engine today but I no longer play with it like I did when I was younger. Instead it sits on a special mantel that I build specifically for it because as I got older I became more aware of how unique and sophisticated it was. Even more so, because of that fire engine I got introduced at first into basic electronics and other forms of engineering and that got me to where I am today; by designing my own circuits and programming microcontrollers and building things as a hobby. The stuff I do as a hobby now is obviously way more advanced than it was several years ago but it's all thanks to this model fire engine that sparked it.

That is the background/present history that is revolving around the fire engine, but in the three remodeling stages that I mentioned above is as followed along with features.

Stage 1) Basic "unibody" construction. At this time no phototype frame and chassis. No side compartments, cab windows, and paint. Very basic oscillating LEDs using transistors and capacitors; no sequential/programmable patterns.

Stage 2) Now has phototype frame and chassis along with front and rear shocks. Upgraded Remote-Control system and steering. Complete rewiring of all electrical systems in the truck. Upgraded emergency lights; now with LED light bars and controllable oscillating strobes and controllable strobe flash rate using an NE555 IC. Cab now with smoked Plexiglas windows. Cab can now raise and lower using a servo. First coat of paint applied.

Stage 3) Upgraded Remote-Control system with servo control steering and throttle control/brake. Installed hazard lights, Turn signals (activated when steering sharp enough), Brake lights, Reverse lights, Headlight: low/high, Clearance lights: both front/back/sides, Flood lights on pump station, added plumbing inlets/outlets and water cannon as well as a water inlet in the front bumper. Water pump has been added in the pump station and is controlled by a rheostat on the control board of the pump station. Emergency lights: more have been added and/or replaced with clear ultra-bright leds, upgraded circuitry featuring sophisticated units consisting of multiple NE555 IC and other chips/components. Added remotely activated siren/ emergency lights with option of either just lights and siren, lights only, or siren only. Headlights/parking lights also remotely controlled via controller. (All remotely controlled features except for "driving" are also manually controlled/override). Added compartments that have opening doors and lights inside the compartments. Added final coat of paint as well as the white stripe.

SPECS: This model is made of a material a little thicker than balsawood, about 3-4mm thick or so. EVERYTHING is handmade (except for the wheels obviously... lol) and each stage took a significant amount of time as I can remember. You have to remember I was learning new ways/ideas as I grew and worked on the thing, I was always teaching myself something more advanced or new as everything went along. The fire engine is close to 5 feet long, about one foot wide and about a foot tall (can't totally remember). This fire engine is now a priceless novelty item to me, and is filled with memories!




Also, I did all this stuff to the fire engine years ago, I haven't modified, added, or taken away ANYTHING since then!

Anyway, hope you like the old video I did of it when I was younger. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~Description edited on April 25, 2011~~~~~~~

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Fire
• Engine
• Firetruck
• Fireengine
• Truck
• ladder
• tower
• pumper
• hoses
• emergency
• flashing
• lights
• water
• dept.
• firefighters
• U2
• rescue
• department
• police

[saulzaron]

you own a fire truck

[Trainsmaster]

lol well I guess you can say that lol. No It's just a model that I have built. It's around 4 feet long so it's BIG! lol

Thanks for watching!!

[125ccshifter]

does anyone know what the fire engine is made out of?

[Trainsmaster]

It's a thin wood that's 4 x 4 foot. You can get it for not much money at Home Depot. Oh yaeh and I used Wood Glue... Not nails...

[125ccshifter]

how weird is this, this is a fire engine (i would say a firefighting video) and the length of the video is 3:43 and 343 is the number of firefighters that died in the world trade centers

[Trainsmaster]

dude that is weird.. I had no idea about that number... Also, this video was just to "show off" what I have built =P

Thanks for watching!

[saulzaron]

please tell me what that song is with the trainz fire truck

[saulzaron]

please tell me what that song is with the trainz fire truck

[Tweet6969]

What did you use to make the lights work? It must have taken some serious wiring to do this. It was cool as heck to see that.

Great job!!!!!!!

[saulzaron]

I have a question what song is that where you have the trainz fire truck i like that song and i dont know the name please tell me.

[saulzaron]

haha can u drive the model? is it a car?