1914 Dennis Fire Engine

The contents of the box is packed typically for kits of the era. 

Nostalgia 

The engine and associated parts provides very spartan detail. Although not on full display, it does provide the opportunity for adding limited details apart from detail painting to create interest. 

Hollow out the end of the exhaust. 

Hollow out the end of the hooter. 

A basic wiring harness. 

I removed what I considered to be the plastic which simulates the protection for the wiring harness. 

Oil filling tube and cap. 

Valves x 8 

All the holes drilled out for the wiring harness, valves and water pipes. 

No basic fuel tank is provided. On this reference photograph a fuel tank can be seen. The only cause of action remains to fabricate a tank. 

We have a fuel tank. I noticed now that the mounting brackets may be upside down. 

The center beam was slightly bend (see orange arrow). I had the whole piece in boiling water and the result is that the whole piece is discombobulated. I will have to scratch build an entire new part number 117. 

The scratch build parts required (on the left) to replace part 117 

Modifying the front suspension to one that can turn. 

The parts required to assemble the chassis primed with Tamiya NATO black. This will be followed by gloss black as a base coat for the parts which will be painted in metal colours and white as a base coat for the parts which will be painted post office red. 

Colour on the chassis parts. 

Detail painting of the parts and assembly of the chassis continue. 

While continue to building subassemblies I note the date of manufacture. 

The coachwork. 

 

Laid down the first decals. No problems. The decals are behaving perfect for being nearly 58 years old. 

No decals are provided for the instrument panel. I used dry transfers from a WW2 German set. 

 

 

 

The chassis sealed in with Humbrol Clear Gloss and left to dry. 

The ladder 

Subassemblies drying between detail painting sessions. 

 

The decals laid down perfectly despite being 58 years old. The decals were were sealed in with Humbrol Clear Gloss. 

 

The coachwork with the hoses. 

Work on the coachwork is nearing completion. Added instrument faces (dry transfers) from the German WW2 set. Add the number plate. Picked out more details. 

Coach work married the running chassis. 

 

 

 

 

 

Subassemblies for the rescue ladder. 

Detail painting on the rescue ladder completed and ready for final assembly. 

All the detail parts attached to build up the rescue ladder. 

For a working version of the escape ladder use strong thread then knot and secure with a drop of to the middle roller, around the small pulley on the bottom ladder, around pulley on carriage frame. Take back and secure to center hole in lug on crossmember frame. 

Reference photo to determine the rope setup. 

Second rope installed. Take a piece of thread and similarly secure to the top roller (this is where I disagree. The reference photograph shows securing the rope to the bottom roller rather) then around the larger pulley bottom ladder, around pulley at top and secure to hole in lug on bottom tung of middle ladder. 

The middle ladder is fitted and the third and final rope installed. Secure a third piece of thread to lug on bottom rung of bottom ladder, beneath middle ladder, around pulley and secure to lug on bottom rung of top ladder. 

The construction of the rescue ladder is completed. 

 

 

 

 

The rescue ladder has now been married to the vehicle. 

Reference photos to paint the crew. 

Figures, basic colour of the uniform painted. 

Details being added. 

The mudguards, headlights and hooter added. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firemen completed. 

The firemen installed on their fire engine. 

The firemen installed on their fire engine.