Jussi Kivi says this 1960s prototype American fire engine was one of his recent long term projects. The chassis and wheels are from old IHC Mack fire engine and the pumper body is modified from the same model. The cab is modified from Brekina Büssing (#79115) truck.

According to Jussi, compared to European fire engines, American fire engines are hard to build in this scale because of many visible details and decorations, especially painting of realistic chromed and other metallic parts is challenging. Jussi has been testing several methods. For the bumper he used Alclad chrome paint sprayed with an airbrush. For some parts he used Bare Metal Foil, but also Molotow Liquid Chrome pen and Mr Metal Color chrome silver and aluminum (with brush). The hand rails are made from metal; for some of them Jussi modified Aeronaut ship model railings which he bought in the 1980s. For the Federal Q-siren and for the pedestal of red beacon he used some jewelry parts from the hobby shop. The red beacon is made from two small Swarovski crystal gems inside the Microscale Kristal Klear "bubble." It's a bit complicated and difficult but he wanted to test it. Headlights are gems too. Mirrors are from Plano Model Products painted with Molotow Liquid Chrome pen. Windshield wipers are from Plano too. For suction hose couplings, Jussi used some jewelry parts. Booster hose is metal wire, air horn is from Weinert. The tarpaulin over the hose bed is paper with thin pva-glue and paint. Decals are from Microscale plus self-designed texts, printed by Black Lion Decals. Ladders are from Roco. Also some polystyrene sheets, rods, and beams were needed.

Posted December 18, 2018