1/48 Ford Marmon-Herrington 1941 Crash Fire Tender

[30sqnatc]

Just when you thought it was safe I've begun a new WW2 RNZAF in the Pacific vehicle build. Like some of my recent builds this will be a severe bit of kit bashing based on a Tamiya GMC closed cab chassis and wheels, front mudguards from a Hasegawa Isuzu Fuel Truck and scratch built fire body.

The 1941 Ford chassis with Marmon-Herrington 6x6 modifications were imported from Canada and as I only recently found out had their bodies built in NZ. They were made in Seaview although it is not confirmed exactly by whom - Ford, ColMoCo, Standard Motor Bodies?

A red example in NZ service. Lots of crome.

ALB971531100.t5e388670.m800.xnbt4aL0R by tankienz, on Flickr

67352695_2362297517190789_4523280700824092672_n by tankienz, on Flickr

A pair assumed to be green overall in Pacific.

PR3390.t5e3883e8.m600.xs7fa6uWN by tankienz, on Flickr

And two pictures of the bodies under construction.

68394903_2362297870524087_4567626345529475072_o by tankienz, on Flickr

67777492_2362298087190732_3893455611228061696_o by tankienz, on Flickr

[30sqnatc]

Start for the build - GMC chassis wheelbase reduced in length and rear axles modified from dual wheels to single wheels. Below in the picture is a standard GMC chassis.

fullsizeoutput_1844 by tankienz, on Flickr

The photocopy of the prototype is from a ColMoCo photo album.

[zaphod42]

Kit bashing indeed! Looking good so far

[30sqnatc]

Marrying the cab to the mudguards and modifying the mudguards to suit larger front wheels.

fullsizeoutput_1846 by tankienz, on Flickr

I am modifying four wheels that were provided in kits as the spare wheels to drive wheels so need representation of wheel bolts, the centre hub and filling in the open rear of the tyres. Once that is all done I can start adding the unusual tyre tread the MH tender were shod with. The tread pattern is shown on the bottom right of the drawing.

[30sqnatc]

The body is taking shape. The rear mudguard looks strange as the inner edge has not been trimmed to shape yet.

fullsizeoutput_1849 by tankienz, on Flickr

[30sqnatc]

There is filing dust everywhere already but lots more filing required on the bonnet and the rear body isn't quite sitting right.

fullsizeoutput_184f by tankienz, on Flickr

[30sqnatc]

Much nicer looking bonnet

fullsizeoutput_1854 by tankienz, on Flickr

[thomasnz48]

Mar 26, 2020 17:39:08 GMT 12 30sqnatc said:

Just when you thought it was safe I've begun a new WW2 RNZAF in the Pacific vehicle build. Like some of my recent builds this will be a severe bit of kit bashing based on a Tamiya GMC closed cab chassis and wheels, front mudguards from a Hasegawa Isuzu Fuel Truck and scratch built fire body.

The 1941 Ford chassis with Marmon-Herrington 6x6 modifications were imported from Canada and as I only recently found out had their bodies built in NZ. They were made in Seaview although it is not confirmed exactly by whom - Ford, ColMoCo, Standard Motor Bodies?

A red example in NZ service. Lots of crome.

ALB971531100.t5e388670.m800.xnbt4aL0R by tankienz, on Flickr

67352695_2362297517190789_4523280700824092672_n by tankienz, on Flickr

A pair assumed to be green overall in Pacific.

PR3390.t5e3883e8.m600.xs7fa6uWN by tankienz, on Flickr

And two pictures of the bodies under construction.

68394903_2362297870524087_4567626345529475072_o by tankienz, on Flickr

67777492_2362298087190732_3893455611228061696_o by tankienz, on Flickr 



Were any of these trucks in AF blue? I'm building one in lego but I have assumed the ones in NZ were dark blue. 

[30sqnatc]

i'm sorry I have no information on when the RNZAF adopted Blue Grey for vehicles or what colour early fire appliances were but I have always assumed domestic based fire appliances were red.

[30sqnatc]

Decided to blow off the dust and finish this project. New wheels hubs added and rear deck

fullsizeoutput_1947 by tankienz, on Flickr

[30sqnatc]

Cab details going on tonight.

fullsizeoutput_195a by tankienz, on Flickr