PlaymoFriends
Creative => Customs Gallery => Ships & Vehicles => Topic started by: Tim_w on November 09, 2008, 18:15:11
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Hello Everyone :),
This is my custom Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) based on a previous failed attempt using the same vehicle. After several years in storage due to an impractical design i decided to try again using new skills and special parts from DS. It is still classed as a work in progress as i intend to redesign the stabilisers so they can take a lot more strain when the ladder is in full use. Apart from the stabilisers its pretty much complete so i thought i would share it with you, after a brief description on what it is used for that is.
Aerial Ladder Platform:
An ALP is a special appliance used to fight fires in tall buildings such as factories, office blocks, tower blocks and hospitals. As well as fighting fires in tall buildings it is used to rescue people who are trapped and out of reach of the standard ladders used on fire engines. Due to its flexibility it has many different and varying uses and is not only used in its standard roll. It can be used as an observation platform so senior officers can survey the scenes of major accidents or large fires. It can also be used as a crane to lift things but more interestingly it can be used to gain access to places lower than the vehicle itself. In other words you could park the ALP at the top of a railway cutting and use the platform and ladder to gain access to the line below.
There are many different types of aerial platforms the world over but most do the same job. Some of them have hydraulic booms instead of ladders and some just have extendable ladders without baskets at the end. Just as there are different types of appliance there are many different designations as well (ALP = Aerial Ladder Platform, HP = Hydraulic Platform, TTL = Turn Table Ladder to name but a few) I am sure Gordon would be able to give us an insight to the German variants and Bill the US counterparts.
ALP's are specialist appliances and are only based at certain fire stations throughout the brigade area. As a result they are called out to attend fires in surrounding towns when needed. The theory being they don't get used enough to warrant every station having one and due to this they can cover wider areas as they are 'less' likely to be needed in two places at once. This doesn't mean that it hasn't happened and brigade resources can be stretched by two large fires breaking out on the same night.
With the introduction over i think it is time to take a look at the vehicle in question:
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/ALP.jpg)
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/ALPSide.jpg)
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The basket folds up underneath the ladder in the space behind the cab when not in use.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/BasketStowed.jpg)
Hydraulic folding mechanism to raise and lower the end ladder and basket. This is the mechanism i was unable to get right the first time around and what ultimatley scrapped the project for a time.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/FrontHydraulics.jpg)
The rear end of the standard ladder has been heavily modified to allow it to be raised past the normal operating capabilities of a standard Playmobil ladder truck. This simple modification alone allows the ladder to reach a lot higher than normal.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/RearLadder.jpg)
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Most aerials only require a two man crew to operate so the cab was modified to reflect this. The modification also allowed me to stow the basket behind the cab when not in use. The cab interior has been modernised and includes a GPS system, radio telephone and mobile phone holder. The GPS is used when the appliance is attending incidents out of its normal operating area.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/CanInterior.jpg)
The business end of things is at the rear of the vehicle. Most aerials do not require pumps because they work with pumping appliances. Instead they have a collector head (to the right of the picture) to receive and send the water up the ladder. In the centre of the picture is the computer, which is used to controll the stabilisers and other aspects of the vehicle including any flood lighting. In the future the computer will be modified to allow the operator to work the ladder whilst away from the operators seat. There is also a radio telephone so the operator can keep in touch with the fire fighter at the top of the ladder.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/RearControlls.jpg)
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These are the stabilisers, which you guessed it stabilise the vehicle whilst it is being used. Unfortunately they are not substantial enough to take the full weight of the ladder when its being used through its full range of operation and replacements are on order. These are quite complex pieces of kit and using the computer system actually 'level' the vehicle ready for use. Data is also transmitted back to the computer so all aspects of operation can be monitored including the load on the basket. The road cone is quite a simple piece of kit employed to stop people walking into the stabiliser legs :lol:. Spreader plates are used underneath the stabiliser feet to further spread the load and to stop the stabilisers digging into the road surface.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/Cone.jpg)
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Fire fighters can gain access to the basket either by climbing up the ladder or by simply getting into the basket when its on the ground. This picture shows the ladder fully raised and the basket sitting on the ground.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/LadderGround.jpg)
When fire fighters are working on the ladder or in the basket they need to wear safety harnesses in case they fall. The fire fighter here is demonstrating the use of such a piece of equipment. Modifications to the basket itself will be discussed further on in the thread.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/BasketGround.jpg)
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This picture shows the ladder allmost fully extended. Both of the main ladders are at their maximum and all that needs to be done is to raise the end ladder. The ladders are longer than on the standard Playmobil fire engine which is why they over hang the cab by so much. This was common on some of the old Turn Table Ladders making the buisness of driving them very difficult and highly skilled job.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/LadderExtended.jpg)
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/TopLadderBasket.jpg)
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A picture showing the ladder fully extended. It was quite windy and raining slightly outside and the ladder was blowing about a bit so i couldnt get the shots i wanted to. I really should have got a picture of it next to one of my standard pumping appliances to show the size difference.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/LadderFullyExtended.jpg)
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The basket is fitted with a set of high powered floodlights to aid the ALP's use at night. As well as allowing the fire fighters in the basket to see what they are doing the floodlights can be used for scene lighting. This can even extend to the ALP being used as a lighting tower at the scene of a major accident, a true multipurpose appliance.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/Hoses.jpg)
As well as being operated from the ground any fire fighter in the basket can move the ladder and turn table using the controlls shown in this picture. The radio telephone is close by so communication can be made with fire fighters on the ground.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/BasketInterior.jpg)
The heat produced in the basket while it is over a large fire can become quite intense so water sprinklers are fitted to the base of the basket. They spray a high pressure water fog out from the bottom of the basket to reduce the heat for crew comfort.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/SprayNozzles.jpg)
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Excellent custom :wow: Tim! It is amazing the concepts you come up with, & execute!
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Hello Bill,
Thank you very much indeed for the kind feedback :)9. It has been a long time coming but i finally got round to sorting out the original problems and getting the appliance back in service. Just like in real life i like to give some of my old vehicles a new lease of life from time to time. As soon as i get good enough weather for it i will start work on a thread explaining how my fire service works.
Tim :wave:
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Hi again Tim!
I really like how you attached the high intensity spot lights on the rescue basket. I did the same option to my Tower Ladders, but attached them on the rear of the platform, & they are in the white color which blends in with the standard white ladder sections.
Your design favors a BRONTO SKYLIFT manufactured type ALP, is this where you came up with your concept? Awesome custom :wow:!
Best Regards,
Bill
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Excellent custom Tim, the workmanship is first rate!! Thank you for sharing these photos (wind must impose some major restrictions on the use of a rig of this type).
Gepetto
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Wow, what a long ladder. Great idea and very well executed. Thanks for sharing this piece of equipment!
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nice work this skay lift and the pictures to
wear do the hydraulic koms from
Groet Peter
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Hello Bill :),
Thank you again for the feedback. The ALP was indeed based on the Bronto Skylift. Most of our country's real life aerials are all of a similar type and there is not as much variety as in the US. I have allways toyed with the idea of making a couple of fire engines based on US vehicles but a fire service fan on another forum beat me to the tower ladder and i didn't want to remake his design. I guess i could go back and have a look to see what i could come up with. Then we would have to start discussing a mutual aid policy Bill, just like some of the Lego fire service people do.
I had considered mounting some form of spotlight to the basket but until i came across your idea i didn't know how i was going to do it. When i saw your lights on the Tower ladder i thought it was great and decided to base mine on a similar concept :-[. I didnt have any white lights at the time so i had to use the old grey ones, i must admit white looks better.
Tim
Hello Gepetto :),
Thank you very much indeed for the kind reply. I think wind speed does play a big factor in their use. I do believe it gets pretty windy up their in the basket at the best of times. The ladder on mine was wobbling about quite a lot and i was worried it would snap off. I allways try to make as good a job of my customs as possible before i post them, but the downside of this is they take 3 times as long to make and i loose interest :lol: I tend to start something and then put it to one side to start something else because ideas come into my head all the time. This leads to lots of unfinished projects filling up my work room :lol: I guess i should take some pictures and post them on the forum, it might inspire me to finally finish what i start :lol:
Tim
Hello Little Jo :),
Thank you for the kind reply. The ladder was quite a tricky one to solve to be honest. I knew from the start i had to make the ladder longer or it would have been the same as any other Playmobil fire engine, but how to do it without making it to long was difficult. In the end i cut up an old ladder and added about 5cm to each piece. This didn't make much difference until i put the small ladder on with the basket at the end. To get a bit more height out of it i modified the end of the ladder (where it fits to the turn table). This allows the ladder to be raised a touch higher than normal. I think i scraped as much extra height out of this vehicle as practically possible. To have a bigger ladder now would mean a larger truck, but that's something i can do in the future !
Tim
Hello Peter :),
Thank you for the kind feedback. The hydraulic pistons come off one of the Playmobil excavators (set 3001). They prove really usefull for lots of different things including hydraulic props. I had to make these longer than normal and they had to have a small piece of red tape at the ends to stop them wobbling about in the cylinder.
Tim
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Hello Bill :),
Thank you again for the feedback. The ALP was indeed based on the Bronto Skylift. Most of our country's real life aerials are all of a similar type and there is not as much variety as in the US. I have allways toyed with the idea of making a couple of fire engines based on US vehicles but a fire service fan on another forum beat me to the tower ladder and i didn't want to remake his design. I guess i could go back and have a look to see what i could come up with. Then we would have to start discussing a mutual aid policy Bill, just like some of the Lego fire service people do.
I had considered mounting some form of spotlight to the basket but until i came across your idea i didn't know how i was going to do it. When i saw your lights on the Tower ladder i thought it was great and decided to base mine on a similar concept :-[. I didnt have any white lights at the time so i had to use the old grey ones, i must admit white looks better.
Tim
Hello Tim!
I am honored that you used my idea in your custom regarding the spot lights! I don't consider it copying, but utilizing an idea to make something better!
EXCELLENT work Tim! EXCELLENT! You may want to change the position of the spot lights though, I use the round stem positioned into the red pivot pin platform holes behind the platform. You need to cut the flange off to fit it into the hole. It will then move as it dose now, but be out of the way of the platform ;).
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Wow! :wow:,
Your custom ladder truck is very well done!
Thanks for posting.
Best regards,
Jimbo
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I'm speechless Tim! That's an amazing custom even by your standards.
:wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:
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WOW a Amazing Custom !!
Very good work !!
GREAT !!
greetings
Andi
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Hello Jimbo,
Thank you very for the kind feedback, its allways a pleasure to share the pictures on the forum.
Tim
Hello Gordon,
Thank you for your kind reply Gordon. I think you will probably remember the 'old' version, which didn't really work out well :lol: Hopefully i should have a few more custom vehicles to share in the not to distant future
Tim
Hello Andi,
Thank you for the kind feedback, its really appreciated. I am a really big fan of your work and have found it a great inspiration for my own projects :wow:
Tim
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That must have taken a long time to create . It is so well put together it is hard to distinguish the original and the custom parts . I am having a hard time identifying what is what and where it came from. It is better than Playmobils version . :love: Thanks for showing your work
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Hello Bill,
Thank you again for the kind feedback. I forgot to respond to your last message :-[. I thought where you mounted the spotlights was great, it really did stand out and i don't know why i didn't put mine in the same place. I think what i will do is mount a set where you put yours for standard operations and then have a second set on the side of the basket for when its used as a lighting tower. I noticed you mentioned you cut the ends off the rods to hold them in place, that's cheating :lol: I thought you said you didn't like to 'fully' customise things :lol: Be warned its a downward spiral from now on ;D
Tim
Hello Rasputin,
Thank you very much indeed for the kind words of encouragement. I allways try to disguise the parts i use so its very hard to tell what they were originally :lol: I think i can safely say that 100% of this custom was made from original Playmobil parts from many different sources. For an example the cab was taken from the old 'garbage truck', the small ladder is off the first Playmobil fire engine (i used the best bits of two broken ladders), and the hydraulic cylinders are off the 3001 Excavator. I think i have a picture of the original version being made, i will try and dig it out for you.
Tim
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Hello Bill,
Thank you again for the kind feedback. I forgot to respond to your last message :-[. I thought where you mounted the spotlights was great, it really did stand out and i don't know why i didn't put mine in the same place. I think what i will do is mount a set where you put yours for standard operations and then have a second set on the side of the basket for when its used as a lighting tower. I noticed you mentioned you cut the ends off the rods to hold them in place, that's cheating :lol: I thought you said you didn't like to 'fully' customise things :lol: Be warned its a downward spiral from now on ;D
Tim
You might say I'm getting quite daring the more I hang around you ;)!
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Hello Everyone :),
I was digging through some old photo's and i came across a few of the ALP from several years ago. These pictures were taken before it was withdrawn from service due poor reliability and cut backs. I must apologise for the quality of the pictures, they are really old and out of focus.
A picture of the cab modifications. The bottom half of an old ladder truck cab was used to make the smaller cab fit into the chassis properly.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/Pictures6021.jpg)
This picture shows the first stages of production at our brigade workshops. The cab has been offered up to see how it fits onto the modified chassis. As you can see by the picture there are still a few gaps that need filling in with plastic card.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/Pictures7001.jpg)
A picture of the appliance when it was first delivered to my fire service HQ. It was quite revolutionary for its time. Note: The old colour scheme, white ladders and old style ladder rest :lol:
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/TTL.jpg)
After about a year in service the vehicle was sent for a complete strip down and repaint. While it was in the workshops the ladder rest was replaced with a more practical design. After another year in service and due to technical problems the appliance was withdrawn from use and placed in storage.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm181/Tim_W_Photos/TurnTableLadder.jpg)
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Hello again Tim! I keep finding myself coming back to this awesome custom's debut ;D!
I was wondering what kind of stabilisers you have ordered for this unit to make it more stable when the ladder is fully extended?
Is it the ones from the crane in Mega set 4084?
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Hello Bill,
Thank you again for the reply. I haven't sorted the stabilisers out yet but i had considered those you mentioned from the mega set. I only ever saw a small picture of that crane and the stabilisers look huge !! I dont know if i can get hold of them yet but if they are as big as they look in the picture then they are going on the next DS order :woohoo:. I didn't actually know the set number so you have done me a really big favour posting it, thank you Bill !! I am going to have a quick look on PlaymoDB to see if i can find them :yup:
Tim
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On that same mega set, I noticed what looks like a smaller foldable side access ramp on the transport truck flat bed trailer. Have you seen that also? There looks to be a different colored chain saw in the pickup truck bed too, black & orange ???.
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Hey Tim,
As usual, great work. I think Rasputin said it best, you make it better than Playmobil can. Everything looks great. I am currently working on another rescue unit, I hope to have it done within the next week or so. I can't wait to show everyone.
- Ben
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Hello Ben,
As i said in my other reply its great to see you back ! Thank you very much indeed for the kind reply :-[. I think its a big improvement over the old version :lol:. I guess the pictures show how old things can be improved and new skills are being learned all the time. I still make quite a few silly mistakes when i am making things :lol:
Tim :)