Kind of a tribute for the Unsung Heroes... Meng 1:35 Fire-fighting Pick-up

[RicRodrigues]

During this summer, my home country Portugal was heavily affected by uncontrollable wildfires that turned the center region of Portugal in a desolated scorched earth scenario. Sadly, not only forests, houses and farms but also human lives were lost due to the dantesque wildfires. The Fire-Fighters were absolute heroes, trying to save as much as they could from the flames, proving themselves restless and trully protective angels to the population that found themselves powerless to fight the wildfires. For them, so many times forgotten, my admiration and respect for their outstanding work, effort and dedication.
As the wildfires swept across Portugal during June, some of these threatened my own hometown and some of the small villages nearby. In such a big wildfire like these, there's always multiple fronts, making it almost impossible for the Fire-Fighters to cover all the fronts. That was what happenned in my hometown, that in a couple of hours was almost surrounded by 3 different fronts, all of those threatening small villages in their way. Knowing that most of the Fire-Fighters were engaged in different fronts in different locations and would be impossible to them to be in those fronts in usefull time, some of my friends decided to take action by themselves. Promptly, they gathered and decided they needed to assist the locals at those villages, many of them elderly and powerless to fight fires with that dimension. A couple of phone calls after, they managed to recruit around 20 guys and get 3 pick-ups trucks with water tanks, water pumps, hoses and some tools in order to help the people in those villages and, at the same time, give a hand to the already exhausted Fire-Fighters. During the first hours, they were the only firefighters around, a first-response unit that helped to at least save the lives and houses of the people from those villages. After, and with the arrival of the Fire-Fighters, they coordinated with them in order to effectively fight the 3 different fronts and actually control and extinguish the wildfire. For almost 3 days, they were the Unsung Heroes for the population of those small villages that helped them to save their lives and their houses, helping the Fire Fighters to control and extinguish a wildfire that in its way took around 70 human lives. For them, as well, my admiration and respect for what they have done. As I told them already, they are the true definition of Altruism!!!
During August, as I had some days of holidays, I went to my hometown. Another wildfire was, once again, threatening the area around my hometown and, once again, a couple of phone calls and this self-called "Cabeçadas' Brigade" (Cabeçadas was the name of the village were they first gathered) was up again. As I joined them, first helping on patrols and, when the wildfire cross the river coming from the neighbor town, we helped the Fire-Fighters and sucessfully managed to prevent the wildfire to spread beyond controll. There's no words to put for the respect and admiration I have for these guys!!!
Returning to Ireland once the holidays were over, I kept thinking and thinking what tribute would be suitable for these guys... All of them were saying that they don't need any recognition whatsoever, they just did the right thing... Until it came to my mind that I had on my stash this Meng Pick-Up, very similar to the pick-ups the guys were using. A search in Scalemates brought up a couple of aftermarkets that could help me with the water tanks, pumps, hoses and tools. So, the game is on!!! I know these guys deserve far more than a plastic model, but I think this would be a humble recognition of their value!!!
But enough of words, hands at work!!!

[RicRodrigues]

So, first of all, the kit. This is a 1:35 scale kit from Meng, Pick-Up with ZPU-1.
20170825_164717 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

Got this kit from last year Christmas draw, so it's nice to finally start a kit from that bundle!!! It's just a generic Pick-Up, no brand or model, something between a Toyota and a Ford pick-up. I won't be using the ZPU-1, so probably I'll just throw the runner into the spares box.
In The Box
The body:
20170825_164837 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
The hood and the rear cabin:
20170825_164903 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
Floor pan, seats, door panels, instruments panel, driving wheel:
20170825_164957 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
Front grill and bumper, wheels, brakes, rear cabin bar, wipers and some other parts:
20170825_165039 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
Chassis, suspension, transmission and exhaust:
20170825_165108 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
A figure (still to decide if I'll use it):
20170825_165127 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
The ZPU-1 gun (that I won't be using):
20170825_165148 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
Clear parts:
20170825_165223 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
PE frets, one for the Pick-Up, one for the ZPU-1 gun:
20170825_165247 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
Rubber tires (which might need some sanding):
20170825_165308 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
Decal sheet (probably i'll be using only the decal for the instruments panel):
20170825_165334 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
And Instructions:
20170825_165501 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170825_165508 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170825_165515 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170825_165522 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170825_165531 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170825_165536 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170825_165542 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170825_165550 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170825_165600 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

For the Water tank, the closest I've found was this:
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/1089837 ... orage-tank
Just waiting for it to be delivered to check if it actually fits on the rear cabin... If it doesn't fit... I can hear the sanders working already!!!

For the water pump, hoses and tools, this set seems perfect.
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/964287- ... sories-set
The same goes for this set, it has been ordered, just waiting for it to be delivered.

Now, as my scratch build skills are basically the same as the ones from a burned log, I'll try to use these two sets and hopefully I'll come up with something close to the only reference photo I have.
20170813_175903 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
(By the way, meet Rodrigo, one of the Unsung Heroes, a big friend, my brother in arms with whom I had the privilege to ride along on this fight!)

As always, opinions and sugestions are welcome, feel free to comment!!!
Cheers!!!
Ricardo

[Twokidsnosleep]

Interesting idea and a good cause to build for
I will certainly follow along

Saw the horrible fires Portugal had on the news, just terrible that one on the highway
BC has also seen the worst forest fire summer I can remeber and it isn't over yet

[RicRodrigues]

Interesting idea and a good cause to build for
I will certainly follow along

Saw the horrible fires Portugal had on the news, just terrible that one on the highway
BC has also seen the worst forest fire summer I can remeber and it isn't over yet

It was exactly the same wildfire that killed all those people in the highway that reached my hometown...

I know these wildfires are a tragedy common to different countries, Spain, Italy, Canada, some areas of United States, Australia and New Zealand and much more... And every year it seems to get worst and worst... Once again, god bless all the fire fighters and all the people involved in the firefighting, people that leave their families and beloved ones not knowing if they will return back, fighting an enemy that gives no quarter and knows no mercy!!! True heroes!!! I believe it's coming out even a movie about a fire fighters group in US that died in their duty saving a town from a wildfire... I'll try to find the trailer video and I'll post it here!!!

Meanwhile, just an extra piece of information. One of the pick-ups used in June rolled over and needed to be rebuild. The community just came together in order to raised funds in order to help rebuilding the pick-up. The rebuilt pick-up will be unveiled on the 5th of October. So I guess this build just got a deadline!!!

[RicRodrigues]

So, the resin extras just arrived and... mixed feelings...

The water tank looks good, a big lump of resin...
20170905_185949 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
But, when I tried to fit it on the rear cabin...
20170907_161049 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170907_161111 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
Yep, it doesn't fit... Well, time to switch on the paint booth and start sanding!!!

As about the firefighters equipment set...
20170905_190031 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170907_155928 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
There's loads of stuff there and loads of cleaning to do!!! Being parts so small, some details are gone, like the chainsaws handles... But the things I was really looking for (water pump, hoses and some other bits) are there and in decent shape. So in the end, not perfect, but that will do.

Most of the parts were removed from the runners and sprues and were already primed in Stynylrez Grey and are ready for painting. Which I should start just as soon as I finished this update.

As always, suggestions and opinions are welcome, feel free to comment!!!
Cheers!!!

[RicRodrigues]

So, just an update on the Fire-fighting Pick-Up...

Lots of stuff done already, I simply didn't had the chance to post it. Basically, the chassis is complete, I'm considering maybe some dry-brushing before clear-coating it, and maybe some wash sprayed in order to give it an used look and to flat down that glossy shine...
20170924_174028 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

Wheels done, just need clear-coat and some wash as well. Painted with Vallejo Metal Colour Silver 724, the silver that I'm using for all the metal parts.
20170924_174046 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

Started with the interior as well, primed with Stynylrez grey and painted the interior in Medium Grey (Tamiya XF20).
20170924_175310 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

The seats were painted in RLM Grey (Tamiya XF22) and are ready to be glued in place.
20170924_175409 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

The interior is quite spartan, no big details. I decided not to spend time trying to sort out any seatbelts or any other details. There's loads of exterior details and these will be the most visible. Started the assembly of the interior.
20170927_152313 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

Not the best instrument panel, but that will do.
20170927_152339 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

With the instrument panel and doors panels in place, the interior is complete.
20170927_162532 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170927_162501 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

The body shell was started as well. Primed with Stynylrez Grey and masked for the details like the window rubbers and doors details. Some paint leaked under the mask, but as the body colour will be a dark one, I'm not very concerned about that.
20170924_174059 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

The carrier has been assembled as I needed to check what space I would have available after fitting the resin water tank.
20170924_174157 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

After some struggling, I finally managed to sort out the fire-fighting equipment that could fit in the carrier. Once again, this Pick-up is supposed to be a civilian Pick-up adapted for fire-fighting, therefore I left out stuff like Firefighters masks, oxygen bottles, bags and things that the common folk wouldn't have easy access. So, the choice was simple and I kept the equipment to a minimum. Those are the choosen ones!
20170924_174439 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
An axe, a shovel, a chainsaw, a rolled hose, an hose tip, the water pump, a fire extinguisher and 2 small cans (for petrol for the water pump, chainsaw and the Pick-up). All this would look like this in the carrier.
20170924_174958 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170924_174951 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170924_174917 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170924_175027 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

The water pump has a little piece of PE that needed to be worked out.
20170924_174527 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20170926_212506 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
Easier than I thought!

The water tank needed some connection to the hoses. One of the hose connectors fitted perfectly in the water tank after drilling it hollow.
20170924_174259 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

Today, the body and the carrier should be painted. I was considering in what colour I should paint it and was leaning towards paint it in White. But, this is a tribute build, and as I said before, one of the pick-ups used rolled over and is being fixed and should be revealed next month. So, in the end I decided to go for Blue (Tamiya X4), which I think ist the closest to the dark blue the real pick-up had.
FB_IMG_1506532547746 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

As always, suggestions and opinions are welcome, feel free to comment!!!
Cheers!!!

[RicRodrigues]

Neither the Heroes or the Tribute were forgotten... So, time for an update!!!

As I was running out of time to finish the Pick-Up, I didn´t took many photos...

First, the interior was completed and glued to the chassis.
20171002_103331 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

And the chassis was all "dirtied up" with some Ultimate washes, Light and Dark Dirt.
20171002_103342 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

All the gear was brush-painted and placed in the carrier. Some fiddly job bit it turned out satisfatory.
20171002_103408 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20171002_103402 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20171002_103355 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

Of course, the carrier was painted in the same colour as the body. Once again, the colour choosen was the Tamiya X4 Blue. It turned out this colour was to bright and shiny for what I wanted, especially considering the colour of the reference Pick-Up. But I'll get there.

The body was assembled, painted, glossed and decaled.
20171002_103314 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20171002_103322 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

The letters in the the bonnet refer to the local 4WD enthusiats association, who own the Pick-Up that was crashed during the wildfires in June and that was the reference for this build. For some reason, the clear coat ended up a little bit rough. I suspect this was due to my airbrush deciding to give up to life...

Everything assembled and ready for a little bit of weathering...
20171003_094411 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20171003_094439 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20171003_094556 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20171003_094544 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20171003_094532 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr
20171003_094521 by Ricardo Rodrigues, on Flickr

Still too bright and shiny, right?

Check the reveal thread!!! viewtopic.php?f=46&t=23559

As always, opinions and suggestions are welcome!!
Feel free to comment!!!

Cheers