Promoting Excellence in HO Scale Vehicle Modeling

Cal Fire Strike Force Fleet - By Alex Forman


This fleet of brush fire fighting equipment is a Cal Fire (CDF; California Department of Forestry) strike force. Details of the fleet:

Battalion Chief's Truck - a River Point Station pickup with Terra-torch unit (used for controlled burns) in the bed, decals, California license plates, and front strobes (Alex says, "Okay, most Battalion Chief trucks wouldn't have a unit like that in the bed but I thought it looked too cool to leave out.")

Engine 3264 - this is a Cal Fire Model 25 unit from Paso Robles, CA - a Boley/Matchbox kitbash with a scratchbuilt grille, California license plate, details from Roco, Alloy Forms, Johnny Lightning, and decals from several sources

Engine 3472 - this is a Cal Fire Model 34 unit also from Paso Robles, CA - Boley/Matchbox kitbash, details from Roco, Alloy Forms, River Point Station, CA license plate, and decals from several sources

Engine 4267 - this is a Cal Fire Model 35 unit  from Los Banos, CA -  Boley/Matchbox kitbash, details from various items and the parts box, (bumper is from the original Matchbox model and decals from several sources)

Engine 3590 - this is a Cal Fire Model 19 from Beaumont, CA - Alex made this model about 10 years ago from a Puget Sound Castings kit. The hose bed over the pumps has been modified to hold reels and there are painted and weathered "hoses" on top of the rear section (made from rubber bands). Flood lights (3D printed) have also been installed between the hose reels. Light bar is from River Point Station and the Puget Sound wheels were replaced with one from Roco.

Tanker T22 - made from a Boley tanker with pump panel removed and body mated to an older IHC Ford 9000 painted and detailed for CDF - features Boley mirrors, Roco strobes, and Howards Hobbies license plates, light bar is from the parts box.

Tanker T78 - Boley/Matchbox kitbash - painted and applied decals to the tanker body as well as Roco lights, light bar from the parts box.

Posted September 16, 2017