by Samuel L Hake

The first test flight of the Free Lev Bullet Tram from Vegas to Harrisburg had a major setback when the lead engine's levitational support failed and both experimental vehicles fell into the Susquehanna River, where upon impact the lead engine exploded. The drop from the trail to the river bank was estimated to be between 35-50 meters. The three test pilots were able to evacuate themselves to the trailing engine. But before they could detach themselves in the second engine they were pulled down to the flat bedrock close to the river bank. Two of the crew did extricate them selves from the wreckage but a third was entrapped inside. All of the crew was rescued by the famous Rescue Company the Scurvy Dogs of 1887. the “Dog's" are well known through out the world and colonies as the most advanced and most emulated rescue company and can trace their history all the way back to 1887 when the outfit was incorporated.

Chief Sam Ridgway, shown standing on Rescue 41, had this to say “ It wasn't all that big a deal, we dropped about 1,000 gallons of water, for the fire we had a couple of rescue techs repel in and treat the crew and ready them to lifted to the ambulance. Luckily no one was hurt”

Ok, so what I put into all of this stuff..... Well, I started out with the 1/100 Mobile staff figures, I got them here on the best damn Sci-Fi Model site ever. I painted them the traditional fireman colors of today (FDNY) and my Station using cheap acrylic paints. The cool thing about them is that you can use a nail clipper to cut and shape them into what ever pose you want. Being that they are small the glue and paint make for really forgiving detail.

The first vehicle is B9's head from the newer Lost in Space movie. If you put one of these together I am sure that you saw the potential for a sweet fast hot space car, or maybe not. Anyway it was painted as a 22nd Century Police car. This too has a classic black and white paint scheme. I made my own transfers for the first time. They didn't turn out too bad but as you can see the colors ran. Not too sure why but it only happens when the paint is flat. I cut the main window into doors and I think the effect works overall. I tried to weather it and give it a sense of use but I think the overall effect just makes it look dirty.

Next is the Ambulance (Medic 8) which is done as the real life Medic 8 I used to drive. If is made from 2 of the top gun bases from a Trade Federation Tank. I love Ollie's and Dollar General! I bought 6 of those models for 20 bucks. Anyway the front grill was made from the same model using the cleats that were on the turret.

The big ugly thing on top, that's my 21st century version of a Tanker/Command platform. It is made with 2 of the top turrets from the Trade federation tank. The domes were cut out to take a decking made out of cheap dollar store train cars. From the same cheap dollar store cars I used the tank in the back as a Compressed Air Foam System (giant fire extinguisher). The platform was made from the flat stock of some old boat that I bought in a yard sale for 50 cents. At the same dollar store I got a cheap matchbox truck and ripped off the cab. There are some other pieces and parts slapped on here and there that were mined from the greeble pits.

The last vehicle is the Engine/Rescue. This started life as the top of a Star Wars STAP - I bought 3 of them at a dollar general for $6 bucks each. These kits are great for parts by the way. Anyway this was the nexus for everything else. The Cab was modeled after a Mack CF 80's style. I used clear plastic off a box for the windshield and used the greeble mine for the rest of the detail. The transfer graphics were done on my computer with MSPaint and Power Point. This color scheme uses all the colors of a current day fire truck and the graphics and fonts are consistent with contemporary markings as well.

The base is made from a routed piece of plywood painted to match a river bottom. The cliff is made from that green stuff that you put flowers in. I sculpted it into the general shape and covered it in plaster of Paris. Then painted with the same cheap acrylic paints I use for everything.

Image: Rescue 41

Image: Police car

Image: Ambulance

Image: Standing by

Image: Command vehicle

Image: Looking down

Image: Side view

Image: On the ground

Image: Rappelling

Image: Cliff side