REVELL THE FIREFIGHTER

Hello :

  I have two of these so I could build as launched  , and as seen in the late eighties .This , to me , is one of REVELL'S  BEST ,model vessels , next to the AMERICA .

  Both of the FIREFIGHTERS  , I might add are radio controlled operational models . The hulls are wide and roomy enough to accomodate the gear . These bring raised eyebrows and commemts BECAUSE they are super detailed R.C. Models that have all the  " right stuff " on board and it is real . The brass is brass etc .

The boats sail well too .Enjoy your build .I am sure you will .       Tanker-builder    P.S.  I Have the book too !

i will but won't be starting this for a while. too much in the queue. maybe i should suggest a civilian ship GB.

I think your choice to build "Firefighter 'CLASSIC' " is the way to go. Please post photos of the build.

hi mike

my friend's dad built this for him when it first came out. i have fond memories of it. i have gone through the instructions. don't see anuthing major except for drilling out portholes in the hull and adding "glass" to all the openings. i plan on using the same scheme and time frame you mentioned. i put the book on hold at the local library. thanks.

Wayne:

This is a great kit - have one in the stash that have been meaning to build for some time.

You might want to check a used book seller (amazon or abebooks) to get a copy of "Fireboats" by Paul Ditzel , 1989, ISBN 0-925165-01-0, he has a really good section on the Firefighter.  The Firefighter was designed by William Francis Gibbs (the same naval architect who renovated the SS Leviathan and then designed the SS America and the SS United States).  For many years the Firefighter was the most powerful fireboat in service.

I've seen a picture on the 'net of the arrival of the SS United States in New York following her record-setting maiden voyage with the Firefighter accompanying her up river from the Statue of Liberty.

According to Ditzel, when new, the Fire Fighter had a black hull and water tower, white band along the top of the hull, white deckhouse and pilothouse, buff stack with black band at the top, and the fittings, nozzles, manifolds, etc. were polished brass - which pretty much corresponds to the original 1963 Revell kit that came with plated fittings.  My 1992 re-issue is all white plastic except for the hull.

The water tower aft apparently did not work as well as hoped and was removed in 1962 and by 1988, the "red" scheme was adopted - fire engine red from the waterline up, with same white band at the top of the hull (as in your photo) - deck and monitor platform are fire engine red as are the nozzles, stack, and radar mast.

I'm planning to omit the radar mast and paint the Firefighter as she appeared when first brought into service.