Looking good Delbert!

HI

Thanks for the info. I finally figured out how to look through the Police Car web page. and, as much as I hate to do this, I have to switch from the Mounties to .....



.. the Meatheads. Having worked with, yes with, these guys for 38 years, I may as well.

Unless I can find the decals soon, they won't be avail until 1 Feb at the earliest. So while I may miss out on this GB, at least I will accomplish getting a police car built.

Tom

Tom,

The Group Build goes until 5/1/17 so you have some time. If you can get most of the car assembled by April, then decal & clear coat you "should" be good to go.

I'm a fine one to talk, though. I started my Florida Highway Patrol Dodge Charger back in October 2012, and I'm still not done!

Jim

Hi

One expensive MP patrol vehicle compatible kit enroute.

Thanks for the help.

Tom

So? What car did you get?

Jim

Hi, Delbert! Build is looking nice.

About the Celebrity, I meant that it never garnered the attention to be made in plastic. A lot of cars come and go and never end up as being notable enough to be made into a model kit. My department doesn't even save old vehicles for a museum.

As for the alternators, it was due to our maintenance fleet. Stock car with all the police add-on parts would blow the alternator quickly. The rebuilds our shops bought were junk. It was the only patrol car I have had in which I could sit up straight, have plenty of headroom, see out all the windows and just step out without having to contort or grab a handle. I really did love that car. I have a picture somewhere of me standing next to it. When it finally died they gave me an old, battered Taurus that suffered from terminal vapor lock. Moved on to a Lumina-fast but hard for me to climb out of as it was so low to the ground, and then several Impalas.

Most police cars get used and abused, some intentionally (police departments represent the community and what it is made up of. If there are morons in the community, there will be in the department as well) and some just from running all day long. For every mile driven, there is normally close to an hour of idle time from report writing, blocking roadways, grabbing a bite to eat or chatting with the public or other officers. With all the new electronics-computers, scanners, printers, radios and such, most officers keep them on when they can to keep the power level up. If the cars are fleet vehicles, they will be driven almost around the clock. We had a couple of bigger officers. If you drove their cars the seat backs would be bent down or just broken. You would hold onto the steering wheel to keep yourself upright. If it was a bench seat and the latch was broken, the seat would slide back every time you accelerated, and forward when you hit the brakes. I counted 7 different types of car at one time in our fleet, and 9 different light bars.

If it is wet or snowy and the officer is in and out, the floor area will become a pool. Most cars now have a rubber liner and in many cases a second plastic floor pan. It gets expensive to eat out all the time, plus you never know if the guy cooking the food was just arrested, or released, and with ambushes now, many officers will carry a lunch box of some sort, plus water bottles and a thermos or two. Before 2000, when laptops became common place, cars were full of forms. Most officers had some sort of file box or system to keep things readily at hand. Tickets were normally kept in a small metal case. Reports were in a larger similar case. Before cup holders were common every car I saw had one of the door mount clip on type. Jumbo sized mugs from convenience stores were also common. Now most setups include a cup/water bottle holder. Spare handcuffs are frequently kept on the spotlight handle. Not all cars had (or have now) hard wired radios. Instead you would have a convertacom, and plug your radio into that. It would give a trickle charge to keep the old radios going but you had to remember to pull it out if you were jumping out on a hot call.

Hub caps always popped off if you were making a tight turn at high speed, so most officers just started taking them off. If the shops replaced them they never matched. Back seats are always scuffed and torn. Doors and cages are also rough looking. Lots of unhappy people kick, fight, spit, leak and in general make a mess. It is fairly common, if the car will allow, to pull the rear seat cushion out and hose it off with a pressure washer, and even spray out the rear. Get someone sweaty or with a lot of dirt or makeup, and when they lean against the glass you get a nice face print, either on the window or the plexi-glass cage. I had a drunk lay on my hood and left a near perfect impression of himself in the dust.

Russ, you have a lot to contribute! Very interesting read. I never sat in the front seat of a police car, and only once in the back (young, energetic drunks do the darnedest things, you know).
I can attest to the vapor lock of the Taurus. My wife and newborn were stranded on a 100-degree day by ours several years ago.
You guys are all really doing some inspired work here. I can't wait to jump in soon! I have the kit and decals, just need the time and clear the workbench.
Cheers,
Sean

Postman brought this:-



Light bar for my RCMP build.

Nice. Where did you get it?

Jim

Hi Jim.
Picked them up here:-http://www.policecarmodels.com/11li.html

Thanks.

Jim

Hi

How was the shipping to Cda? The postage quotes I had from them were more than obscene.

Tom

[/quote]

Hi Jim.
Picked them up here:-http://www.policecarmodels.com/11li.html
[/quote]

Ta for the welcome.
Just having a bout of 'lack of confidence/skills' and wondering if I can do the MTZ- tractor .
So, just looking at a possible back-up option - УАЗ-469. I have the Trumpeter kit and really just requires the rag-top replaced by a hard-top.
Decision pending .

HIo

Here's my tardy, expensive entry:







Hopefully the attached is sufficient to indicate that I have yet to start.

Cheers

T

The "expensive part" is over and done with, now enjoy the build!
Welcome to the group build.

Hello and Merry Xmas..

Got some time and got some work in.. here is a photo of mine mostly assembled. still got the details and wheels to go... got to put decals on chrome, thats something new for me.. lol..



might get the rest done later on.. not to much let to do...

Delbert

Hello again..

Stayed up late last light waiting for Santa while the rest of the family slept.. and happened to finish up my build, here is a quick photo of it.. I'll make some better ones for the gallery? is there one?...



Merry Xmas everyone..
Delbert

Great finish!
What did Santa say about it?

Well done Gilbert!

If you mean I Delbert, I thank you. LOL.

And Delbert too!

How do I post pics here?

Art

Very nice looking patrol car, Delbert. Well done.

Jim

Hello guys,
I have a question. Where can I get police car interior accessories in 1/24 scale. I need radios computers and the back board. I also need the roof lights. My entry is going to be a Niagara Regional Police Services Dodge Charger. I will be using a non police car kit so I need the interior equipment. Any idea who sells the above stuff? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Try Searching the Police Car Models web site.