Forest Service Models

The US Forest Service was created in 1905, it currently manages 191 million acres of public lands throughout the United States. In addition to land management resources it has a large firefighting division and has it's own law enforcement branch.

United States Forest Service 200 gallon PTO Engine, 1960 Chevrolet (1/25 scale)

The vehicle

This is a light brush truck built on a 3/4 ton four wheel drive truck with factory optional 16x9" wheels. It has a PTO powered pump and carries 200 gallons of water. 

The model

I used the AMT / Ertl 1/25 scale 1960 Custom Fleetside kit. The side railings were made from brass tubing, the storage boxes and the slip on unit were scratch built from styrene. The kit is a 2 wheel drive truck so I rebuilt the suspension and driveline to make it 4 wheel drive. The model is based on a short video clip of a similar truck used by the USFS in the 1960's.

United States Forest Service Model 52, Ford F-450 (1/24 scale)

The vehicle

This is a light wildland engine used by the US Forest Service. It is built on a Ford F-450 four wheel drive truck chassis. It has a small gasoline powered pump and carries 250 gallons of water. 

The model

I used the Testers 1999 1/24 scale Ford F-350 3 in 1 die cast kit. The slip-on unit was scratch built from styrene plastic along with some resin and PE detail parts. This model is based on a vehicle I worked on several years ago in Arizona.

United States Forest Service Mountain Fire Truck, 1929 Ford Truck (1/25 scale)

The vehicle

This is an early wildland engine typical of the type used in the 1930's or 40's. It is equipped with a small water tank and gasoline powered pump. 

The model

I used Revell's 1/25 scale 3 in 1 Rat Rod 1929 Ford Truck. The tank and pump unit were scratch built from styrene. The detail parts are styrene or resin. This model is based on a 1940 photo of a vehicle used in Southern California by the USFS.

United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Truck, 1980 Ford Bronco (1/25 scale)

The vehicle

The Ford Bronco was very popular with the US Forest Service as a Law Enforcement vehicle until it was discontinued in the mid 1990's.

The model

I used Revell's 1/25 scale 2 in 1 1980 Ford Bronco kit. The light bar is resin and the interior details are a combination of resin and parts borrowed from various  police car kits.

United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Truck, 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe (1/25 scale)

The vehicle

Since the Ford Bronco was discontinued the US Forest Service has started to use a variety of vehicles for its Law Enforcement Officers. The Chevy Tahoe is one of the more common vehicles although other SUVs and pickup trucks are also being used.

The model

I used the AMT / Ertl 1/25 scale 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe snap fast kit. The lights and interior details are a combination of resin and parts borrowed from various  police car kits.

United States Forest Service Dozer Team (1/25 scale)

Paystar Transport	Caterpillar D8H Dozer	Chevrolet Dozer Tender

The vehicle

This is a pre-1964 Caterpillar D8H retrofitted with a 1972 OSHA compliant ROPS. It is joined by a 1971 Paystar transport and 1972 Chevrolet dozer tender. 

The model

I used the AMT / Ertl 1/25 scale Dozer with a combination of scratch-built and resin detail parts. 

The Transport is the 1/25 AMT/Ertl Paystar dump truck converted to a tractor. The catwalk / headache rack is scratch-built. It is pulling the AMT/ Ertl drop deck trailer with a set of scratch-built ramps.

The Dozer Tender is the AMT / Ertl 1/25 1972 Chevrolet pickup with a scratch built utility body. All the details are resin parts or scratchbuilt.