Robert, I'm afraid it is not that easy. First off the firetruck version is designated L 3000 F. It is based on L 3000 S chassis. Compare photos of cabs of L 3000 S and L 3000 F that google will turn out. Then you can compare the height of the sides of hood (screens) of the firetruck version with those on plain L3000. The height of openings in those screens itself is different and therefore gives away different cabs on those two?

Cheers
Greg

Ola Greg

I would not be a stubborn Dutch men if I was about to disagree with you.

The germans used the same system as the Americans do. They used the standard 2,5 ton ruck (GMC) and they just changed a letter when the truckbed was converted.
Mercedes L3000S, Mercedes L3000F, Mercedes L3000A all have in common that they are conversions of the standard L3000 chassis. Mostly only the truckbed differs and in this case it is a standard L3000 converted to a fireengine.

So that makes the Italeri Mercedes Benz L3000 perfectly suitable for converting it to a Mercedes Benz L3000S or F so you like.

If you look at the picture of the fireengine and compare the cab and nose of the vehicle with a picture of the cab and nose of the Italeri Benz L3000 Then I can only see some minor things that needs to be changed.


I think the sides of the nose with the louvers in it are exactly the same the fireengine has exactly the same angle at the bottom the only thing you need to get rid of here are the two handgrips (I think) at the sides of the louvers as obviously the Fireengine has obviously not got these on.
You should cut the bumper... although the black and white pic shows the bumper complete with the width indicators. so it is probably not too neccesary
Shave off the Mercedes logo off the grill and put a piece of mesh in it... you can also leave the Mercedes logo with the Diesel as shown in the Black and white pic too.

Actually most of the features of the Italeri L3000 cab and nose can be used... I can't find a notek lamp so you probably have to scavenge that somewhere in the scrapbox... you even can use the headlights from the kit. The complete front is usable.

The big fun comes just behind the drivers compartiment. You have to cut it off just behind the doors, scratchbuilt new sides of both partially drivers compartiment and crew compartiment. Lengthen the roof. and make that tool and machinerie thing at the back just behind the crew compartiment.
Should not be too hard to do when you scratch it closed doors. That would actually be the most easy scratchbuilding tasks of this vehicle. Things like the hose fittings that can just be seen at the back that will form some what of a challenge but very doable.

I'd say go for the Italeri Mercedes Benz L3000 and indeed as Roger noted get two if the budget allows... It is just a very nice kit

Ok dudes, I got some information.

The marking on the side of the truck says that the vehicle belongs to the voluntary fire brigade of "Brilon" (which is btw not too far from where I live).

You may want to visit the website of the fire brigade of Brilon
www.feuerwehr-brilon.de

Their section for historic vehicles can be found here:

http://www.stadt.brilon.de/feuerwehr/Technik/Fahrzeuge/Historische_Fahrzeuge/historische_fahrzeuge.html

There are a lot more information and numerous pictures and a video, and they have an email adress ([email protected]) where you can ask for even more information.
If you want to write to them in German, I'd be happy to translate for you.

Greetings and best wishes,

ekke

Hi Robert, I agree that the best starting point is the Italeri kit, and it even does have the notek on one of the sprues it shares with Opel Blitz kit. I think my moaning was caused by the different front fenders that gave the illusion of a lower vehicle ( however I do think the louvers are taller in the kit, maybe a mistake on the manufacturers part ) I also agree that all to be done now is to start building :-)

Cheers
Greg

Why can't I get info on a plate like that - --2 spectacular pic views --a set of plans ---history --web site ..........now no excuse MATHEW --"-YOU ARE UP TO YOUR ARM PITS ":-) :-) :-) :-) ---only one way out ---BUILD IT!!!

aye
BARV
(GOSMG)

Yeah! Build it! We (the dark side) are watching you! Wooooooo!

Wow! I had no idea how popular this would get! Well, I guess I'll have to get the kit....as soon as I have some money....college ain't cheap! Now, the real question is, how far has the scratchbuilding bug burrowed into me? Will it stop here, or become a life? Hmm....questions, questions....Thanks for your time and responses!