Parade Report

When we left off, I was trying to install the Whelen Commander strobe light and found things not exactly in a plug-and-play configuration.

The very next day the job was completed, with help from my very-helpful six year old. Seriously, this is no joke. He was a huge help, holding hardware in the right place for me on the roof while I fiddled with bolts and ratchets down in the cab. Plus, his random stories about unrelated topics diverted my attention from irritating but uninteresting problems that cropped up here and there.

Here he is on the cab roof, making sure we know where the new base is installed. You can see the dirty ring in front of the new base that shows where the previous light was installed, forward of the original beacon placement when 17 was new.


A couple of days later, 17 was patiently hanging out at my fire department's Station 1, out of the way, waiting for parade day. May I take you for a trip down Memory Lane, regarding the First Krang? On the day of the Krang, 17 was parked on this side of the building like this, but pulled all the way up by the yellow bollard guarding the corner of the building. Yes, that's the one I clipped. Embarrassing. Not at all a coincidence that she was parked so far back this time, either.


Finally, parade day! 17's role in this parade, besides being a, well.... a fire engine in a parade.... was to be the entry accompanying the New Blue Parrot drama troupe as they promoted their upcoming show Thoroughly Modern Millie. If you bother to ask if I play a Chinese laborer in this show, whose lines are pretty much all in genuine Chinese, I may or may not comment.

Unsurprisingly, there were other apparatus in the show. I was impressed with the work done to this old pumper by the Shriners, as can be evidenced by the weathered photograph on display showing how it looked when they started on it. It isn't at all faithful as a true restoration, but I can respect the amount of effort.



Another lime-yellow pumper was in the show, one I had not known about from this area. The driver, however, was merely a hired hand with no special interest, and the rig itself was borrowed or rented from its owner to ferry a political candidate.


I tried to make small talk and ask about their rig, sort of expecting some of the same in return, but they were totally disinterested. To them, the pumper may as well have been a rented Corvette of no special significance. Thankfully, though we started out parked side-by-side, we were far apart in the procession.

Here we are perhaps twenty minutes before the start, still setting up banners and other attachments for the run.


About to get underway. I don't remember what I was irritated about, but it probably had something to do with telling people to sit down for the umpteenth time. Whatever, it didn't last. Irritation doesn't last long when you get to drive your own fire engine in a parade.


And thanks for suffering this long post to see a picture of 17 in the parade, Millie cast members strolling along in front. It was a great day.


The one thing sorely missed? That missing Federal Q2B.... just gotta get my hands on one.

First Parade Detail Coming Up

Ready or not, the date is coming up fast.

The rotating roof light on 17 usually does not rotate, and it would be rather embarrassing for that to happen in a parade. Therefore, I decided to not wait to put the "new" strobe light up before the rig is painted, because who knows how long we'll wait for that.

I removed a bunch of screws from the aluminum strips that hold the interior roof panels in place, and removed the center panel, exposing the nuts that held the roof light in place. Removing it was not much of a chore at all.

It was not until I brought the original equipment Whelen strobe out that I realized that this was not going to be so simple. In the picture below, with the dome removed, you can see the Fresnel lens strobe unit resting on the base. The lens and strobe components underneath are held down by the clamp ring, along with the dome, when installed, but as shown below they just lift right off of the base. So for installation, all you have to do is secure the base, and then you tie everything down to that. Simple.



It was not until I had exposed the underside of the old light's installation that I realized it was mounted in a different location than the strobe had been. Reviewing old photos of sister rigs, along with considering the evidence of old holes visible from under the roof, I confirmed that the original strobe was mounted roughly in the front/back center of the cab roof. The newer light had been placed closer to the front.

OK, no problem. A little sealer, some new holes, we're good.

Then I looked at the Whelen base. It has three tabs spot-welded to the inside, about halfway up (not along the bottom edge). And there were only two holes in the original installation.

Fabricating something to make this work, or simply using long bolts, will not be a problem. But the two holes on the roof and three inside the base are not plug and play compatible, so I couldn't finish the job with equipment on hand. Probably will just go with three long bolts.

Here's a picture before the old "new" light was removed, and a picture of where the new "old" light will go that I snapped after realizing I couldn't get the job done that day. Until I cobble something together, poor Engine 17 is feeling a little naked without a roof warning light at the moment.



It isn't much, but some work is getting done at last.

17 Gets a Visitor

I am having a heck of a time finding the time to get work done on 17, as the best days of the season slip by with so many other things going on. Hence, the sparse updates, precisely when I hoped to have the most going on.

Disappointingly, of the four or five SPAAMFAA and collector's auto meet events coming up this summer in the area that I would have liked to have attended with 17, every single one is scheduled on a day that I am scheduled to work. What a serious drag! I haven't ruled out arranging the time off, but vacation time is precious, you know. Still, drats!

I still take 17 out every few weeks, though. And she received a visitor a few days ago when Engine 3 made a courtesy call up here to Station 6.

It's an art project, but 17 played a bit part

This is only barely related to 17, but it seems like forever since I've posted, and I have no updates on work or the project at the moment. Hopefully this will tide you over until more news comes along.

My daughter is a fantastic artist, improving by leaps and bounds every time she takes something new on.

So, do you remember this picture from the February post "Living the Dream"?

Well, the daughter took this picture to school and managed to create the following fantastic bit of work:
Having kids is so cool. So, so cool. They're amazing.

Maybe if you manage to catch a ride in 17, she'll sketch you too.

Another new blog to follow

Randy made the jump from his rig having a Facebook page, to also having a blog for his sweet 1958 FWD pumper. I have no words of value to add on top of what he already has to say about the story of his pumper, so it's best if I don't try.

Check it out:

Engine Company 1102

We've Moved!

You don't have to update your bookmarks. The old e17project.blogspot.com address still will get you here. But the new and much easier to remember address of this blog is now:

e17p.org

Spent part of the day at the semi-annual apparatus re-certification "roadeo". My so-called take-home unit, Squad 6 (center of attention below), made an appearance there along with a sampling of our other apparatus and specialty units.

The "roadeo" course, that you can't see because it is mostly behind the camera, consists of a variety of tests, twists, decreasing clearances, offset alley, backing tasks... always fun. I seriously considered taking 17 and "recertifying" on the rodeo course with her. Dang it... I really should have done that, just because.

It was a fun ride today on the course, thanks for tagging along.

Don't feel pressured

Based on advice handed down by The Happy Medic in a post comment, I have added a PayPal donate button over on the right sidebar, for anyone who stumbles in here and feels moved, by whatever moves them, to contribute to the cause.

I avoided doing that up until now, because I never want anyone to feel pressured to help. If you just want to drop in and read about me fumbling around with something I never tried before, like, you know, owning a fire engine, and laugh at my expense once in a while, well that is totally fine with me. I was goofy enough to get into this and it is my problem to handle it, I know that.

But now that I have gone ahead and added the button, I think it is reasonable to talk a little more about my overall general plans for 17, so anyone who does put a few coins in the hat knows what they're helping to do.

At this time, I am not planning an expensive major strip-to-the-frame, sandblasting and reassembly to like-new condition. Despite some rough treatment in 17's later in-service years, she is still in solid and good running condition. There are no significant rust issues, even in the rear wheel well area compartments. The are no significant bodywork issues, other than the tire chain damage over the right rear wheel well. The engine is running great (I drove her several miles on the freeway today, and she ran straight and true at 63MPH).

Here's what I hope to do, in order of priority:

• Paint her red (includes repairing tire chain damage, and replica 1970-era TFD markings)
• Fix the leaking booster tank, and make the pump operational (minor pump shift problem)
• Replace/restore/repair parts and accessories (the biggest job, after painting)
• Lastly, after all else is more or less done, stock her with 70's or early 80's vintage equipment

When completed (hah, like that ever happens in a project like this), my intent is that 17 will resemble a well-cared-for but working in-service pumper, not a trailer queen. A few remaining dings, scratches and scuffs will fit that intended character just fine. I will run her in parades in Tacoma as well as local to where I live, take her to SPAAMFAA musters and car shows, and make her available to area firefighters and fire department supporters for weddings/funerals or other events. If you're a local donor, I'm sure we can think of something fun to do with 17 to pay some of it back.

So, I see three major categories of expenses. (1) Paint/Markings, (2) Pump/Tank, (3) Parts/Accessories. The fourth category, stocking equipment, is off the radar right now.

If you feel so moved to contribute to the cause, I will place your contribution into the category of your choice. If you don't choose one, I will place it by highest priority. I do not expect others to fund my folly without my help, though. I will pay for things as my personal budget allows with or without contributions, but note that I will also immediately put in matching funds (up to my fiscal capability) any time donations are received, which should double the impact of anything you feel like putting in.

This post will be updated going forward.

I will list below the amount of donations received to date. Also, under the donation button, I will list the amount of funds currently donated to each category not yet expended. I will also list, with your permission, your name (or any other name you wish to be credited) with the amount of the donation.

Work done will be discussed on regular posts, with costs detailed.

To be clear, again, you don't have to contribute, please feel no pressure. But I would be foolish to not allow others the chance if that's what they really want to do.

Thanks for coming along on the ride.

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Donations as of 5/2/2009:

• Paint/Markings: $0.00
• Tank/Pump: $0.00
• Parts/Accessories: $0.00
• Equipment: $0.00

Donors:

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