Wheeled Escape Ladder Ideas

[Mossie]

I've got an Airfix 1/32 Dennis Fire Engine in the stash and wondering what to do with the wheeled escape ladder in the kit.  Thinking about the Blue Lights GB.  1/32 would be good but 1/35 is close enough.

Suggestions ranging from the stone cold sober to drug induced hallucinations welcome.

[Mossie]

Another question, was the wheeled escape ladder used much in outside Britain? All of the material I have is British.

It was used here largely unchanged from the Victorian horse drawn era until the 1990's.  Some lament their loss as they're still useful for  particular situations.

[crudebuteffective]

some of those ladders were actually experimentally fitted to landing craft for Dday but found to be unusable

[tigercat]

https://mikesresearch.com/2019/06/06/dukws-at-pointe-du-hoc-on-d-day/

They had ladders on DUKWs

How about mounted on a Unimog ?

[Mossie]

Thanks guys.  The ones used on DUKW's were turntable ladders, so maybe a wheeled ladder might have been more useful?

How about mounted on a Unimog ?

That might be good, one thought I had was 4x4 vehicles in a cold war situation, to be able to cope with damaged roads and rubble from buildings.

[Mossie]

These two pics show the range of eras covered by the wheeled escape ladder:

[PR19_Kit]

https://mikesresearch.com/2019/06/06/dukws-at-pointe-du-hoc-on-d-day/

They had ladders on DUKWs

That's an amazing read. Fancy the Rangers opening fire on the enemy positions from the TOP of the extended ladders! That must have been scary perched up there in full view! 

[Old Wombat]

These two pics show the range of eras covered by the wheeled escape ladder:

Are you sure that isn't the same ladder?

 

[crudebuteffective]

These two pics show the range of eras covered by the wheeled escape ladder:

Are you sure that isn't the same ladder?

my father was a fireman 1962-1978 and he said that some of the escapes in use in birmingham ( his brigade) were 50yrs old

 

[Mossie]

From what I've read, I believe that's true.  They were very solid and well looked after, you didn't want one breaking on you.  Aluminum started to be used in the 70s (I think) but wooden ones were still in use up till they retired them in the 90s.  I believe part of the reason some firefighters continue to miss them was there speed of deployment.

Strangely, the horse pulled versions weren't the earliest, in several cities they would be deployed on street corners ready for use.