On this page you will find plenty on model building in general; the other pages get more specific.
Scale models by Klaus Lassen
Model building
General model-building topics and ideas for building truck models.
41 photosUS fire apparatus
American LaFrance
American LaFrance brochures and catalogues from the early 1970s on the 900 and 1000 series, for model builders.
12 photosUS fire apparatus
American LaFrance Squad F.D.N.Y.
The big 1980 FDNY order for American LaFrance squads, plus photos and drawings from Elmira and a book tip.
10 photosUS fire apparatus
American LaFrance Models
How a film made me an American LaFrance fan, and the models I have built since the 1980s and presented in Modell Magazin.
10 photosUS fire apparatus
Trumpeter's American LaFrance
Over 40 years after AMT/Matchbox, Trumpeter released a new American LaFrance kit; strengths, weaknesses and original photos.
5 photosUS fire apparatus
American LaFrance at the FDNY
After 9/11, American LaFrance built the one-off Engine 34 for the FDNY; here are photos and my plan for a model of it.
6 photosUS fire apparatus
American LaFrance Mini Pumper
My 1984 pickup-based mini pumper, built from original photos with an ALF body, and the report in Modell Magazin.
3 photosUS fire apparatus
Peter Pirsch & Sons, Peterbilt 359
The history of fire apparatus builder Peter Pirsch & Sons, plus tips for building a Peterbilt 359 pumper in 1:25 scale.
10 photosUS fire apparatus
Peterbilt 377 Custom Fire
The Custom Fire Peterbilt 377 A/E of the Burnsville Fire Department: photos, specs and drawings as a basis for a 1:24 scale model.
6 photosUS fire apparatus
Van Pelt, Peterbilt 310
The one-off little pumper Engine 6 from Mill Valley, California, my 1:25 drawing and the history of Van Pelt.
12 photosUS fire apparatus
Kenworth W900 with 50ft. Tele-Squrt
A visit to the Conover, North Carolina fire department: the Kenworth W900 with Tele-Squrt as a planned Revell model, with a 1:25 drawing.
10 photosUS fire apparatus
Oshkosh USA
From Old Betsy to the M-23 airport crash tender: my correspondence with an Oshkosh employee and the model I built myself.
2 photosUS fire apparatus
Oshkosh M-1000
The Oshkosh M-1000 belongs to the M Series of airport fire engines; here is how the types are classed by tank size.
7 photosUS fire apparatus
Oshkosh T-6
The Oshkosh T-6 of the M series: an airport fire truck with technical data, a drawing and original photos from 1978.
2 photosUS fire apparatus
Oshkosh T-9
The Oshkosh T-9: a T-6 with a longer wheelbase, a second rear axle and a 9,000-litre tank, with full technical data.
3 photosUS fire apparatus
Oshkosh P-15
The Oshkosh P-15 was the first four-axle airport crash tender from Oshkosh and the starting point for the civilian M-12, M-15 and M-23 models.
7 photosUS fire apparatus
Oshkosh M-15
The Oshkosh M-15 is technically identical to the M-23 but has a smaller water tank. Technical data and drawing.
4 photosUS fire apparatus
Oshkosh M-23
The four-axle Oshkosh M-23, the company’s largest airport crash tender, with technical data and tips for building a model.
11 photosUS fire apparatus
Rosenbauer USA, Engine 34
My first big scratch-build: Engine 34 of the Solomons Fire Department in Maryland, built from a Rosenbauer drawing.
11 photosUS fire apparatus
Danko, Ford F-350 Mini Pumper
My 1:24 scale conversion of a Danko Ford F-350 mini pumper: the real vehicle, the kit it is based on and the build report.
9 photosTow trucks
Scania 143 E Tow Truck, Collewijn, NL
The Collewijn Scania wrecker with Challenger 8808 body: notes and drawings for building it as a model.
6 photosTow trucks
Autocar Wrecker
Fred Viohl’s Autocar tow truck from the USA in 1995: no Revell model, but an idea for converting the AMT dump truck into a wrecker.
5 photosTow trucks
MAN TGA wrecker
A MAN TGA with Empl-Bison recovery body as a 1:25 model: finding the prototype, measuring it, and converting an EMEK tractor unit.
5 photosTrucks
Peterbilt 379, Bill Signs Trucking
Tips for converting a Peterbilt 379 of Bill Signs Trucking, based on the Revell 359 kit.
5 photosTrucks
Mercedes-Benz L6600
The Revell vintage truck that never was, the L6600 with long-distance cab: my finished drawings in 1:24 scale.
19 photosTrucks
Kaelble K 415 Z
The 1950s Kaelble K 415 Z tractor unit and my kit that never was, with photos and drawings for scratch-builders.
17 photosFire brigade ideas
Ford Cargo 1520 K as LF 16
The one-off Ford Cargo LF 16 with Ziegler body: photos, data and drawings for anyone who wants to build it in 1:24 scale.
18 photosFire brigade ideas
Self-made fire hoses
Step by step: how I make realistic fire hoses for 1:24 scale models from decorative ribbon and carpet tape.
5 photosCars
Volvo 760 GLE Conversion
How in 1988 I turned an Italeri sedan kit into my dream car, the Volvo 760 GLE station wagon.
Military
M48 AVLB kit in 1:35
Modellbau König is releasing the M48 AVLB as a 1:35 kit, a model I will gladly build as a former commander.