NEW HOT WHEELS DIORAMA! THE FAMOUS HOOK & LADDER 8 FIREHOUSE! (Patreon)

Hello friends!

Finally, here it is, this enormous Hot Wheels diorama that I clearly got carried away with! You may have recognized it as the "Hook & Ladder 8" firehouse located in NYC, better known for its role in the cult movie "Ghostbusters".

So many things happened in this project, I wouldn't know where to begin.

What started as a seemingly simple project quickly turned into an incredible challenge.

First of all, I wanted it to be almost exactly like the real firehouse. As exact as possible, while keeping in mind that some details would have to be slightly different to make it easier to print. So, I needed all the sides of the building.

This required a lot of research. After several hours, I almost succeeded; I found everything except the back of the building. You can have a look at the links i have left at the bottom of this post.

I even consulted the propertyshark website to get the exact dimensions of the building.

Once everything was in place and my model was quickly sketched out at 1:64 scale in my software, I realized something terrifying! It had to be printable for users who own a Mini! There was no way I was abandoning them on this project. But the building was so long and tall...! I was speechless... How could I make this project possible for a mini printer?!

So a long adventure of design ensued, and I used all my knowledge to make it user-friendly for ALL users, regardless of the printer. Another point that was important to me was not to show any light through the joints between the pieces, which spoils the effect when illuminated.

This created parts of imposing dimensions and sometimes with a curious appearance! But every detail has its purpose! Even the brick pattern matches from one piece to the next.

The project may seem intimidating at first, but it is still very simple to print and assemble. I was surprised myself when assembling the pieces, the fit, and the final look. I think I can say I surpassed myself!

So today, I think I can say I'm offering you the most realistic and complete printable version of Hook & Ladder 8 available on the web.

You can pay homage to this famous New York fire station like the 2nd, 3rd and 4th pictures, or recreate the GhostBusters diorama using the provided logo. It's up to you.

That being said, here's a few important points:

Some pieces require supports. This is indicated in the name, and these are the four main pieces. Only on the arches and possibly the windows if your printer has difficulty with bridges.

Complete instructions are provided as usual. Please follow them step by step and perform dry fit checks (without glue) at each step. This will help you avoid costly mistakes.

The model can be illuminated with LED strips, battery-operated tealights, or light pucks. It's up to you. For a model with a 120V LED strip, a hole in the back of the building will allow you to exit your wiring.

Also, if you plan to light it, don't glue the brick layer to the bottom layer (the gray/beige layer). This is specified in the instructions; it will allow you to open the assembly to access the lights. (See photo.)

Go easy on the glue! Often, simple drops here and there will be more than enough, rather than a thick cord that risks dripping.

Note the orientation of the parts carefully. Throughout the instructions, I highlight the orientation of certain crucial parts. It's very simple to install them correctly; you just have to read the instructions carefully!

Of course, a BambuLab project file is included. All settings, color changes, supports, etc. are already adjusted. Remember: My color changes are by layers and not painted. You must therefore slice the plate first to see the applicable color changes.

Color changes by layers can be made on any type of printer, not just multi-colors. If you have a conventional printer and are unfamiliar with color changes, check out my community page; you will find fantastic users who will be more than happy to help you:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1403567230344891

So, I think I've covered everything!

The only thing that disappoints me a little, and it has nothing to do with the design: I learned this week that not all Hot Wheels models are precisely 1/64 scale. They are mainly designed to respect standard wheel sizes, Hot Wheels tracks, and playability. Which makes my Ecto-1 look a little small next to the fire station. That's because, it's a good 5-6 mm shorter that it should be (and therefore a few mms in height and width) compared to the 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance and its real dimensions. Which doesn't quite give the ratio of proportions I was aiming for at the start, but whatever! I’m still really happy with it!

Have fun, my friends! I'll be back soon!

Pascal

Note 1: All filaments used are from Polymaker (Panchroma, formerly known as Polyterra) Except for the gold one which is Silk Gold from Giantarm.

The bricks are printed with PanChroma Marble brickThe bottom level is printed with PanChroma Marble limestoneThe sidewalk is printed with PanChroma Marble white.

Note 2: If you are interested to have a look at the reference photos i have used, follow those links: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fjust-saw-the-ghostbusters-firehouse-for-the-first-time-it-v0-vq4zc3avmhzc1.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D3024%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Da870588227087f389306dce8871ea0ad21b1d197https://roadtrippers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ghostbusters-new-york-15-scaled.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Ghostbusters_Fiyahouse.jpg/1200px-Ghostbusters_Fiyahouse.jpg

https://dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-o/30/27/c7/02/caption.jpg?w=900&h=500&s=1

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Firehouse%2C_Hook_%26_Ladder_Company_8.jpg

https://www.reddit.com/r/ghostbusters/comments/1co7udn/just_saw_the_ghostbusters_firehouse_for_the_first/#lightbox

https://tensorflight.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ghostbusters_Firehouse.jpg

https://accidentallywesanderson.com/places/hook-ladder-no-8/