Custom-Built Doepke Searchlight Truck

I built this custom Doepke Searchlight Truck in mid-2019. It does incorporate the basic chassis from a Doepke pumper truck, but that's where the comparison to a stock Doepke Searchlight Truck ends. The spotlight base is actually a Doepke pumper truck center section fitted with a custom-built "turret" from a Buddy L Snorkel Boom Truck. The spotlight, itself, is not Doepke, but rather a MARX unit, and it contains it's own batteries and works well.

The overall look of this custom Searchlight Truck is a bit fancier than an original Doepke searchlight truck. In all honesty, while they are rare and expensive, the original Doepke truck was hastily-assembled and not terribly well thought-out. In fact, it is perhaps Doepke's least appealing model, construction-quality-wise. But, being only offered for two years (1955 and 1956) and in fairly limited numbers, it is now the most sought-after Doepke model.

Mine has a few more decals including moving the unneeded "gauge" decal to be used as the dashboard decal, and also a bit more use of diamond-plate. I'm enjoying having it as part of my fire engine display. Thanks for looking! James