MSP Double Rarity: Unity Spitfire and Faulty Equipment

[jph2]

Here's a Michigan State Police Suburban with Unity Spitfire beacon. These used to be quite common, but I hardly ever see Spitfires any more, let alone actual rotating beacons. On top of that, this Suburban has a damaged taillight, something I've never seen before in all my miles of driving. Oddly enough, a few days later, on the same stretch of highway, I saw another MSP Suburban with front end damage. Couldn't help but wonder if they'd been to the same scene. lol

 

[stfd1911]

where I live they OOS the cars if they get damaged in a accident....must be short on pool cars...lol

 

[stfd1911]

I wonder if they get pulled over for a broken taillight?...lmao

 

[jph2]

where I live they OOS the cars if they get damaged in a accident....must be short on pool cars...lol

This might be the pool car. It's a canine unit; I've been trying to figure out what the "TP" on the license plate is because usually it's the district number.

 

[RL1]

...or be en route to the station after the accident

 

[exphillycop]

I'm thinking it's a Tahoe Pursuit.

 

[Respondcode3]

States broke.. Cant fix that little stuff.

 

[Hoser]

States broke.. Cant fix that little stuff.

Lens tape

 

[unityrv26]

Troop K9 vehicles aren't something out there in large quantity. I would assume this unit was in transit to the body shop. I highly doubt they were using this for patrol use.


As for the spitfire domes, the Unity corp does not make them anymore. MSP was the only buyer and there just was no market for them anymore since MSP announced some years back that they were creating an LED version. There was no longer a need for the specialized dome.

 

[zacmtz7]

What is/does the spitfire dome do that makes it diff?

 

[HILO]

What is/does the spitfire dome do that makes it diff?

The dome has small bands of clear, so they act like a kicker with a majority red foot print.

 

[unityrv26]

What is/does the spitfire dome do that makes it diff?

The thin "slices" of white light actually turn the light a bright pink. This is noticed more at night, its a bright sweeping slightly pink-ish light. It stands out amongst all of the other emergency lights at a scene for sure. Here is a pic that shows it a little bit.


Well, they used to.

 

[badge22]

Troop K9 vehicles aren't something out there in large quantity. I would assume this unit was in transit to the body shop. I highly doubt they were using this for patrol use.

As for the spitfire domes, the Unity corp does not make them anymore. MSP was the only buyer and there just was no market for them anymore since MSP announced some years back that they were creating an LED version. There was no longer a need for the specialized dome.

Actually, Unity was no longer able to obtain small quantities of the specialized paint that was used to create the Spitfire domes. So, instead of buying a large quantity of the expensive paint, they discontinued the domes. To my knowledge, MSP was still purchasing the beacon with a standard dome when the LED version came out. This information was provided from both Unity and the MSP.

 

[jph2]

Actually, Unity was no longer able to obtain small quantities of the specialized paint that was used to create the Spitfire domes. So, instead of buying a large quantity of the expensive paint, they discontinued the domes. To my knowledge, MSP was still purchasing the beacon with a standard dome when the LED version came out. This information was provided from both Unity and the MSP.

That makes sense. It was Unity that stopped offering the Spitfire. IIRC, this happened about 5 years ago, a few years before the LED beacon showed up. Personally, I don't like the single beacon (and dislike it even more in its LED morphing), but the Spitfire was uniquely MSP. You could not miss it at night.