New MSP Paint Scheme Coming in 2017!

For the 100th anniversary of the Michigan State Police, a throwback paint scheme for the Chargers.

Sneek Peek at MSP Anniversary Project | MI Headlines

Looks better then the blue scheme. Not a fan of the retro bubble gummer though regardless if they are now led.

Here's some additional photos from MSP's Facebook page.

ptolemy9200 said:

Not a fan of the retro bubble gummer though regardless if they are now led.

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That's what makes them so easy to spot on the roads.

That big bubble won't do much good for aerodynamics, noise reduction, or fuel consumption.

W8RMH said:

That big bubble won't do much good for aerodynamics, noise reduction, or fuel consumption.

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But they are easy to see, when the light is activated, from a long distance. There is no mistaking that it is a trooper.

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I like it. The only thing I wish they would change is switch to a blue light instead of the red. There is too much red out there already, brake lights, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, traffic lights, etc. Blue would stick out even more.

Does that think have rotating LEDs or just flashing?

It is a led pattern that cycles around or flash pattern that I have seen on those model of bubble gums. No moving parts anymore. As for the color with leds you can easily change out or manufacturer can create the pattern snd color to change or be changed. Similiar the leds Florida fhp uses for example. Why they haven't utilized that nkt sure maybe tradition and the red. I recall many years back chp had did a study snd found a solid red burning light gets ones attention more then a dozen flashing ones. They also concluded that the less lights the less likely for a rear ending from a dwi driver. So I recall. Maybe tradition and this is why msp keeps it the way it's always been.

newsnick175 said:

Does that think have rotating LEDs or just flashing?

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Flashes, in a very distinct pattern.

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W8RMH said:

That big bubble won't do much good for aerodynamics, noise reduction, or fuel consumption.

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That's not what MSP says:

The Michigan State Police (MSP) patrol car is perhaps one of the most recognizable in the nation with its single red “bubble” or “gumball” overhead light, blue paint and “stop” placard.

But we’re consistently being asked one question: Why does the Michigan State Police have a single red overhead light on its cars?

As the only state police department in the country to use this design, the single overhead red light is unmistakably identifiable to both Michigan residents and other law enforcement agencies. Many people often assume it is used today solely as tradition.

But there’s more to the story.

The MSP has had marked patrol cars since 1929. Originally, the only emergency lights were red spotlights mounted on the right-front fender with the word “stop” on the glass. The department began using overhead convex-shaped light fixtures with front and rear red bulbs in the 1940s.

The light as we know it today was first installed on patrol cars in 1956.

While many are accustomed to this look, the benefits go beyond tradition. The single overhead light has been proven to enhance acceleration and performance. The nationally-recognized Police Vehicle Evaluation, conducted by the MSP Precision Driving Unit, has found that vehicles with a full overhead light bar accelerate slower than vehicles with a single overhead light. Additionally, the reduced forward-facing surface area of the single light provides greater fuel savings when compared to the larger surface area of a light bar.

In the last couple of years, the MSP’s “bubble” overhead light began to undergo a conversion to Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to improve its energy efficiency. Working with Whelen Engineering, a Brighton, Mich.-based firm, a prototype was developed. And after nearly four years of research, development and testing, Whelen Engineering and the Precision Driving Unit produced a light kit that fits in the existing overhead light shell.

The new LED overhead light produces an intense, wide-angle red light in all directions that only requires three amps to operate. Each kit uses 12 light heads, nine LED bulbs per head, for a total of 108 lights in each car -- far more than most standard light bars. The LED bulbs have a 100,000-hours-of-use rating and a five-year warranty from date of service.

To reduce installation costs, current MSP patrol cars are fitted with the new LED overhead light kits when there is a light failure. Since the LED lights are maintenance free and eliminate the need for heavy-duty wiring and special switches, the MSP estimates this will ultimately result in a cost-savings.

And this single red beacon isn’t the only lighting on the car.

The MSP has had rear deck lights on the patrol cars for many years. These lights were originally red, but are presently a combination of both red and blue. The cars also have flashing front-grill “wig-wag” red and blue lights and “wig-wag” headlights when the overhead “bubble” light is activated.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150370476107216.413716.114238542215&type=3

ffexpCP said:

In the last couple of years, the MSP’s “bubble” overhead light began to undergo a conversion to Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to improve its energy efficiency. Working with Whelen Engineering, a Brighton, Mich.-based firm, a prototype was developed. And after nearly four years of research, development and testing, Whelen Engineering and the Precision Driving Unit produced a light kit that fits in the existing overhead light shell.

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Whelen is based in Connecticut, not Michigan. I am thinking that the research was done through Cruisers, the emergency vehicle outfitter.

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