New Woodland Scenics Firetruck

[Santa Fe all the way!]

Has anyone purchased the new Woodland Scenics Firetruck? If so, what did you think of it?

[G Paine]

Walthers shows it as 'In transit'. WS vehicles ususlly are generic models that have a close look to some prototype vehicle. I have not seen the fire truck, but have a number of their other vehicles. They are all OK in looks. At the Bootlbay Railway Village layout where I volunteer, guests often comment that the Hall & Duke pickup is just like one some family member owned. Same for the Family Vacation station wagon that resembles a Chevy Nomad wagon. Basically, unless you are looking for an exact prototype replica, WS vehicles are a good addition to a layout.

[MisterBeasley]

Nice enough looking model...

http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/AS5567/page/1

but $45?

[BroadwayLion]

MisterBeasley

Nice enough looking model...

http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/AS5567/page/1

but $45?

 

Not on my budget!

ROAR

[wojosa31]

Looks like a late '40s Ward La France or something, 750 GPM. Not bad, but a high price point. The Athearn Ford fire trucks which represent '73 till just recently look better and are available in the $20s.

Personally, I wish Athearn would re-run the B series Mack fire trucks.

[Santa Fe all the way!]

The Athearn B series Macks are a very nice model. Very well detailed.. I have one and it's my favorite firetruck. I've seen them go for as much as $125 on Ebay. The rest of my Fire Dept consists of a couple Athearn Fords and a Busch American Le France hoof and ladder.

[Santa Fe all the way!]

If you shop around you can find the Woodland Scenics Firetruck for around $32. Still a bit pricey IMHO.

[richhotrain]

Santa Fe all the way!

If you shop around you can find the Woodland Scenics Firetruck for around $32. Still a bit pricey IMHO.

 

$32 for a firetruck sitting on a layout is outlandish.

Rich

[Southwest Chief]

To me it looks like a late 1930s model.  Kind of looks like the HO scale trucks by IMEX.  But hard to tell from the few photos online.

I'm currently using Busch La France trucks on my layout (Pic Link).  I think they are based on the 1970 900 series model, but I'm saying they are the 1958 900 series model to fit my layout era

[RR_Mel]

I really like my 1954 Aherns-Fox Fire Truck, I’ve had it for years.  I don’t remember for sure but I think I gave about $5 for it.  I installed a couple of 1mm 1½ volt grain of sand micro bulbs for head lights a third as a red flashing beacon on the roof and a fourth inside on red fiber optics for tail lights.

 

 

The detail on this one is very good for it’s age.  The WS looks nice but too pricy for my layout.

 

Mel

[RR_Mel]

I want to thank you for starting this thread!!!!  It got me thinking about fire trucks and that woke up the little grey cells.  I remembered the 1956 Seagraves open cab pumper kit that I never finished.  I dug it up and I’m going to finish it complete with full lighting.

 

 

 

This will increase my fire department to three pumpers.

 

 

 

Mel

[PRSL6006]

The engine just does not look right to me. I get that it is generic, but certain details have me scratching my head. In particular, I can't figure out what the big chunk of plastic where the hood ornament would be is supposed to represent.

Any ideas?

[chutton01]

Looking around, to me it looks mostly like an early 1940s Mack Fire truck with elements of a early 1940s Seagrave thrown in. At first I thought Woodland Scenics was reusing the grill from their "Lumpy's Coal Truck" (and the like) model, but on comparison the grills seem to be different.
I think the block is supposed to be a poorly rendered hood ornament which was not properly painted by WS (the paint in the catalog entry image seems a bit rough in the close up view too).

I vote with the crowd saying the model looks nice, but is not super impressive - and it needs to be half the price.

As a bit of an aside, I see the model is a closed cab, whereas a lot of images of 1940s American Fire Trucks show open cab. Does anyone know the ratio of open to close cab apparatus around that period (c1950). For the record, fully enclosed cabs were mandated on equipment starting with an update to NFPA 1901 in 1991

[Soo Line fan]

The most I will pay for a truck is 10.00 and a car is 5.00. 

Others will pay 

[RR_Mel]

chutton01

Looking around, to me it looks mostly like an early 1940s Mack Fire truck with elements of a early 1940s Seagrave thrown in. At first I thought Woodland Scenics was reusing the grill from their "Lumpy's Coal Truck" (and the like) model, but on comparison the grills seem to be different.
I think the block is supposed to be a poorly rendered hood ornament which was not properly painted by WS (the paint in the catalog entry image seems a bit rough in the close up view too).

I vote with the crowd saying the model looks nice, but is not super impressive - and it needs to be half the price.

As a bit of an aside, I see the model is a closed cab, whereas a lot of images of 1940s American Fire Trucks show open cab. Does anyone know the ratio of open to close cab apparatus around that period (c1950). For the record, fully enclosed cabs were mandated on equipment starting with an update to NFPA 1901 in 1991

 

 

I know that Seagraves made both open and closed cabs in the late 40s and early 50s.  In my earlier days when I worked for the City of Alamogordo New Mexico I was a volunteer fireman (I was told that I was a volunteer) and the City had one of each.  The closed cab had a 500 gallon tank and the open cab had a 1000 gallon tank.  Both had huge motors, standard shift transitions and would pump 1000 gallons per minute.

 

I drove the open cab several times, it was a slow starter but once it got moving it was a go getter.

 

I model the mid 50s era so that’s why I bought the kit, from haven driven one..

.

Mel

[yougottawanta]

Very Poud of it arent they ?

[chutton01]

yougottawanta

Very Poud of it arent they ?

Well their advertising about it doesn't seem that over the top.  I've seen worse (and I don't mean Rapido Trains style self-referential ad humor* either).

If they can't bring the MSRP down, then Woodland should at least throw in a fireman figure set and make it an Autoscene...

(*oops, Rapido is Canadian - I meant humour)

[Santa Fe all the way!]

Hey Mel, is that a Resin Unlimited kit? I had one but times got tough it was sold. They used to bring a pretty penny.
Southwest Chief, I have the Busch hook and ladder truck and model the late 50's as well.

[RR_Mel]

Santa Fe all the way!

Hey Mel, is that a Resin Unlimited kit? I had one but times got tough it was sold. They used to bring a pretty penny.
Southwest Chief, I have the Busch hook and ladder truck and model the late 50's as well.

 

Yes, it’s a Resin Unlimited kit.  I dove into it after digging it out of storage.  I don’t know if it’s an age thing but the resin is brittle.  I was going to cut off the revolving beacon with a new #11 blade to mount a 1mm bulb and the center post broke off so I’m not on a good start.

 

 

 

Super glue and clear epoxy took care of the broken center post.  The headlights drilled out nicely.

 

Mel

[vol.fireman]

Santa Fe all the way!

The Athearn B series Macks are a very nice model. Very well detailed.. I have one and it's my favorite firetruck. I've seen them go for as much as $125 on Ebay. The rest of my Fire Dept consists of a couple Athearn Fords and a Busch American Le France hoof and ladder.

It would appear from the lack older style school buses that kids back then always walked to school.

[DSchmitt]

PRSL6006

The engine just does not look right to me. I get that it is generic, but certain details have me scratching my head. In particular, I can't figure out what the big chunk of plastic where the hood ornament would be is supposed to represent.

Any ideas?

 

It's a warning light.  I have never seen one mounted in that location. I would hate to drive the truck with it flashing, especially at night. It should be mounted on top of the cab. On open top trucks,  I have seen them on the windshield frame or on top of  pole(s) attached to one or both sides of the cab.