Notes and News - October 16, 2009

One of the new items that was previewed at the 2009 Fire Expo was of course the return of a Fire Expo model.  For those of you who have all of the other Fire Expo models in your collection you will be happy to know that the series continues.  This week the 2009 Fire Expo model is ready to ship.  Get those orders in fast as the indications at the Expo in July and the recent Code 3 Day in October are that this model will be a real winner in this year's line up.  You won’t want to miss this one as the Series is definitely going to continue and the 2010 Fire Expo model is well into the planning stage and will be, I repeat, will be available at the 2010 Fire Expo in Baltimore. 

When this year's model was first discussed and planned it had a very different look.  The first design is shown below.  After many designs and changes the end result is very different. It was decided that the model sport the City of Baltimore Flag and also the Firehouse Expo logo making it a truly unique model.

THE 2009 FIRE EXPO MACK PUMPER
The latest in the Firehouse Expo Series

Shipping will begin next week so get those orders in as this is a Limited Edition of 1000 Units and will disappear quickly.

Many years ago there was an FDNY project that I was able to work on and I believe it may have been the first detailed die cast model of an FDNY Rig. The model was a 1/30th Scale replica of Engine 58, a 1948 ALF 700 Series Pumper and it was produced as this was about 1994 if I recall. That helps to date me, but I will add that the project came to me via Larry Phillips who we all know today as the writer for Toy Trucker and the Little Engine House. 

Recently Larry contacted me to ask if we could talk about Code 3 and the future of Fire Collecting.  I was happy to accommodate as the old saying goes “there is no such thing as bad press” and with Larry I didn’t have to worry about bad!  The October issue of The Toy Trucker features Code 3 on the cover and a nice spread inside the magazine.  Pick it up when you get a chance and read the article. 

Subsequently, Larry and I talked about an event that was coming up soon, and after consulting with Bill Pekarik it was decided that Larry would join us at Code 3 Day in Chicago.  As a sideline attraction, tucked in a corner in the close confides of PTH due to the crowd that filled the store, Larry displayed many Code 3 models that had been artfully modified by himself and some friends (Kit Bashers). Larry spent the day talking with the collectors and capturing the day on film which I am sure we will all see in upcoming issues. Thanks to Larry and his wife Robin for making a long, long journey from South Dakota for the day and adding another element to Code 3 Day at PTH.

Larry Phillips checks out the new ALF 900 Series on my computer.

Modified Code 3 models built by Mike Gilbert, CT; Mike Adams, UT;
Marty Pagio, FL; and Larry Phillips, ND.

Get those orders in for the Fire Expo model as we will have another release shortly, a real must have for your collection!

John H. Dunkel

PAST TIME HOBBIES SPECIAL EDITION 2009

Available exclusively from PAST TIME HOBBIES

NOW SHIPPING

1/64th PROGRESS, PA ENGINE 321 MACK C PUMPER

Engine 321 of the Progress, PA Fire Department has been an often requested model by Collectors and we have finally answered the call. This beautiful Mack model is a must have for your collection. The motto of the Progress, Pennsylvania Fire Department is OFTEN IMITATED NEVER DUPLICATED. That is until now with this new replica of the Engine 321 from the Progress Department joining the long list of replicas from Code 3 Collectibles as a companion piece the Ladder from Progress may soon join the engine in 64th scale.

Over the years of its existence, the Progress Fire Company has always done commendable work as a Firefighting unit in and around the community it serves. The members have always maintained good equipment and as trend and times demanded, new and additional equipment was added so that at present time the Company is one of the best manned and best equipped Firefighting organizations in the Central Pennsylvania area.

NOW SHIPPING

1/64th OLD GLORY Flag Set

NOTE: Truck not included

This latest release from Code 3 is intended to enhance your entire collection.  Fire Departments around the country mount the American Flag in an expression of Patriotism and a sense of service to the American people they serve in their communities.  Now you can add Old Glory to your rigs too. In three styles, Full Furl, Flutter and Parade Rest the flags are rendered in 1/64th Scale and can be mounted wherever you want to display it.  12 Flags per set so you can decorate numerous models in your collection.

NOW SHIPPING

1/64th COMMEMORATIVE EDITION FDNY CHIEF CASSANO ENGINE 31 MACK CF PUMPER

Edition size:  2500

Scale:  1/64th

Size:  5”L X 1.5”W X  2”H

Release date:  October 2009

In retrospect, November of 1969 provided a variety of historical footnotes: Elvis Presley returned to the top of the music charts with the hit song Suspicious Minds, on the 19th, Apollo 12 would land on the moon as the second manned mission to the surface, and the conflict in Viet Nam was still very much undecided.

Another footnote to this 40th anniversary year of 1969 had to do with Salvatore Cassano, a young U.S. Army Veteran, who was appointed as a New York City Firefighter and instructed to report to the Division of training. Upon graduating “proby school” Cassano was assigned to Engine Company 31 in Lower Manhattan. January 24th of 1970 was his first day.

At the time, Engine 31 was housed in the quarters of Engine Company 7 and Ladder Company 1 at 100 Duane Street, but was soon relocated to share space with Engine Company 55. A short sprint away, Engine 31 found its home inside 363 Broome Street on February 26, 1970.

The apparatus assigned to Engine Company 31 prior to disbanding, was a 1962 Mack model C95F pumper with a 1000 gpm Waterous pump and a gasoline powered Mack Thermodyne engine. It was delivered to the FDNY on November 14, 1962 and placed in service originally as Engine Company 17 on January 16, 1963. The cost of this pumper was $20,949 and was one of 10 identical Mack pumpers delivered that year. It was replaced at Engine 17 in 1969 and then assigned to Engine Company 257, in Brooklyn, on June 16, 1969. It remained there until 1970 and reassigned to Engine Company 31 on May 19, 1970, replacing a 1954 Mack model 19LS 1000 gpm high-pressure open cab pumper that had been in service as Engine 31 from February 24, 1954 until May 19, 1970. That 1962 Mack remained at Engine 31 until they were disbanded on November 25, 1972 and was then used as a spare for a few years before assignment to the Division of Training on October 10, 1975. It was relinquished on September 13, 1976.

For a good 30 years, Engine 31 operated on 116 Leonard Street until moving, with Water Tower 1, on June 3, 1896, to an ornate new firehouse on the corner of Elm and White Street, Manhattan. Almost a decade later, on December 15, 1905, the official address of this building was changed to 87 Lafayette Street. At that time, it was the biggest and most expensive of all FDNY fire stations with  an exterior resembling an ancient castle, the interior constructed of Italian marble.

Now Shipping

FLAG WAVING TIME!

The NEW PATRIOT SERIES MODEL from IONA MCGREGOR, FLORIDA

The Iona McGregor Engine 260 is a replica of the Sutphen Monarch.
This 2006 model has a Hale Pump with a 1500 GPM capability & 750 gallon tank along with 30 gallon Foam Tank.
The Cummings ISL 370 Horsepower engine is coupled with an Allison 3060 HD Transmission.
Engine 260 has a Full LED light package.

This model will not be around long!

Don't Let Your Membership Expire.
Renew today for only $10.00 for a 1 year membership.

With a Membership in the Code 3 Collector’s Club you will qualify for:

• Official Membership Card and welcome letter
• Checklist Guide of models recently released
• Pre-order option on all models released
• Early review of new model releases
• Special sale pricing on models
• Members who purchase $400.00 worth of models in a calendar year achieve Gold Status and qualify for 50% discount on shipping.

RENEW TODAY!

NOTICE TO ALL INTERNATIONAL CLUB  MEMBERS

Code 3 values your Membership and support.  However, CODE 3 does not and never has paid for the taxes and duty charges you may incur upon receiving the product.  All duty and taxes are the responsibility of the Collector upon receiving the product.

MORE MODELS IN STOCK AND READY TO SHIP

#12587 1/64 Chicago Fire Dept. Engine 79 ALF Pumper

#12811 1/64 Gettysburg, PA Sutphen Pumper

#12816 1/64 Chicago Ladder 15 - Mack CF Rearmount

#12815 1/64 Hagerstown, MD 1966 Vintage Mack C Pumper

#12806 1/64 2008 Christmas Edition - Yonkers, NY ALF Engine 313

#12874 1/64 Patuxent River Oshkosh Crash T-3000

#12996 1/32 Chicago Luverne Pumper - Diamond Plate

#12996 1/32 FDNY Seagrave Ladder 10

Next update: Friday, October 23, 2009