According to KCFD Deputy Chief Brad Humston "Apparatus 3501 was purchased from Conrad Fire Equipment in October 2002. It is an Emergency One rear-mount 95 foot, all aluminum, aerial platform. The body is a Cyclone II model. It came with a 2000 gpm pump. The apparatus has a 1025 lb. rated capacity that allows for 3 firefighters in the basket with plenty of equipment. With a 2.5 to 1 safety margin, it exceeds the NFPA 1901 structural safety requirement".  Chief Humston also said  "The apparatus has been housed at Station 30 located in southern Kansas City. It is scheduled to be relocated in our newest fire station, Station 36, when it opens late this year. The apparatus was recently involved in a shooting incident and received extensive damage to the body and aerial. All components have been repaired and the vehicle was inspected by E-One and 3rd-party engineers before returning to service".

A Review

"The model is an exact replica of the actual rig.  The model could not be more precise.  I am very proud to have it in the Code 3 collection as well as my own."  ... KCFD Deputy  Chief Brad Humston

I always try and collect a model emergency vehicle from everyplace I've lived.  So far I have Los Angeles, Denver, Plano, and Dallas. Needless to say, I could not wait until Code 3 Collectibles released it's first model from the state of Missouri: Truck 15 from the Kansas City, Mo. Fire Department. 

I noticed Code 3 Collectibles has corrected what I considered to be a packaging flaw. When they switched to the clear plastic display case with the black base, they failed to latch the bottom to the top.  This configuration resulted in a number of "apparatus accidents".  The plastic display case now has a locking device on both ends. The case can no longer come apart. For some of us, this feature may be trivial. However, all it takes is once for a model to drop from the bottom of the display case and you will appreciate this new feature. The model comes nicely packed. There are more doodads to securely hold the model in the display case than I expected. I recommend reading the instructions on how to disconnect the doodads though!

This limited edition (3,000) E-OneŽ 1:64 scale truck measures 9 inches long, 2 1/2 inches tall, and 1 1/2 inches wide.  It comes with a clear plastic display case with the words "KANSAS CITY E-ONE TRUCK 15" stamped in gold at the base of the case. Like all new releases, the model can easily be removed from the display case by twisting three locking pins.  On a personal note, I think displaying this particular model in the display case adds to it's beauty.

Deputy Chief Humston work with  Code 3 Collectibles on this model.  He says "They were a delight to work with"

The very first thing I noticed was what a great job they did on reproducing the truck's fully extendable  ladder. The colors, foot tick marks, compressed air bottles, and hydraulics' are all perfect. For the first time, I noticed a angle indicator on the ladder. The truck's bucket even has three hose rolls inside of it and you can even see the detail on the bucket's control panel. Code 3 Collectibles did a remarkable job hiding the hardware that allows this ladder to be fully functional. What really stands out is the truck's ladder board that reads "KCFD Truck 15". There is a vast improvement over previous releases.

Working our way around the model.....

This is a new mold from Code 3 Collectibles.  If Truck 15 is any indication of future fire department releases using this mold, then collectors really have a winner on their shelves!

From the very beginning, Code 3 Collectibles has excelled with their pad printed graphics and Truck 15 is no exception. The authentic graphics are crystal clear. This includes what has to be the smallest graphic ever printed by Code 3 Collectibles (see photo below).  At first I thought it was a hole, about the size of a pinhead,  in the driver's side door.  Maybe where a spotlight or mirror was suppose there.   However, it turns out to be a very small memorial ribbon with a gold background which is placed on every E-One apparatus post 9-11.   Just another example of the high quality graphics displayed on these models.

The lights on the front of the model are all clear,  textured,  colored plastic and not painted like previous ladder releases. The Q2 siren even has a grill. Either side of the bumper have simulated strobe lights that are painted.  The front of the model sport authentic markings including the cities equipment number 3501. 

Working our way down the officer's side....

Truck 15 has working stabilizers! 

The hose panel is highly detailed, including all markings.  The detailed hose connections are no longer part of the mold, they are separate molds and glued to the hose panel.  I took a magnifying glass and could read all the wording on the hose panel; amazing!  Again, I keep going back to the coloring, Code 3 Collectibles did a superb job matching the original truck's panel color.  The compartments are flawless. 

Truck 15 has two portable lights, one on either side on the truck.  I was disappointed the lights did not have a clear lens.  However, Code 3 Collectibles uses a reflective paint in the back of these lights.  For those of you who already have this truck, take a magnifying glass and look at the light.  Now this is really cool!
 

The rear of the truck, like the front, uses clear plastic lens.  This includes the red and blue emergency lights.  For the emergency lights that are to small to mold, they are pad painted. You can easily see the E-One logo and other graphics.  The tow rings are even there.

On the Driver's Side....

The pump panel is a real standout!  Again, like the hose panel, you can read the lettering on the pad printed graphics.  The hose connections are not part of the mold but separate molds glued to the panel.  There is one hose connected the the panel that leads to the hose bed.  You can see the real attention to detail!  There is a difference between the panel on the real truck and the model. 

The hose bed itself sports ten foam containers and weathered hose.  For those of you new to collecting, there was a time that Code 3 Collectibles did not mold weathered hose to their models.  If I had to single out what single innovation improves the appearance of Code 3 Collectibles models this would have to be it!

Bringing it Back to the House....

They call Missouri the "Show Me State", will Code 3 Collectibles "showed me" they can produce a highly detailed and  accurate model of the KCFD Truck 15.  I have been collecting Code 3 Collectibles from the very beginning.  Many of us remember the Series One Seagrave releases, with their toy like qualities. That was then and this is now. Again, Code 3 Collectibles has outdone themselves. Without exception, the KCFD Truck 15 displays the greatest  detail of any 1:64 scale model in my 100 plus model collection. I continued to be amazed at the detail they build into their new releases.  Great job!!

On a WOW factor of 1 - 5,  I give the Code 3 Collectibles KCFD Truck 15 a 4.5!

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