ICM American Fire Truck Crew 1910s (35622) 1:35

[Mike]

American Fire Truck Crew 1910s (35622)

1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd

 

 

The fire crews in the early 1900s had a lot more work to do than modern crews thanks to the haphazard nascent electric networks of the day, and the probabilities that some of the least well-to-do were still using candle-power or gas to light their way, and coal or log fires to keep themselves warm.  Add to that the fact that a lot of early fire crews were volunteers, and their protective gear was a large shaped leather hat with a wide brim, a thick coat and heavy boots, and it’s largely a thankless task.  They still used to go out risking life and limb whenever the bell rang though, rescuing people and pets wherever they were able.

 

 

This figure set depicts a brave group of four lads doing just that.  Attending a fire in their great-coats, big boots and wide-brimmed hats that were often made of heavily treated leather, and sometimes still are.  They arrive in a small top-opening box with captive inner lid, and inside are three sprues in grey styrene, plus a folded instruction and painting sheet.  There are four figures on the large sprue, with their hats and equipment spread over two small identical sprues to complete the set.  They are all standing, and three are wearing the afore mentioned gear, while another is carrying his hat in one hand and a bedraggled moggie in the other, presumably having just been rescued from the fire.  The other three all have moustaches, and one of them (the men, not the moustaches) is pointing up at something whilst holding his helmet in place, another has a fireman’s axe over his should, and the third is carrying an equally bedraggled child in tattered clothing in his arms, walking away from danger and into the waiting arms of a medical team or his worried parents.

 

The sculpting is up to ICM’s usual high standard, and breakdown is sensible with separate arms, torso, legs and lower tails of their coats that fit over slimmed-down thighs to keep things in scale.  The jackets have crisply moulded brass clasp-type closures, and the helmets have the prominent seams visible where the leather sections of the crown are sewn together, and now I’m wondering how I know this?  I think we can blame TV’s “How It’s Made” for that.  The prominent badges on the front of their helmets are separate with a pointed support piece in addition, as they stand higher than the helmet’s cap, and are again better detailed as a result.  There are two separate “popped” collars too for added detail, the little boy is broken down in a similar manner to the main figures, and even the cat has a separate head to give it a more realistic level of detail.

 

 

Conclusion

Excellent detail throughout, and I suppose that we should say there are six figures in the box if we’re including the boy and the cat.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd.

 

Review sample courtesy of