review

So far this year, and we are just three months into it, I am very happy with what
has been released, especially from CODE 3 Collectibles. I try to just do reviews
on "new tooling" models but their are a few models from CODE 3 that have
been re-tooled with some very nice detail. I will also review the newly released
FDNY Mack C Pumper that turned out excellent.

The 2nd addition to the CODE 3 "Classic Series" is arriving at collectors front doors and at
your favorite dealers shelves and if you wait to long, this new tooled model will be gone.
FDNY Engine 71 is a Mack C Pumper and CODE 3 will produce 5000 pieces. Every new
tooled model CODE 3 releases has more detail then the one before. If you put it next to
the Crown Pumper, wow what a difference. This classic pumper has very good detail but
the things that really stand out are noted below.

As usual the hose bed is very good but take a look at that Booster Reel. It actually has a
rubber hose that is extends to the rear of the hose bed. This very, very nice addition will
also be on the upcoming Sutphen Pumper. Also included are the grab handles that many
of the older rigs had as standard equipment. With all the detail CODE 3 put on this
release, I thought they could have done a better job with the rear flashers & work lights.
They look very out of place on this model. Other then that, this new release is a winner.

The wheels & tires are the best 1/64th
scale I have seen so far. Check out
that tire, rim & hub. It does not get
better than that in this scale. The
chrome hub cap even has the Mack
logo on it. Very, very nice.

The Kentland Aerialscope was released in January and is a real beauty. If you are a
CODE 3 collector than you should already know all about this release. I think this is
the best Aerialscope release so far. The working end of this tower is the same tooling
as the FDNY with some slight changes but the Cab has some very nice details added
to it that I really think stick out.

Check out the great job CODE 3 did on the Federal Light Bar & mini Bars. I wish
CODE 3 produced the lites this good when they produced the Pierce Towers. The
Federal Q & Mars Light add a lot to this model. I also like the front strobes mounted
under the headlites. Good job CODE 3.

The Plainfield Pierce Dash (Top-Mount) Pumper is the 3rd Tooling version produced for
the popular Pierce Dash Pumper. It was released in Febuary and I really love how far
CODE 3 has come with tooling they are cranking out. Now we have a Pierce Dash
chassis that can be built with:

- Top Mount Pump

- Side Mount Pump

- Roll Up Doors

- Regular Doors

CODE 3 has also added the correct front bumper, front suction w/hose and a Federal Q
mounted on the front of the bumper. As of 6 months ago, we would have seen all the
Pierce Dash Pumpers with the same tooling used on the releases. Now we are seeing
more accurate details like front bumpers, lights and pump panels. I was happy to see
these details added to this release or I would have had to complain about the crew cab
doors being in the wrong spot. Plainfield's doors open on to the pump panel floor, not
the street. Even with that oop's, the Plainfield Pumper is still one of my favorites.

The Mason Pierce Quantum (Quint) Pumper is a re-tooled model that is being shipped
as I write this review. This model uses the old Quantum tooling and CODE 3 has
added a very detailed hose bed (very nice), a ladder rack that actually lowers (again,
very nice), a bunch of work lights and if you didn't notice, a 61' Aerial device that has
some pretty good detail. I really like the paint job, very cool Mason FD. The front end
has a Federal Q and an oversized Roto-Ray.

CODE 3 has updated it's Ford E-350 Ambulance for it's Chicago Fire Department
Ambulance 6 (Stationed with Engine 78) and "what a difference" two red and one
clear strobe on the front of the box make. The question I have is, did we need to what
for CFD Ambulance 6 to be produced for this change to be made to this tooling. Out
of all the CODE 3 Ambulances produced, the CFD A6 is one of my favorites.