N Scale Fire Engines? (No European Models...)

Kisatchie Sep 5, 2022

  1. Kisatchie

    Kisatchie TrainBoard Member

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    Does anyone make an affordable N scale fire engine that's not a European style? Athearn made a nice one, but I read they were discontinued. And the prices are astronomical if you can find one.

    I searched on ebay and didn't see anything that looked right. I also checked Walthers.com, but they didn't have anything either.

    Help!
     
  2. Pfunk

    Pfunk TrainBoard Member

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    if you're willing to paint it, Showcase Miniatures makes some really cool emergency vehicles in N

    I just took a breeze through that infamous auction site just now and saw some that are already finished for a decent price.
     
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  3. Kisatchie

    Kisatchie TrainBoard Member

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    I saw the Showcase fire engine, but I really can't handle assembling an N scale kit :eek:.
     
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  4. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I seem to remember that Model Power and Bachmann I believe made N scale fire trucks.
     
  5. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    Kiz,

    On December 28, 2020 Athearn announced another run of their canopy cab Ford C fire trucks. Athearn's "updated" website is terrible for finding N scale models, but you can see the announcement by going to the N Scale Vehicle Association's Industry News page, and scrolling down a bit.

    https://nscalevehicles.org/news.php

    While the original ETA was December 2021, Athearn has been running a year or more behind in getting product released, so you might be able to find a dealer that will still be able to pre-order one for you.

    I finally found them on Athearn's website, but it is only showing three of the six models that were announced on 12/28/2020. o_O

    http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=FordC+Fire&CatID=TNV

    Carter
     
  6. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    John,

    Yes, Bachmann did make an American LaFrance pumper which can be upgraded into a very nice looking model. You can see the results of Daniel Leavitt's upgrades/kitbashes in the NSVA's Photo Gallery 3. https://nscalevehicles.org/galleries/3/gallery_3.php

    Also, my much less impressive attempt to kitbash the Bachmann pumper body to an Atlas L-9000 can be found here: https://nscalevehicles.org/tips_n_tricks/atlas_ford_lnt9000.php

    I plan to replace the Busch light bar on the L-9000 with the River Point Station light bar as shown below on a RPS F-250.

    [​IMG]

    Carter
     
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  7. nscalestation

    nscalestation TrainBoard Supporter

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    There have been a few cast resin fire engines in N scale over the years, don't know about current availability. Assembly of those is quite simple, but they do require painting.
     
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  8. Pfunk

    Pfunk TrainBoard Member

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    If all else fails, there is a shop on Etsy that finishes the N scale Showcase emergency vehicles with full paint, flashing LEDs, the whole package. Of course, they're like $150-200, at which point I would have already just swallowed it and bought the Athearn you wanted to begin with for about 1/3 of that and called it a day, but hey - is an option :ROFLMAO:

    To be fair, they are really well done. https://www.etsy.com/shop/HuckleberryNScaleLED?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=949451390
     
  9. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Good find! You can order directly from his site https://drewho.wixsite.com/ for better prices. Like Kis I have been searching high and low for a good american fire truck and considered getting the showcase miniatures model and building my own. But with all the lights and time it would take me to do something similar this may be worth the extra money just to have it ready to go. Lot's of other cool lighted subjects as well.
     
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  10. Pfunk

    Pfunk TrainBoard Member

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    have had the utility boom truck dog-eared since last fall, I just can't bring myself to do it. If I was doing a N or T-trak module - esp for a show - the decision would be easy, but too many other things to spend that kind of cheddar on first for me. Like I said, they are really well done, I'm just poor!
     
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  11. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, it make sense to get all the big stuff for your layout in hand before worrying about the flair anyways. I've been slowly collecting and planning my next layout for over 15 years and am at the point where I can consider these smaller things. Still the showcase miniatures base price is kinda high for a lot of their models. I can buy a 1/24 plastic model kit for the same price lol. The ladder truck alone is $50:eek:

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Hoghead2

    Hoghead2 TrainBoard Member

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    Yep, the Athearn C Cab rocks.
    Don't forget GHQ's offerings, I built a LaFrance Ladder truck for an amigo recently. Here it is on it's way to him from the works!! ladder1.jpg
     
  13. Pfunk

    Pfunk TrainBoard Member

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    I saw that one when I was looking about - the GHQ is almost identical to the Athearn to me but Kiz had already said he didn't want to put together a kit. I have mad respect for anyone who can paint one of those, mine would look like a dog that chewed on lipstick. Looks great!
     
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  14. Hoghead2

    Hoghead2 TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks-but it's only rattle can paint for automotive markets. Prime in white for red /yellow hi vis paint and it should pop. Microscale decals help it too.
    That Athearn C Cab Ford is worth tracking down
    IMG_20210628_164902.jpg
     
  15. Mopac3092

    Mopac3092 TrainBoard Member

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  16. brokemoto

    brokemoto TrainBoard Member

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    No one sells N scale fire equipment for the era that fits my smaller pike, so I had to bash it.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  17. Pfunk

    Pfunk TrainBoard Member

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  18. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    An American LaFrance 900 was considered a lot classier than something mounted on a Ford chassis.

    They were introduced in 1959 and produced for nearly thirty years.
     
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