On February 3, 2015, I emailed a new model company called Fire Replicas and pitched the idea of them producing a model of Meriden, CT's Engine 3, a 2010 Seagrave Marauder II pumper. This is one of my hometown fire department's newest rigs, and one that is near and dear to my heart as I had played a very small role in the process of purchasing this rig, am an honorary member of their company, and am fortunate enough to have my name on the dedication plaque on the rig. Having worked with the now defunct Code 3 Collectibles, I had a pretty good idea of the process of creating a model, and was hopeful that this new company would like Engine 3 enough to think it worthy of inclusion in their line-up. Nicholas Neumann immediately got back to me with interest in producing this model and we set out to obtain licensing from Seagrave, which was easily received. I provided him with over 300 photographs of every visible part of the rig, 45 different Pantone color references, the actual plans from Seagrave, and 22 months later it is finally available.

So how did they do? In a word - OUTSTANDING!!! Admittedly I am extremely biased, but Fire Replicas did not miss a trick and captured every detail of Engine 3 with pinpoint accuracy. I never got any sense that any shortcut would be taken and I was not wrong. If it's on the real Engine 3 then it's on this model, from the Seagrave Dark Red and Silver Blue paint down to the tiniest details on the pump panel, it's all there.

I am very proud of this model and extremely grateful to Nicholas for putting it into production. The pre-production model was even featured in our local newspaper, and several city residents who've never purchased any type of scale model before bought this one because of the pride they have in their city and the affinity they have for our fire department. This is one of seven Fire Replicas models that I have purchased and each one is a testament to what can be produced when a company takes no shortcuts and captures every detail. Their models are worth every penny of their cost and I hope Engine 3 sells well enough so that other Meriden and/or Connecticut apparatus models are considered for future production. My camera is ready!