Chicago Fire Department Engine 17

If your interests in fire trucks comes from the movies, or from work. This truck is one of the most recognisable fire trucks from the movies, and one of the highest detailed trucks I have seen. From the ladders and hoses, at the rear of the truck, to the fine details on the cab, this is a fire truck to be in anyone's collection. Another great model produced by Fire Replicas. 10/10

Great model of a classic. The Chicago WLF was a good choice to pick. With the hose lay on the front pumper to the unique placement of the hard suction on the roof. It should be a sure sell out.

Amazing detail. Best looking replica I have seen in a long time.

This truck is an absolute masterpiece! The red glistens exactly like real fire trucks do when the rest in there bays awaiting the next call. The stainless steel etched parts shine true. Cabinet and door lines are so crisp I keep trying to open them. Everything about this piece is terrific. I did not give it 5 stars only because there’s always room for improvement. Two things I see missing that would attract that 5th star would be the Engine co. 17 flag to go on top of the pump panel and the IH tiller truck that was it’s earlier stablemate. (Hint Hint) I do hope we continue to see more classic pieces from Fire Replicas’s, they really are museum quality.

Late in 1970 Ward LaFrance built seven 2000/500 engines on a Ambassador cab for Chicago, each division in the city received one of the large engines. With the 2000 GPM they could supply more lines and carried 3.5 inch boat hose. With these rigs you tried not to hook a 2nd engine to the hydrate so they could draw as much water as needed. The rigs carried shop numbers D372 through D377 and were assigned to Engines 8, 22, 49, 73, 106, 113, and 129. These rigs ran front line from 71 to the mid 80’s and became shop spares. In 1990 these engines were refurbished by Able Fire Equipment using a Ranger Glider 4 door cab and the rear compartments were E-one. Able was the E-one dealer in the Chicago area. Only 6 of the 7 were refurbished, two of these were used for the filming of Backdraft (D374 and D375). After the engines were refurbished they were assigned to Engines 122, 69, 113, 46, 14, and 34. Engine 69 and 113 would have been used for both Engine 51, and 17 shots in the movie. The engines continued in service for a few years. Engine 34 lasted the longest until 1998. The unquie look of the Hard Suctions mounted on the roof. The LDH on the front bumper and a well packed hose bed. These engines carried 1000 feet of LDH because of the strength of the chassis. The back LDH ports are highly detailed as well as the pump panels, and yes a speaker and hand held radio phone which were on the engines back in the 70’s so the engineer knew when to send the water. The stainless steel ladders are just outstanding looking. The prepiped deck gun stands ready for use. The Chicago hand pump sits on the rear step. On the officers side the ladder to get up to the crows nest to get the hard suctions when needed or to climb up and pack the I.5 hand cross-lays. It’s great to see the older trucks being replicated since you can see more details of the hose beds, pump panels etc. I am glad I got both 17 and 113.

Chicago’s Ward LaFrance/E-One Ranger pumpers are a great choice by Fire Replicas to add to their classics collection. When Ward LaFrance introduced these pumpers they became instantly recognizable and were the first true modern cab configuration with large, wide cab. They were so well known they were heavily used in the super 1970’s TV series that featured LA County Firefighters & Paramedics. Specific to the Chicago version as modeled by Fire Replicas - These pumpers went into Chicago Fire service in 1970 and were rebuilt in 1990 to the configuration modeled by Fire Replicas. The Chicago FD used a number of these pumpers including E113. E17 was made famous in the early 1990’s by a certain fantastic movie about the Chicago Fire Department. Fire Replicas has done a fantastic job of replicating these great pumpers. The black over red paint looks great and the graphics are well done. The etched pump panel and cab grill look authentic. The hard suction on the cab roof looks cool and the ground ladder and deck gun are faithfully reproduced. As always, the fit and finish are flawless. Another winner from Fire Replicas. E113 sold out extremely rapidly, so you shouldn’t wait too long before purchasing E17.