By: Glenn Morson
Senior Editor
www.FireEngines.net

www.toyfarmer.com

“Toy Trucker has an exclusive agreement to produce a series of K-5 and KB-5 International trucks in 1:16 scale with Die-Cast Promotions. So far we have released versions as a flatbed, grain truck, and wrecker. The new fire truck scheduled for delivery in February is the 4th in this series made on the International truck. Our desire with the fire truck was to replicate an authentic existing vehicle and during the planning stages we literally "discovered" the unit owned by the Coburg Fire District, Oregon” Matt Scheibe.

Click on Photo to Enlarge

The KB-5 International Fire Truck from Highway 61 (Die-Cast Promotions) includes some new features like an all new rear body with a length from nose to tail of over 15.5" long; and weighing in at over 3.5 pounds this is a big model and would be a nice addition to your Ford and Chevrolet Fire pumper. Highway 61 continues to bring the collectors a high standard model, I especially like the attention to detail on the engine; lift the hood to see the all the lead, air intakes, etc. All you under chassis admirers, you will not be disappointed, there is an abundance of detail waiting to be found. As you would expect on a model of this size, the doors open to show a good looking interior with a working steering wheel connected to the posable front wheels and also can you believe this … an opening glove box! Something I also noticed on this model is the opening cowl vent (nice touch). I will have to check the Ford to see if this is exclusive to the KB-5 International model. The paint is a bright rich red faithful to the Fire Truck as it is now, it has is all the graphics, there are clear or colored lenses where appropriate.

Looking over this model again, my only real criticism is and I have mentioned this before about the Ford and Chevrolet, is with the hose bed being just too plain and simple for such a fine model like this, I just wish they would address this issue. Hopefully any new releases from Highway 61 will not have this key part of detail overlooked. Overall the model is a very fine replica of the real truck, looking at photos for comparison. Toy Trucker and Die-Cast Promotions have worked well together in producing the correct body plus adding all the small details like emergency light/siren on top of cab w/red lens; opening doors mounted on realistic hinges; working extension ladder (Nice to see it shorter); realistic hose reel plus a detailed bell, spotlight and fire extinguisher. You will also receive two fire buckets and four mirrors with the model. If you like the larger models and have one or more of the Highway 61 fire pumpers, this is a must and you will not be disappointed when you receive your model. And remember this is an exclusive to The Toy Trucker magazine group and will only be available through them; the price is $70 plus shipping. Go to the Country Store to order this fine replica. The truck will ship February 2006.


All photographs and text are copyrighted material www.fireengines.net and Highway 61 (Die-Cast Promotions) 2006

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