Review
Code 3 Collectible's
Los Angeles City Fireboat #2
Ralph J. Scott

Reviewed by Larry Lorance




Photo of the Ralph J. Scott displayed in a third party display case



Tower water gun of Scott without tip



Tower Gun of model


Forward view of the Scott without tip


Forward view of the model



Wheelhouse of the Scott


Wheelhouse of model


Mid-ship view of the Scott


Mid-ship view of model


Rear deck guns


Rear of model

Background

The Ralph J. Scott has some special interest for me.  I was born in Los Angeles
and, as a kid,
can remember visiting the Scott

 In 1924 the citizens of Los Angeles approved $40,000 to fund the building of Los Angeles
Fireboat #2, the building to house it and the boat's equipment. 

According to LAFIRE.COM "Los Angeles City No. 2, a state of the art fireboat with many i
nnovations, was built in 1925 at the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. (Todd Shipyard),
San Pedro.  Launched October 20, 1925, the $214,000 fire boat, later renamed Fireboat 2, the
 Ralph J. Scott, originally was gasoline-powered and rated at 10,200 gpm".  The triple screw,
white-painted fireboat was riveted steel construction.  Her length is 99.3", beam 19-feet,
depth of hold 9-feet, 152 gross ton.
She can slide through the water at 14 knots. 
The Scott
could pump 16,688 gallons per minute through some of the biggest water guns
ever using 6 inch tips. 

Fire Boat 2 was commissioned December 2, 1925 and went into service with 14 officers and
crewmen.  The Ralph J. Scott along with 1, 3 and 5 were retired on April 12, 2003.  The Scott
had served the Los Angeles Fired Department well for 78 years and was the oldest piece of
fire active apparatus in the country in service to that day.  Plans are being made to preserve the
boat in a static display, on land, next to Fire Station 112.


The Ralph J. Scott passes command to
the new Fireboat #2 on April 12, 2003
© Glenn Morson


The Ralph J. Scott passes in review
April 12, 2003
© Glenn Morson

Review

This model comes to you securely packed in Styrofoam.  The shipping box is marked
"Los Angeles City Fireboat #2".   A photograph of the model is printed on the box.  The model
itself is wrapped in tissue.   Included in the box are the model, the diorama water display with a very nice looking brass name plate, a serial numbered certificate, and historical information about the boat.  Also included are two brass stands to display the boat without the water diorama.   This is the second issue of Code 3 Collectibles’ Fireboat series.  The first issue of this series is the FDNY Fireboat Marine Company #9, Fire Fighter that was issued in the first quarter of 2003.

The Los Angeles City Fire Department’s (LACFD) Ralph J. Scott is listed on the National Register
of Historic Places, REF. NO. 89001430, and was designated a National Historic Landmark on

6/30/89
In July of 2003, I had the opportunity to visit the boat.  Most equipment had been removed
 for safekeeping.  However, I was able to get some pretty good photos used in this review. 

The Scott is a 1:136 scale, hand cast resin model. Please note that the pieces on this model
are very delicate easily break off when cleaning or handling.  I highly recommend you display
 the model in a, dust free, covered display case. 

After seeing the real boat and Code 3 Collectibles’ model, I am astonished at the job Code 3
Collectibles did depicting the Scott.  There is a vast improvement over the previously released
Fire Fighter.
  It is easy to understand why this boat is so accurate.  Retired LACFD Pilot
Bill Dahlquist served as a consultant to Code 3 Collectibles on this project. Mr. Dahlquist
served on the Scott and has written articles about it for The Grapevine, a monthly
publication
published by the
Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association.

The model is presented exactly the way it was just prior to retirement.  The model, like the
real boat, has five large water guns.  These guns are located 1 forward, 1 above the wheelhouse,
one on the tower, and two aft.  Some of the photos compare the real boat’s water guns and the
model’s.  The model also shows water nozzles that can disperse fire that may be on the water's surface. These were removed from the real boat before I took the photos. 

The accuracy of the forward part of the boat is amazing!  Take a look at the two comparison
photos.  Nothing is missing, including the rope!  The colors are an exact match.  This detail
carries on throughout the model.  The hose reels and covers are an exact duplicate of the
original.

The model’s wheelhouse displays all the deck lighting, port and starboard running lights, and
the decorative
rope work on the railingThe LACFD logo and “Class 1” signs are there
 Inside the wheelhouse is a reasonable depiction of the boat’s control systems. Above the
wheelhouse you see the water gun.  Behind that, again highly detailed, you see the exhaust
stacks, radar, and wench with rescue boat.  You even see the fabric that protects the firefighters
from getting burned when around the stacks. 

Continuing aft is the tower with its massive water gun.  If you look close you will see the ladder
and hatch leading to the gun. Under the tower’s “crows nest” additional deck lighting. 
All these details are seen in both the original and model photos.  Notice the rear stacks on
 the real boat and compare that to the ones on the model; an accurate match!

Aft, are the two water guns, hose reel with cover, and other equipment. 

Nit picking

The water diorama is the better way to display this model.  However the water color looks like it
is better suited floating in the Caribbean rather than the Los Angeles Port Authority. 
With all due respect to Code 3 Collectibles, they are working on this will have a better water
diorama when San Francisco’s Fireboat is released.

Even though the boat was manufactured using rivets, the rivets appear to be protruding more
than they should.      

Conclusion

Code 3 Collectibles has done an OUTSTANDING job of depicting this historical fire apparatus. 
This model is one of my top five Code 3 Collectibles releases and would be a fine addition to any
model fire apparatus or seafarer collector.

The Ralph J. Scott retails for $90.00 and can be purchased from Code 3 Collectibles directly. 
You can connect to their web site by clicking on the icon below.

On a WOW factor of 1 – 5,  I give this model 5 WOWs!

A special thanks to the following individuals:

Frank Borden – Frank is Director of Operations for the Los Angeles Fire Department Historical
Society 

Glenn Morson – Glenn is an avid fire apparatus model collector who recently moved from the 
United Kingdom and now lives in Los Angeles.  Glenn is an amateur photographer that 
specializes in photographs of Los Angeles fire apparatus. To view Glenn's photos Click Here
 
Larry Schneider – Larry is a Captain with the Los Angeles Fire Department and webmaster of
LAFIRE.COM  , the best LAFD historical site on the web.

 


Ralph J. Scott at Retirement
© Glenn Morson

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