(Pics) 1939 American LaFrance

I did not realize they made 1/43 scale fire trucks. Do you have any others? Model looks good. Thanks for pictures.

Thanks, Ed ! Yat Ming made 1/24 and especially, 1/43 firetruck diecast replicas and I have some other YM 1/43 firetrucks that I will get some pictures up. They are all really well done.

@ed-davis

@frank 

Looks good.

These fire trucks from Yatming were (and still are) great value for the money. There’s no resale value to them, but who cares!

@mikedetorrice Mike, wonderful images of this amazing fire appliance. I have seen examples up close in a model shop which closed a quite a few years ago. In fact the whole shopping centre (mall) shut down shortly afterwards and this was before Covid!

Am I right in thinking that the last photo has Lemax Christmas decoration buildings as a backdrop? Just seen a whole display of these recently at a garden centre. Always tempted to purchase one but never sure of the scale and if they could they be used for 1:43rd scale models. 

Posted by: @randyrusk

These fire trucks from Yatming were (and still are) great value for the money. There’s no resale value to them, but who cares!

You are right ! They are a great value, Randy, and I just get models I like regardless of what they are considered to be worth later, so I am ok !  

Posted by: @chris-sweetman

.................. Am I right in thinking that the last photo has Lemax Christmas decoration buildings as a backdrop? Just seen a whole display of these recently at a garden centre. Always tempted to purchase one but never sure of the scale and if they could they be used for 1:43rd scale models. 

Thanks, Chris. Yes, you are exactly right, those are Lemax Christmas decoration buildings/objects that can be found during Christmas and the winter holidays. Many of them are quite usable scales for 1/43 type set-ups and for photographs.

I have several more that I used and they will be showing up from time to time in 1/43 images. They many times include an internal light, too.  

And here's a few more.  Also known as Signature Series.  The fire chief car is by Americom.

@chris-sweetman 

When thinking about using Lemax or Department 56 buildings for a diorama, check the size of the building doors for the scale of vehicles you want to show. I once used some Department 56 buildings with my 1/64 scale train layout. I chose ones where door sizes looked ok, plus overall size was good for this scale. If using these buildings with 1/43 scale cars, they will often work ok, if not real close to the cars.  If too close, the cars may look too large relative to the building. 

Using placement and or photographic techniques, many Lemax and other buildings and props can work in many cases. And, of course, regardless of supposed actual size, they can add to a scene in any event.  

Thanks @ed-davis Ed and @mikedetorrice Mike for your advice and next time I will take a 1:43rd scale car and figure with me to facilitate my decision making when selecting a Lemax building. Mike, I just love the lights and if possible one with this feature will be highly desirable.  

You are welcome, Chris ! I will look forward to any ideas, set-ups or images that you consider.

Also, in the second image with the billboard, it is actually a Lemax item with a printed General Tire image taped in place of the usual Christmas-themed scene to produce a more applicable advertising sign. 

@mikedetorrice Mike, I will try and create a scene, thanks for your ideas and for pointing out that the advertising sign is a Lemax Christmas decoration I would never have guessed. 

Thanks and you are welcome, Chris ! The Lemax items are more available this time of year and can prove to be most useful in scenes ...... either "for real" or photographically.