FIRST DUE FIREHOUSE REPLICAS

About the Owner/Designer/Builder/Author

Andrew Benzie began collecting model emergency vehicles in the 1970s when his grandparents gave him his first Corgi and Dinky toy fire engines. He has an extensive collection and knowledge of Code 3 models, and has published three books on Conrad, Siku, and Tomica emergency vehicles. Andrew currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area where he runs a design and book publishing company, and plays bass and drums with several local bands.

First Due Firehouse Replicas

Release #31:

Chicago Fire Department

Engine 18

“Devil Dogs”

The thirty-first release of First Due Firehouse Replicas:

Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 18

Code 3 produced a replica of Chicago Fire Department Engine 18 in August of 2001. Several other versions of this famous engine company have also been replicated over the years.

Chicago’s original Engine 18 firehouse protected the residents of  the Near West Side for 135 years—the thirty-first release from First Due Firehouse Replicas.

About the Firehouse

Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 18 quarters was the first firehouse built after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It was constructed in 1872 and opened in 1873. Engine 18 moved into the building in 1873 and remained here for the next 135 years.

The rear area of the building was designed to house the horses and the front was used to store the wagons. The second floor included offices and living quarters for the men—each room was equipped with a fire pole for quick access to the lower level.

About the Replica

First Due Firehouse Replicas goes to great lengths to capture as much accuracy and detail as possible within each model we produce. Once the research is completed and a firehouse is chosen to replicate, the process involves taking photographs, creating an architectural building plan, assembling and editing the photos to digital 1:64 scale artwork, printing the artwork on glossy poster-quality paper and mounting the prints to foam-core board. Next the walls are cut out using a professional-quality mat cutter (to achieve 45° angle cuts for joins), and each model is then assembled by hand. Additional exterior details are added including air conditioning units, railings, exhaust vents, etc. Finally, remaining small details are hand-painted, the custom-built apparatus bay doors are installed and the raising of the flag completes each firehouse replica.

Fore more information about this product, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page. If have any further questions, please Contact Us.

Code 3 produced a replica of Chicago Fire Department Engine 18 in 2001 (not included with firehouse purchase). This special release was produced for Past Time Hobbies, a hobby shop which was located just outside of Chicago in Brookfield, Illinois.

Engine 18:

1. •Mack C (Code 3 special Past Time Hobbies release #12348, 2001)

About the Apparatus

How to Order

You may Place an Order for any of our products online. Once we receive your order we will contact you via email with more information about availability, payment, shipping costs, etc.

About Us     Firehouse Replicas     Custom Models     Fleet Services     FAQ     Contact/Order

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About Us     Firehouse Replicas     Custom Models     Fleet Services     FAQ     Contact/Order

Corgi Classics produced a model of Chicago Fire Department’s Mack CF Engine 18 in 1993. Note: This 1:50 scale model doesn’t quite fit through the apparatus bay doors of the firehouse replica.

Engine 18:

1. •Mack CF (Corgi Classics #98484, 1993)

Location:

1123 West Roosevelt Road

Chicago, Illinois

Years in Service:

1873–2008

Companies Quartered:

1. •Engine 18 (organized 1872, quartered 1873–2008)

Release Date:

• April 2023

Dimensions:

• Base width: 8.5 inches

• Base depth: 12 inches

• Building width: 8.5 inches

• Building depth: 10 inches

• Building height: 8 inches

Features Included:

1. •Black base with 2 inch apron in front
   

2. •Removable roof
   

3. •Working apparatus bay doors (slide them into any position with the touch of a finger)
   

4. •Flags/Flagpoles
   

5. •Printed firehouse fact sheet booklet
   

Pricing:

Our introductory price for this firehouse replica is $339 plus shipping (Note: the models of the apparatus are not included). The price covers the cost of the photo-quality prints (starting at about $50), the building materials (various paper, foam, plastic, wood and metal products), and around eight hours of time to construct (not including the many hours of preparatory research and design time spent to create each prototype model). Note: We create each or our replicas by hand—this is NOT a 3D printed or laser cut model.

On August 2, 2008, Mayor Richard M. Daley cut the ribbon for a new Engine Company 18 firehouse located two blocks away from the old firehouse location. Engine 18s new quarters is a fan favorite as it is the firehouse used to film the exterior shots of the Chicago Fire television series. Along with Engine 18, the units currently quartered at this 1.5 acre 16,000 square foot facility include Ambulance 65, District Chief 2-1-21, Deputy District Chief 2-2-1, and High-Rise Unit 6-4-16.

The building is now home to the Firehouse Community Art Studio (www.firehouseartstudio.com)—a gathering place to celebrate life, community and art in Chicago’s oldest firehouse. This organization provides a diverse range of art classes with a focus on pottery and ceramics for all ages and skill levels. During the renovation process great care was taken to preserve the central staircase, tin ceiling, hose drying tower, kitchen, horse corridor, and the original telegraph stand. Throughout the building, nothing historical was removed or altered, including the same fire poles that firefighters slid down for over 135 years.

Corgi Fire Heroes produced a model of Chicago Fire Department’s GMC Engine 18 in 2002.

Engine 18:

1. •GMC (Corgi Fire Heroes #CS90009, 2002)

Racing Champions produced a model of a Buick Riviera lettered for a Chicago Fire Marshal in 1998. This special release was only sold at Target stores.

Fire Marshal 3rd Division:

1. •Buick Riviera (Racing Champions Fire & Rescue Series, #2T, 1998)

In 1916 the front facade was redesigned and recessed making room for the widening of Roosevelt Road. At this time the rear of the building was also expanded, the floors were reinforced, and the overhead doors were enlarged to make room for a new era of fire trucks which would soon replace the horses and wagons. This was the only major alteration in the building’s lengthy history—most of the original features remain in tact.

In the 1950s the entire surrounding city block was leveled and replaced with public housing high-rise apartments. Due to its central location, the firehouse became a community gathering place for the entire neighborhood. The building became even more popular with the city’s addition of a public swimming pool behind the firehouse. 

Chicago Fire Departments Engine 18 responding early 1900s