FIRST DUE FIREHOUSE REPLICAS

Website by Andrew Benzie Creative Design.

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 #22:

Los Angeles Fire Department

Engine 51 “LAX”

The twenty-second release of First Due Firehouse Replicas:

LAFD Engine 51

Code 3 produced their first die-cast models in April of 1997. This series consisted of five Seagrave pumpers representing Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Engine Companies 18, 39, 51, 88, and 90. The models were sold through various retail outlets and toy stores and were an immediate hit with collectors. Lime green Engine 51 was the most sought after model—the other four releases were all painted traditional red.

LAFD Fire Station 51 is located directly on the tarmac of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)—the twenty-second release from First Due Firehouse Replicas.

About the Firehouse

LAFD Fire Station 51 is one of three fire stations situated on the property of Los Angeles International Airport, the others being Station 80 (ARFF) and Station 95 (engine/lightforce/hazmat/ ambulance). The building was constructed in 1956 and became Fire Station 51 in 1985.

Since Station 51 and 80 are located within the fenced area of the airport, FAA requirements mandate these apparatus be painted lime green (Engine 51 is the only lime green pumper in LAFD’s fleet). Station 51, 80, and 95 are all part of LAFD’s West Bureau.

LAFD Engine 51 was organized in 1924. Their first firehouse was located at 817 North Steward Avenue and they responded from this location until disbanded in 1967. The company was reorganized in 1985 at the former quarters of Engine 80 at Los Angeles International Airport.

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 LAFD Engine 51 in 1997 (not included with firehouse purchase). Pumper 80 was sold as a set with Engine 18 in May 2000. Code 3 never released a model of Ambulance 51, but they did produce a red LAFD Ambulance 39 which can be converted. A printed sheet of unit numbers is included with the firehouse to assist in converting existing models. Battalion 4 was also an early Code 3 release—although this unit is not quartered at this firehouse, Engine 51 and Ambulance 51 are both part of the 4th Battalion. LAFD’s Bell 412 Air Ops 2 is located at nearby Van Nuys Airport, but we included it here for display purposes.

Engine 51:

• Seagrave (series 1, #02450-0051, 1997)

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.

Engine 80 was first organized in 1941. Their original firehouse was located at 5905 W. Imperial Highway. They moved in to their brand new firehouse at 10435 South Sepulveda Boulevard in 1956. Due to significant growth at the airport, a new larger Fire Station was constructed in 1985 and their previous quarters became Fire Station 51.

fire station 80, 1956

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

Racing Champions produced a 1:64 scale lime green rescue squad representing St. Charles Fire Department in the 1990s. Our First Due Shops converted this to a fictional Squad 51.

Squad 51:

•Ford F-250 (chassis by Racing Champions, #3269SS, 1990s), decals by First Due Shops, 2021)

Air Ops 2:

• Bell 412 Helicopter (#12601-0000, 2001)

Battalion 4:

• GMC Suburban (#12400-0004, 1998)

Ambulance 51:

•Ford E350 (chassis, cab, and body by Code 3, paintwork/decals by First Due Shops, 2021)

Pumper 80 (& Engine 18 Set):

• Crown (#12951, 2000)

Release Date:

• August 2022

Dimensions:

• Base width: 11.5 inches

• Base depth: 14 inches

• Building width: 11.5 inches

• Building depth: 12 inches

• Building height: 4.5 inches

• Height to tip of flagpole: 5.5 inches

Features Included:

•Black base with 2 inch apron in front
•Removable roofs (2)
•Removable apparatus bay door Note: for this one-story apparatus bay firehouse the roof must be removed to remove/insert the bay door.
•Hose drying rack
•Flag/Flagpole
•Printed firehouse fact sheet booklet
•Apparatus re-number sheet (a poster-printed sheet of apparatus numbers you can use to convert existing models into units quartered in this firehouse)

Pricing:

Our introductory price for this firehouse replica is $359 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.

Location:

10435 South Sepulveda Boulevard

Los Angeles, California

Years in Service:

1956-present

Companies Quartered: