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 #21:

San Francisco Fire Department

Engine 3/Truck 3

The twenty-first release of First Due Firehouse Replicas:

San Francisco Fire Department’s Engine 3/Truck 3

Code 3 produced a detailed replica of San Francisco Fire Department’s Engine 3, an American LaFrance Eagle pumper, in 2007. They also replicated an American LaFrance 900 series tiller truck for SFFD Truck 4, the same model operated by Truck 3. These companies based in the Tenderloin District are consistently two of the busiest in the nation—the twenty-first release from First Due Firehouse Replicas.

About the Firehouse

Engine/Truck 3’s three story firehouse is located at 1067 Post Street and was constructed in 1974. For many years Engine 3 was in the 9,000-10,000 calls per year range but the advent of medical outreach teams has helped to soften the call load. The area is densely populated with many large hotels and apartment buildings, along with a large homeless population on the streets.

Engine Company 3 was established December 3rd 1866 and was first assigned to Sutter Street (south side) between Jones and Leavenworth Streets, the former quarters of Volunteer Engine Co. No. 7. In 1872 the company was relocated to 1632 14th Avenue South (Oakdale Avenue), the former quarters of the South San Francisco Volunteer Fire Department.

Truck 3 was established in 1874 and was originally assigned to the quarters of Hose Co. No. 5 at 1421 Market Street. Both Engine and Truck 3’s quarters were destroyed in the earthquake and fire of 1906.

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 San Francisco Fire Department’s Engine 3, an American LaFrance Eagle pumper, in 2007 (not included with firehouse purchase). They also replicated an American LaFrance 900 series tiller truck for SFFD Truck 4, the same model operated by Truck 3. A printed sheet of unit numbers is included with the firehouse to assist in converting existing models.

Engine 3:

• American LaFrance Eagle (#12145, 2007)

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.

Location:

1067 Post Street

San Francisco, California

Years in Service:

1974-present

Companies Quartered:

1. •Engine 3 (organized 1866, quartered 1974–present)
   

2. •Truck 3 (organized 1874, quartered 1974–present)
   

Video:

San Francisco FD Engine 3 goes on an EMS run (code 3 response, 2019)

San Francisco FD Truck 3 goes on a run Code 3 (code 3 response, 2019)

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

Join our Facebook Group where you can learn about upcoming releases and share photos of your own models.

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

Release Date:

• July 2022

Dimensions:

• Base width: 6 inches

• Base depth: 13 inches

• Building width: 6 inches

• Building depth: 12 inches

• Building height: 7 inches

• Height to tip of flagpole: 10.5 inches

Features Included:

1. •Black base with 2 inch apron in front
   

2. •Removable roof
   

3. •Working main apparatus bay door (slide it into any position with the touch of a finger)
   

4. •Flag/Flagpole
   

5. •Printed firehouse fact sheet booklet
   

6. •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 $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.

Truck 3:

• American LaFrance 900 Series Tiller Truck (#13055, 2010)

The San Francisco Fire Department maintains 48 Engine Companies, 20 Truck Companies, 2 Rescue Squads and 3 Fireboats. There are 48 fire stations including 3 at San Francisco International Airport. Engine and Truck 3 are part of the 4th Battalion/3rd Division.