Prime Pumper

Fire trucks have become so advanced that their inner structures resemble landlocked fighter aircraft. They use a lot of the same materials; hardened aluminum, titanium, and sophisticated castings and extrusions give the giant bodies amazing strength at a weight that allows acceleration and handling better than anything toting this much equipment has ever had before.

TWH sent along this Pierce Quantum pumper, decorated as part of the Seminole County Fire Department, and it’s a beautifully finished piece. The tamped-on and decaled body wears perfectly aligned stripes and flawlessly installed glass; delicate wiper arms are on the windshield, and the Pierce’s beautifully lensed light bezels, brightwork, and extensive diamond plate walkways and boxes are done in a hybrid mix of painted diecast and lavishly chromed cast plastic. The control panel up top looks great, as do the built-on fire axes and grips all over.

A fine, permanent mesh screen covers the hose bed on the rear section, and the ladder carrier tilts to the side; you can pull the sticks off and extend them (oh, go ahead - I won’t tell anyone), and though the doors all over the truck are sealed, you can tilt the big cab forward to see the six-cylinder diesel and Allison trans, as well as the wired-up twin tandem battery boxes. Get an eyeball in close enough, and you can read the “Pierce” that’s been pad printed onto every seat in the cab - now that’s some trick, “extra mile”  stuff.

It’s a great model to walk around, despite its mostly closed design.

TWH Pierce Quantum Pumper “Seminole County”, item TWH081A-01108, $189.95. www.twhcollectibles.com.

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