SSB Resin

1/24 Seagrave Fire Engine

In-Box Review by  Chris Mobley, IPMS# 42891

MSRP: approx $180.00 for the base engine kit. Availability: Contact via email at ssbresins.com, SSBRESINS@AOL.COM, or by phone at (213)-219-8260. Emergency vehicle scale models are a subject normally over looked by plastic kit manufacturers, especially anything modern with the exception of the Trumpeter release last year. There have been some small resin operations here and there but most wind up vanishing due to being over loaded with orders and not being able to supply the demand. According to Jamie Brown with SSB Resin this was something they took into account and did not open for business until they had a large supply on hand. The first offerings include an Engine and a Squad. I will be reviewing the Engine which in the case of the cab parts do cross over to the Squad. The first thing I noticed was how well packed the box was so as to minimize any chance of damage while being shipped. All the major components were individually wrapped and labeled with all the detail parts broke down into small bags located in a larger one depending on what section of the truck they go on. I was happy to see that when they call it a kit, they mean a kit. No donor chassis is needed as it comes with a resin one as well as wheels and tires. The suspension looks to be well done and should be sturdy enough to handle the weight of the completed truck, which is a good bit. There is a bit of room left to further detail from the parts bin though. No engine is included but it looks as if one could be added with a bit of work. The cab is beautifully casted with very nice details. The only flash present was the expected thin bit in the windows which was easily removed with a xacto and only some minor sanding is left. No other flaws with the appearance were noticed. The cab also includes the interior which fits perfectly. Other cab details including steering wheel, seats, bumper assembly and windows are included. The seats have an outline on the backs in case you wish to convert them into SCBA seats.

The pump panel is just amazing in the details. You can almost read the gauges. There is a deck gun included as well as some other detail parts for it.

The rear body comes as one big piece. Just like the cab it is very nicely cast and includes many detail items such as a ladder rack with ladders, hard suction hose, lights and more. The biggest challenge I see all ready is it will be a lot of masking taking place between the red and metal finishes but should be well worth it in the end.

The emergency lights come pre-colored as well as clear with colored rotators. They offer different sets of markings to replicate various FDNY rigs, you will have to get the Chimneyville FDNY set to complete the markings though. The SSB decals do look to be nice and include the station logo typical of FDNY firehouses. There is also an instruction book included that is pretty simple to follow and has several tips on resin construction, including the most important, PATIENCE!

I also received several of the detail items to help spruce up the truck with. The cast hose loads are very nice and include separate end couplings. The firefighter figure is a nice touch and should look great leaned up against the finished truck, might be a good reason for me to learn how to paint figures. There are also some traffic cones available in various stacks. Hoses are available in rolled and laid for bumpers and are great looking.

I should note that while it is not a 100% replica of a FDNY Seagrave, it is close enough that the differences are hard to tell. The only one I can readily tell is the missing Seagrave badge on the grill. In conclusion I am thoroughly impressed by this kit. The detail it has would be just as impressive in plastic. It will turn out to be a huge model that will for sure stand out on the shelf and garner some attention. The price may seem steep but there is a lot of resin and I know from experience that if you were to try and scratch build one similar to this, the time and supplies would be worth the kit cost. Hopefully more can be produced to that will fill the gap in the subject area. Thanks to SSB Resin for the review sample.

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