Yat Ming 1941 GMC Fire Truck

In 1941, GMC produced a fire truck by modifying its one-and-a-half Ton Commercial Cab & Classic. It was powered by a 228 CID, OHV, cast-iron block, single-barrel carburetor, straight six, which made 93 HP. Among its features were a federal signal rotating beacon, ladder, hoses, and hand-held CO2 hand extinguishers for suppression of chemical fires. Unlike larger, specialized, hose, and ladder trucks, this little workhorse was basically a multi-task vehicle.

Leaving the high-priced images to the precision die cast mints, Yat Ming has been quietly producing lower-priced items with high-quality features. Their image of the 1941 GMC fire truck is a case in point. First, the overall look is sharp, with a flawless finish (with beautiful pinstriping) and gleaming chrome parts. Undercarriage detailing is above average for an image of this price, as is the detailing topside. The seat’s done in soft plastic and the metal, non-skid decking is beautifully rendered. The gauges are of the cheesy, decal ilk, however, so no points here. Under the hood, the engine, though it has plug wires (with little boots, no less!), is somewhat simplistic. They say the “devil is in the details,” and a basket load of details is where this image really shines. There are two hose reels—one works, the other is fixed. There’s the aforementioned rotating beacon, a movable searchlight, rear work lights, fender-mounted siren, a ladder, a pike, and TEN individual fire extinguishers (with legible labels) to be mounted in brackets on the fire truck’s deck. There are also a surprising number of individual chromed detailing parts on the bodywork. In fact, the chrome plating on this image is among the best I’ve seen on any image. This kind of quality, combined with the numerous extras, works to achieve an image that belies its moderate cost. It makes you wonder what line must be crossed for an image to be considered a “precision” image.

Whether you’re a fireman, or simply a collector who appreciates a sharp-looking image, this 1:24 scale fire truck fills the bill. In my humble opinion, Yat Ming is establishing a reputation for quality at the right price. Good for them—and us.

-Tom Pine