c3jeeper's Blog

So, in other words, "Bronto" was to Scott what "Spartan" was to Orlando. Well, thanks for clearing that up, at least. Hopefully we will see some of both, some day.

If they only made one of each type of truck, or one example of each department, they'd have gone under years ago. The departments whose models sell get more models made, which translates into more money for Code 3 to, theoretically at least, use to make more new stuff in the future.

I'd like to have it answered, too. That's why I asked it....LOL!

How about it, Mr. Dunkel? Is (or was?) there a Bronto Skylift in the works?

I'll never understand why everyone gets so "up in arms" about the e-mail version of the Latest News page. It's been a while since I got one via e-mail, but ya know what? I don't care! I read it on Code 3's website, where it gets posted every Friday morning, most likely before the e-mails ever get sent out. The last few e-mail versions I did get never arrived until late afternoon, anyway.

Pictures really don't do that Port Jervis rig justice. While the "unique" design of the body makes it unlikely to be made as a model, I hope that if it ever did happen, they get the actual paint code. It's very interesting....seems to change colors/shades depending on the angle you see it at, or how the light hits it. Looks green one day, teal the next, etc.

I don't know why, but every time this subject comes up ("small" towns), I get a vision in my head of some little podunk backwoods place whose volly department is lucky to crack triple digits on their annual run total, and their apparatus is based on a commercial chassis....or, if it is a custom, it's one of the less-common bodies on either an HME or a low-end Spartan.

Personally, I wouldn't mind a bit if they DID release a Pierce Contender on either a Kenworth or an International chassis. I would like to see that. Others might disagree.

Code 3 has, in the past, released apparatus from "small" towns, and not just the examples cited earlier. Some of it did sell rather well, too. By the same token, they've released a few significant cities that didn't sell much at all. It's hard to gamble as to what will, and what won't go over with the masses from one day to the next, but one thing's for sure.....with the cost of these models today, combined with the cost of living overall, they'd better come up with something pretty special if they want people to fall all over it the way they used to, because "hobby" just doesn't hold a candle to "food on the table" in terms of priorities in many people's lives.

Finally, I know there's only about three people on here who will actually give a shit about my opinion, but this business of giving everything that a certain person writes a "thumbs down" just because you don't like them is really getting OLD in a hurry! It's a good thing the board gives you the option to see a hidden post and decide for yourself, 'cause there's things that got "hidden" before some people even got to see it, and they didn't have to be.

Grow up, people! Don't come crying to me (or anyone) when the board gets shut down again because of this nonsense, 'cause all you'll get is a long and loud chorus of "I told you so!". Go outside and enjoy the nice weather while it lasts, find a second hobby, get a girlfriend....do something. Let the petty BS go!

I like it! A unique color scheme that would stand out in a collection, and the ALF engines seemed to go over pretty well. Any idea who did the body? That might be the only real stumblng block I can see as far as potential production might go...referring to whether or not they currently have licensing/rights to do that manufacturer's equipment. (some ALF rigs have General Safety or RD Murray, etc. for the body)

Not a problem. How's that line go? You learn something new every day.....something like that?

Now, hopefully we can get some insight into the original question....Hey, Mr. Dunkel, do we have a Bronto in the works or what? Inquiring minds want to know! LOL!

Getting back to the original topic, if we may.....

I wouldn't mind seeing some "small" departments done, but keep in mind that it would have to be the kind of truck that they could get some mileage out of the mold by making other departments' rigs with it as well.

I'm not sure what the number is nowadays, adjusted for inflation, etc., but some time ago we were told that the "break even" number of models they need to sell in order for a model to be profitable was 12,000 pieces.

Now, whether that number is accurate, or if it even still applies, I don't know for a fact. But, that's what we were told. So, at 1500 pieces per run, that averages out to 8 releases. Keep that in mind when suggesting future ideas. Can you find 7-8 other trucks that are "reasonably close" to the subject of your idea which you think might go over well based on either the look of it, or where it's from. Somewhat difficult to do, at times, but not impossible.

It's another "one-off" mold which would be a huge gamble for Code 3 to consider. Even if everyone who claims they want to see it all put their money where their collective mouth is and bought it, they'd still be hard-pressed to make this worthwhile. Look at what happened with the Super Pumper. This would be more of the same. The amount of them they'd have to make in order to just break even might not even be worth the effort.

That having been said, if they did do it, I would buy one.

I think two a month is plenty, especially if they're both something I like and want to buy. More than that could get too expensive too quickly. If three or four came out at once, and only one was something I wanted, then it wouldn't matter, but since we've no way of knowing what is coming when (for the most part) it's kind of hard to vote one way or the other.

What do you get for your membership now? They have taken all of the
benefits of the club away. The two latest releases came out in Aug. and
they keep making excuses as to why they have not shipped.

-brunellesm

The crash trucks HAVE SHIPPED! And, for the rest of the "children" who have seen fit to trash my thread with the continued nonsense which will no doubt lead to the demise of this place sooner or later, I very sarcastically say "thank you". :::rolls eyes:::

And yes, as has been mentioned, there really isn't any reason to be a Club member at present, but "JD" (as some of you call him) has said that they will be working to restore that, and I think it would be great if there was a benefit like those I've mentioned above added to the mix.

I remember seeing a photo of it before it was refurbed.
If I can just find it.

-wfd633truck

OCNYFire "had" pics of it pre-refurb. When you click on the new pic for the larger view, it would still open as the old one. I see he has since fixed that. However, one of the "other views" of Hurleyville's new engine still shows as the '67 Seagrave. Wow, talk about a "New product suggestion", there's a CLASSIC that I wish somebody would make! Wish I could have gotten that before Mr. Leider did! Oh well....at least I can "visit" it easy enough.

Sorry for the "off topic" rambling....it's been a long day.

That post was merely the "welcome" to this new forum, made a sticky to keep it at the top and not get lost in the flood of questions that would no doubt follow. Why everyone started replying to it, rather than make their own thread so their question would stick out, I have no idea. Not much that happens around here surprises me anymore.

"JD" did reply to my question about the Pierce mid-mount. Not only that, but he came back and replied to the others who tacked on their non-related questions as replies to my thread as well. I say give him a day or two, and we may see more results.

Much like the aforementioned Pierce mid-mount, there was talk at a recent (last year, I think?) PTH Code 3 Day of a Bronto Skylift. Then-Vice President Scott Schellhase alluded to this model being in the works, and that there were issues with the packaging which prevented it from being released.

Later on, the "excuse" as to why it hadn't been seen yet was that they were having issues with the boom not staying up by itself. This was a while ago as well.

The question: IS there actually a Bronto in production, or is this another "Spartan deal" that never happened?

Those who have been around long enough to recall the "glory days" of the Code 3 Collector's Club will remember the two "reward" programs they used to run as one of the benefits of said club.

First, there was "Rescue Reward" points. For each model you purchased, you were awarded a certain number of "points" based on what type of model it was. These points could be saved up to redeem for a free model, or stockpiled to lead to a higher level of Club membership.

That was eventually scrapped, and replaced with "Loyalty Dollars". For each $200 you spent at Code 3, you were issued a "Loyalty Dollar" worth $10 toward the price of a truck. Again, this could lead to a free model, or saved up for a higher Club status. In my opinion, this was the better way to get ahead in the Club, and it was easier to enjoy the benefits.

The question remains: When (or if) we see the revamped Collector's Club that we keep hearing about, should they choose to revive one of these programs as part of it, which one should it be?

It's too bad that McAfee isn't a more significant department that anyone outside of the immediate area would care about it. They could do a "before" and "after" version of this truck.

I wish they had kept the same theme for the ladder board. Prior to the refurb, under the words "McAfee Fire Dept.", it used to read, "We go to great heights to save your...." and then there was a picture of a donkey/jackass/call it what you will, wearing a blanket with a maltese cross on it. Most people should be able to figure out the joke.

The crash trucks are shipping. The numerous reasons for no other new releases recently have been documented numerous times, both here and elsewhere. I fail to see any other "issues" at stake here except maybe a lack of patience.

Yes, Boston has a couple of Pierce mid-mounts, and they would be fine examples for model consideration....even if the officer's side of the body is somewhat "unique" from all the others.

Orange County NY has many Departments with yellow rigs. Might as well put up
the Monhagens from Middletown NY. I would go for that as well as any of the previously posted rigs.

-rd3trk

Most, if not all, of the "yellow" rigs in Orange Co. are already posted in this thread. Even though most of them are actually SLIME, as are a large number of the others shown. Oh well, I guess if "slime" counts as yellow, then Tokyo Ivory (Eng. 1) does, too.

A 1/32 scale tiller would be nice to see some day, but it has nothing to do with the topic of this thread.

All of my models remain in the domes/boxes that they came in. The main purpose of this is to keep them dust-free. Some day, I hope to have a bigger, better place to live which will enable me to have display cabinets of some sort, and then maybe I'll take them out. But, for now, they'll stay right where they are.

Just curious, how often do you have to dust them to keep them clean?

A year or two ago, during Code 3 Day at Past Time Hobbies, it was mentioned that a Pierce mid-mount tower ladder was "being looked at" as a possible release within the next year or two. Have not heard anything about it since.

The question: Is this particular model actually in the works? And, if so, is there any possible time frame as to how long before we see a release of such?

Commish = The screen name (on the other board) of the person who took the pictures in question. His first name is Don....I've seen his work elsewhere as well.

The flag-muralled Sutphen is from Iona McGregor, Florida.

As for the permission conflict here, a simple "I'm sorry, I didn't think of that. Next time I will know better." would have sufficed quite nicely. The attitude, and subsequent name calling-fest was not called for, and is one of the many reasons why the porn bots are among the most common visitors here.

I don't think Don (Commish) needed permission to post his pics over there, since it was a public setting. And, as was mentioned, John Dunkel was right there. Surely he knew people would do that. If he had a problem with it, he should have said so outright at the start of the event.

c3jeeper, you disagree with the board Pee-Wees? How much do you want to
bet that one of the little turds gives your post a 'thumbs-down?' Why
bother.

-guest

Yeah, I'd be sitting pretty if the WORST thing that ever happened to me was some teenage kid giving a "thumbs down" to a post I made on an internet message board.

You're right, though...."why bother"? No matter how many times it gets explained to them, it usually doesn't do much good in terms of solving the problem.

Pretty sad when we have to use other web sites to see the upcoming releases on Code 3's own site. But I digress.

-greg3564

It's even more sad when the pics are blatantly ripped off from another source, without seeking that individual's permission, but I digress......

And, as for the "porn bots".....they can't read, nor do they discriminate from one post to the next. That's a problem only the board administrators can squash.

They're in a topic on the forums there, not on the main website.

Most of what's pictured, however, is the balance of 2008's lineup.

Is that actually John Dunkel, not logged in, or has one of our pot-stirring "guests" ramped up their spelling and grammar to cause more grief?

If it is, in fact, Mr. Dunkel, I second the "thank you" for taking the time to reply and answer the question.