November issue: Diecast Model of the Month - AEC Regent III/Merryweather - London Fire Brigade

Oxford Diecast
AEC Regent III/Merryweather - London Fire Brigade
PRICE: £11.95 LIMIT: NOT SPECIFIED SCALE: 1/76 REF NO: 76REG001

This was the first diesel-engined fire appliance built after the war, based on an AEC Regent bus chassis built at Maudslay’s Coventry works and bodied by Park Royal, before being equipped by Merryweather.

It could carry 100 gallons of water and its mid-mounted pump could move 1000 gallons a minute. 139 examples were built between 1950 and 1956, with 62 going to the London Fire Brigade.  Of the total, 111 were pump escapes, equipped with a wheeled escape ladder, while the others were known as major pumps, with a 35ft extension ladder. Fire brigades usually bought these vehicles in pairs with both options.

With this in mind, Oxford has supplied the model with both types of ladder, so it can be displayed in either format, along with the other smaller ladders fixed on the vehicle. All the ladders are beautifully modelled, as is the entire vehicle. It is excellently finished throughout, with a very high level of detail, especially for its comparitively small size – not to mention the reasonable price. The only obvious omission is the radiator badge but, at this scale, a couple of spots of red paint could represent this.

If this fantastic model has caught your eye, why not have a look at what Diecast Collector issues are available to buy online?