Fire Rescue (Lanard Action Rescue)
Lanard’s Action Rescue series, focused on fire, rescue and police themes is an interesting line to collect. Within Hasbro’s 1/18 scale GI Joe world, we don’t get much material that can be used to replicate real-world people and vehicles within play patterns. I know as a kid I would have liked to have a few regular folks, or at least police and firefighters to populate my scenes. When I played with Marx-style army men, I often mixed in firemen and cops to help out when needed. After all, when Joe and Cobra throw down on Main Street, who’s gonna manage the crowds and deal with the collateral damage?
The Fire Rescue set presents what I think is one of the most fantastic pieces of non-military gear available at this scale. The design is modern, yet still leans toward the futuristic. I’ve not seen a six-wheeled and flat nosed ladder truck in my area, but I’m certain that it would be the coolest looking ride for whatever fire department had it. The design brings to mind something you might see as part of a crash crew at an airport or airbase.
The Lanard vehicles in general are built fairly tough. The main body plastic is usually sturdy and thick ABS. While the detailing isn’t as fine as what you’ll see on classic Hasbro vehicles, the overall presentation is nice, if more overtly toylike than the 80s and 90s GI Joe line. Play features are the real selling point for me, and the truck features opening doors (again the cabin isn’t too detailed) and the top opens to reveal space for several figures (and the included Dalmatian!). Electronic lights and sounds were built into this particular version, something that was on-again, off-again within this series. I’ve seen samples of police Humvees both with and without electronics. I don’t know if the fire rescue was sold without them. The working ladder is nice, and extends an impressive distance. Another variant with these toys and their drivers was the “dirty” details. The grime here isn’t too thick, and adds a bit of realism to what is otherwise a very clean looking design.
The truck also came equipped with a driver, a generic firefighter figure. The body molds for these guys were pretty interchangeable, but I enjoy this particular figure’s helmet and breathing apparatus combination. I think Barbecue would look great fitted with this kind of gear.
I can’t get enough of Lanard vehicles, be they classic or modern CORPS!, Construction or Action Rescue. Like the figures, the vehicles’ design and construction may not float every Joe collector’s boat, but the cut a unique silhouette and feature some of the best play features and figure interaction you could ask for.
As a kid, there were a few vehicles that I wanted. A firetruck was at the top of the list. I had some great Tonka fire trucks that were in scale. But, the doors didn’t open so it couldn’t hold figures. Thus, the plan value was limited.
I’d have loved a vehicle like this. Aside from putting figures inside, the ladder and water guns would have provided hours of fun. For a CORPS figure, that firefighter is pretty cool, too. I’d have loved 2 things in the vintage Joe line: a new take on the BBQ character in more traditional firefighter gear and a repaint of Clean Sweep in a metallic color scheme like an “airport” firefighter from my youth.
I seem to recall a take on this firetruck being available at some point in the past 16 or 18 years. But, at this point, it could be faulty memory or recollections of an online dealer carrying them. Either way, I didn’t take advantage.
Speaking of vehicles, you know that massive bomber plane prototype you saw hanging from the ceilings at the recent Lanard Warehouse Sale you went to? Well, I actually SAW the toy in a shop over here in the UK just yesterday…
Its under the CORPS brand, the box was at least 4 foot long and it has lights and sounds. It comes with the modern pilot figure, the one with the moulded on helmet and airmask…the box was so large it even has a built in carry handle…it retails for about $80…I also saw a massive, odd shaped tank and an even bigger boat. Have you seen them Stateside? Its amazing Lanard can release a toy as massive as that and yet Hasbro bemoan about ‘tooling Dollars’…
I even saw both 3 packs with the new female figures…not worth the price over here just for those figures when you get two rubbishy figures with them…
Btw, I agree, Lanards generic Rescue sets and vehicles were great, another one I recall was a very Volvo Station Wagon (as you’d called them), we’d refer to them as ‘Estate Cars’, Police Car…
The design’s okay, but I’d prefer a more conventional looking porkchop sandwiches rescue truck.
This is cool to play out bar b qs dad being kidnapped by the Baroness.
Then there are many episodes that feature firemen coming to the aid of civilians after a battle in enterprise city or son other place…..
I was going to make a joke about Carl Pilkingtons monkey fireman story but instead, i’m going to say that it reminds me of Inferno [not the autobot] from Hasbro’s short lived C.O.P.S line
The fire dog is a nice touch!