What is a “recue”? Is that when you go to cue something up, make a mistake and recue it? Ha ha! Still, I am not exactly fussed, because I took that photo, and well, 30 seconds later I took this one…. Again a very nice design. These models all look to have been very tastefully and respectfully created honouring those who just kept on going during the most difficult of times. And as well as this one, we have also seen this is in the Thank You Heroes set at the start of the year. And in 2009 it was added to the German Euro Edition series too in a Feuerwehr design. I see a little 58 on the side of the models. Hmm! I wonder if a certain Michael Heralda had anything to do with this one? Yes I was out in the garden with these utilizing a few of the Action Driver playsets as I felt they were a good fit.

Next up is the MB1178 International TerraStar Ambulance. This is sporting the Boone County Fire District Emergency Medical Services livery. Or MCI vehicle as it is often referred to, standing for Mass Casualty Incident vehicle. You might notice on the door it states MCI 514. Picture courtesy of Keith Hoskins Yes I was enjoying myself with these, and didn’t want to forget the photos after all that went into doing them. So I hope you didn’t mind this report going into extra time.Hazard Squad. Yes this is a Matchbox originals design, but can you tell what the real one is? Picture courtesy of Keith Hoskins The MB186 Dodge Dakota was brand new to the US market in 1987 as MB17. It featured a slightly raised suspension, as well as chrome roll bars with spotlights in the rear bed too. And yes I do know that one of spotlights on mine got slightly squashed. It happens with these and I have recently changed the way I store this model before they all ended up either bent or broken. The model was then added to the ROW range as MB50 in 1988 too. The thing is, it was only sold like this in the basic range. The ROW range dropped it after 1990, but it continued in the US range until 1993. Always in this red design, with a small caveat if you read on. There were 7 models in this set including 5 miniatures, 1 Working Rig and this Skybuster. It is pretty rare for me to show Skybusters as I don’t collect them, but this is the SB86 Airblade.

But it is really nice seeing the new Ambulance casting getting more use. Plus being a real one is always nice too. Again, this is a nice colour scheme, and a white ambulance always works week with a real license. In 2002 the model was sold worldwide as MB44, and being a logo year meant the first 10,000 of these sported a 50 logo behind the rear wheels.Again this is a real livery, and this time it is spot on. No slight tweaks or anything. It even has MCI 514 on the door. Well actually, just in front this time. Of course the actual model is not of the real one that Boone County use, but Matchbox has already done one with the tooling that is closest to it. You may notice the star of life is not there. There are issues as it is its own mini-license and does require additional verifications before production. So they simply left it off this time.