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My ColorComp Customs; Cutom Diecast Ambulances
Topic Started: Aug 6 2014, 11:22 AM (1,558 Views)
ems90
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Starting in 2003, I thought about getting some custom ambulances done for a Paramedic Convention we were hosting in Toronto in partnership with our Provincial Paramedic Association. I sat on the board of our local Paramedic Chapter in Toronto then and worked with a dear friend in Stoney Creek, Ontario named Doug Johnston who introduced me to a company he'd known about in New Jersey called ColorComp Inc. He was my "middleman" for my first custom project which resulted in 300 Matchbox Ford Type III MB51K Ambulances being created in August of that year.

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The success of this initial ambulance prompted me to continue working with Bill and the gang at ColorComp on several more projects, re-creating more Matchbox MB51K Ambulances in my Department's old and current livery.

After a 4 year gap, my next ColorComp project resulted in 400 units of my Departments (Toronto EMS) current livery.

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This unit saw 2 successful runs bringing the total produced to 700.

In a partnership between our local Toronto Association and our Department's Pioneers Association, a retro version was created in September 2007 showing our old vehicle design prior to 2000. 300 of these units made it out to collectors with the funds raised being split 50 50 between the 2 Associations

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With the success of these model ambulances, I started to get calls from other services to help them get their units done as mementos for thier staff and VIP guests. The first to contact me was a small service just outside of Toronto - Rama First Nations EMS. With their assistance and the expertise of ColorComp, we created 200 units in their service livery.

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(pic borrowed from Jim Hoshaw's Public afety Diecast)

The next service to contact me in 2008 was Niagara EMS, they had a newly released eye catching vehicle design that they wanted re-created in diecast, so May of 2008 saw the first run of Niagara's new unit design.

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Niagara also came back to me for a re-run, a couple of years later, but sadly ColorComp was running out of the Matchbox Ford MB51K's, so we subbed in a very close replica from Realtoy.

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In November of 2008, my "Special Teams" Commander at work, Peter Rotolo asked if we could do a few short runs of the Specialty units in our Fleet - Tactical, CBRN and ERU, of course I obliged and in January, 2009 these three units debuted in short runs of 50 each.

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At the same time as the Toronto EMS "Specialty Units", I was also working with Mississauga, Ontario's branch of St. John Ambulance to re-create their vehicle design for a Gala fund-raiser they were having in January of 2009. It was back to the wizards at ColorComp and the result was 2 runs of this design resulting in a total production run of 525.

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In late 2008, another Toronto EMS Special Team was celebrating their 10th anniversary and the Management team approached me to help commemorate this event by having their unit re-created in diecast form, so in February of 2009 a release of 50 CCTU (Critical Care Transport Ambulances) came to fruition.

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(pic borrowed from Public Safety Diecast)

In May of 2009, 2 short runs were produced as a "feeler" for 2 other services in the Greater Toronto Area - Peel EMS and Simcoe County EMS, both had small runs of 50 units done on the Realtoy Ford E-350 Type III Casting.

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Another service contacted me for thier units as well. Kitchener Waterloo EMS commissioned me for 3 runs of their units with the first run debuting in April 2010, the final total for KW EMS was 3 runs totalling 645 units.

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My last ColorComp project was a new run for St. John Ambulance, Toronto, featuring thier new vehicle design. In April 2010, 225 units debuted in this newly designed livery

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I've really enjoyed working with ColorComp on these projects, sadly there are no more Ford Type III Blank ambulances to be found anywhere. I know a number of us have tried. I wish Matchbox would produce their current Ford E-350 in blanks and make them available to collectors for customizing projects. I know I'd have a lot more projects created.

Thanks for viewing, I hope you've enjoyed seeing a bit of my passion. I know several of you have these units in your collections. It was my pleasure to bring them to you.

Glen
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cody6268
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The Toronto EMS and older SJAS units have been on my "want" list for at least a couple years now. It now looks like I'm going to have to add all the rest.

Other than the Matchbox ones, I don't think I've never seen most of these before.

The Realtoys look great with the all-around markings. One thing that bugs me about that casting. They call it a Ford F-Series, when it clearly isn't.

Do you plan to have an ORNGE air ambulance made?

I agree that the Ford needs to have a blank version. Having an interior makes it better than the old one, but the old one was all metal. But how did LIFE EMS get theirs directly from Mattel?
Edited by cody6268, Aug 6 2014, 04:56 PM.
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Douglas
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I think I'd seen many of these on the other board over the years, but they're great looking ambulances Glen, and good to see them all together here.... Color Comp sure did a nice job with them too.
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Brian49
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I was able to get a number of these models over the years, every one of them looks great.

As for Life EMS, if you are willing to pay Mattel is willing to do the run. I understand the cost is high, as well as the number of units one would have to order.
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Stampede
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Awesome! It's always nice to see models that are truly unique, and these fit the bill!

I'd like to get my hands on some of these one day! Now this leads me to wonder, have there been any British Columbia Ambulance Service promo models?..
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ems90
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cody6268
Aug 6 2014, 04:39 PM
"Do you plan to have an ORNGE air ambulance made? "

Here ya go Cody......

Here's the current Ornge AW-139 - 1 of only 2 made based on the SkyPilot Model - can be done again, but not cheaply.

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I'm not good at customization so I've relied on others to help me out with customs in my collection. Here's a current Matchbox Ford E-350 done in Ornge livery by a great customizer and decal master "Crazy" Dave Kinne.

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...and last but not least...a Schylling 1/43 scale version.

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Glen
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ems90
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Stampede
Aug 6 2014, 07:06 PM


"Now this leads me to wonder, have there been any British Columbia Ambulance Service promo models?.."

Well Mr. Stampede......

A 1/43 scale Custom Schylling

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Glen
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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
These are such great promo models that Glen has had produced over the years through Color Comp. Thanks to Glen, I have been fortunate to have most of them in my collection - think I am missing the Region of Waterloo and St. John First Response Ambulances in my collection.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Those are extremely cool!
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Stampede
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ems90
Aug 6 2014, 07:59 PM
Well Mr. Stampede......

A 1/43 scale Custom Schylling

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Glen
[/quote]Thanks for the pics! That is one that I will need to keep an eye out for....I see those really often (although BCAS is turning to the Chevrolet chassis more now..)
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Dean-o-mite
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I wish I had even just a few of these.
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