1:24 Citroen C4 Fire Brigade

Citroën C4 Fire Brigade in 1:24 scale, Heller

A plastic kit of the fire-service configuration of the historic Citroën C4 in the large 1:24 scale. Beware of confusion: the subject is the interwar C4, not the modern hatchback of the same name nor a rally specification. The manufacturer states that this special version of the C4, called the Pompier, served with the French fire service and received a body and equipment adapted to that. The manufacturer also keeps the same car as a set with paints, but that is a different item.

The real subject

The Citroën C4 was presented at the Paris motor show in 1928 and by 1932 about 121 thousand units of it had been built. It was a robust, simple car with rear-wheel drive, that is still from the time before the Traction Avant model. It was precisely that simplicity that made it a favored basis for utility bodies: vans, ambulances and fire pumps. The fire-service version carried a ladder, a hose reel and an open seat for the crew, so considerably more mechanical detail is visible on the model than on a passenger car.

Building and painting tips

Proceed from the frame and the engine; with an open body the engine block is clearly visible and cannot be hidden. Glue the hose reel and the ladder on only after painting, otherwise you will make the seams inaccessible. On the body a gloss finish in thin coats and a fine shading of the rivets pay off. Determine the paint shade from pictorial reference of the particular car, not from the name of the set.

Who the model is for

• collectors of fire service equipment
• those interested in French classic cars of the 1930s
• modelers who want a large scale and plenty of detail
• those who like open bodies with an exposed engine

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not part of the package, unless stated otherwise.