Matchbox Forest Service Guide: The National Parks Sister Series
Quick answer: Matchbox Forest Service is the white-and-green wildland firefighting sister theme to National Parks, with 22 releases between 2009 and 2024 across mainlines, multipacks, anniversary sets and Sky Busters. This page lists every confirmed model and what South African collectors should expect to pay.
If the seafoam green Matchbox National Parks theme is about rangers patrolling the parks, Matchbox Forest Service is about the crews who fight the fires. The two share DNA – realistic working vehicles, agency-style liveries, fleet numbers – and most collectors shelve them together. Forest Service swaps mint green for a white-and-green scheme built around wildland fire prevention.
The complete Forest Service checklist (2009-2024)
| # | Model | Year | Release | MAN # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Avalanche | 2009 | 10-Pack exclusive | MB546 |
| 2 | Land Rover Discovery | 2010 | 10-Pack exclusive | MB524 |
| 3 | Ground Breaker | 2010 | 10-Pack exclusive | MB707 |
| 4 | Baja Bandit | 2010 | 5-Pack: Camping Adventure | MB731 |
| 5 | Land Rover Defender 110 | 2010 | 5-Pack: Mountain Adventure | MB697 |
| 6 | Rescue Helicopter | 2010 | Sky Busters | SB55 |
| 7 | ’85 Toyota 4Runner | 2011 | 5-Pack: Camping Adventure | MB805 |
| 8 | Hydro Prop | 2011 | Sky Busters | SB69 |
| 9 | Ford F-550 Super Duty | 2012 | 5-Pack: Brush Fire Rescue | MB817 |
| 10 | Ford Explorer (white, green line) | 2012 | 1-120 mainline | MB118 |
| 11 | Ford F-350 Super Duty (rare) | 2013 | 60th Anniversary Series | MB837 |
| 12 | Blaze Blaster | 2015 | 1-120 mainline | MB897 |
| 13 | Highway Maintenance Truck | 2017 | 1-125 mainline | MB954 |
| 14 | Ford Expedition Police (color changer) | 2018 | Color Changers Series | MB1060 |
| 15 | CH-47 Chinook (Forest Ranger crest 147) | 2021 | Sky Busters | SB147 |
| 16 | Custom ’95 Chevy Van | 2021 | 9-Pack exclusive | MB1052 |
| 17 | Vantom | 2021 | 9-Pack semi-exclusive | MB863 |
| 18 | Blaze Buster | 2022 | Sky Busters | SB87 |
| 19 | 2016 Ram Flatbed | 2023 | 9-Pack exclusive | MB1177 |
| 20 | International WorkStar BrushFire Truck | 2023 | 1-100: MBX Adventure | MB939 |
| 21 | Ford Police Interceptor | 2024 | 1-100: MBX Metro | MB821 |
| 22 | Pierce Velocity 100ft Aerial Platform | 2024 | Working Rigs | RW015 |
Highlights worth hunting
2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty (60th Anniversary). Documented as rare on the community wiki, this is the Forest Service grail for most collectors. It crossed over with the anniversary line covered in our anniversary series guide.
CH-47 Chinook (2021). A heavy-lift helicopter in forest fire prevention markings – one of the best Sky Busters releases of the modern era and a display piece even non-Matchbox collectors notice.
Pierce Velocity 100ft Aerial Platform (2024). A big Working Rigs piece that closed out the theme’s most recent year. Working Rigs are larger and more detailed than the basic range – see the Working Rigs guide for how the line works.
Land Rover Defender 110 (2010). The natural favourite for South African collectors, from the Mountain Adventure 5-pack.
Forest Service vs National Parks at a glance
| National Parks | Forest Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Livery | Seafoam / mint green, Park Patrol markings | White with green striping, fire prevention crests |
| Years active | 2007 – present | 2009 – 2024 (22 releases) |
| Focus | General park ranger duties | Wildland firefighting and rescue |
| Aircraft | None | Sky Busters helicopters and planes |
| Premium releases | Mattel Creations Collectors models | None to date |
Buying in South Africa
Forest Service pieces were almost never officially ranged in South Africa, so the local market is importers and second-hand sellers. Loose commons run R80 – R200, carded multipack models R150 – R400, and the rare F-350 anniversary piece can pass R500 when one surfaces. Because stock is thin, set saved searches and be patient – and keep an eye on latest arrivals for anything ranger-flavoured that lands locally. New to the brand? The Matchbox series explained guide maps every line.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Matchbox Forest Service series?
Matchbox Forest Service is a companion theme to National Parks, decorating Matchbox vehicles in white and green wildland firefighting liveries. It ran from 2009 to 2024 with 22 documented releases, including Sky Busters aircraft such as the CH-47 Chinook and rescue helicopters.
How is Forest Service different from National Parks?
National Parks models are seafoam or mint green with Park Patrol and ranger markings, covering general park duties. Forest Service models are usually white with green striping and focus specifically on forest fire prevention and brush fire response. Many collectors treat them as one combined theme.
What is the rarest Matchbox Forest Service model?
The 2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty from the 60th Anniversary Series is documented by the Matchbox Cars Wiki as rare. The 2018 Ford Expedition Police from the Color Changers series is also scarce because that line had limited distribution.
Are Forest Service models available in South Africa?
They were rarely ranged at South African retail. Most local examples arrive through importers or the second-hand market, typically between R80 and R400 depending on the casting, with aircraft and anniversary pieces at the upper end.
Last reviewed: 2 October 2026 by the Unnew team. Checked against official sources – Hot Wheels, Matchbox and hobbyDB – plus the South African collector community.