CCF

My camera zoom and screen crapped out last night, haven't even had it for a year! Will have to send it away to Florida now, bu@@er! 

Rain in the morning, then overcast for the rest of the day. Looked like it was going to thunder like all letout right before I left work, but the storm seemed to miss us. Quite lucky as I had to ride my bike home today  :D

First day of driving school, three glorious hours of driving safety....... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz  :D

Was not much to do at work after driving school, so took out the trash and planted a few water plants around one of the boss' display fish ponds. 

Happy birthday Ben

Is the us ford edition the same as the uk version? and I take it theres no difference with the ford Dealer version apart from the box and wording ?

You are correct Mike, the only difference is the box and wording.

Well done mate, excellent conversion. Deffinately one way to get rid of the non steering axle! 

Finally got a good amount of rain last night, everything outside looks much better for it. Currently humid and 25ish degrees here.

Got up early to go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles for my Learner's Permit test...passed with a 95/100  ;D

Cheers chaps, I am glad you enjoyed my journal. 

Helped the boss push the petrol gator into a delivery van to be brought to the dealer...apparently he said that it needs a new engine..typical  :D

Good start Nick, will look forward to seeing this topic progress.. 

Went down to the Registry Of Motor vehicles, only to find that I could not take the learners permit test today because they had stopped admitting anyone else for the day only three minutes before I arrived 

Does anyone know how many have been produced

I believe the number produced was determined by the number of orders before late July on this order, Graeme. 

Maybe if they like it as much as those who have bought one over here the knock on efffect will be a few more 1/32 models being shifted in NA over time.

I hope so Tris...It seems like Ertl has been making a bigger push with the detail on their 1/32 tractors here as of late, in particular the Magnums and the Puma's. I can definitely see many first time 1/32 collectors who bought this model going back for future 1/32 releases if they prove to be as well made as this piece.

Good to see something other than that annoying hitch that they put on all their shelf models on this one, it does look like a very nice model Sean. I best go and pick one up while I still can as I have a feeling that it will run out quick in the US... I was surprised at the number of people in TTS that said they had ordered one.

*My apologies if you were not included into the storyline, I could only stand the mosquito's outside for as long as I did.

On the 4th of July, Cider Hill Farms hosted a vintage tractor rally. The event was a big success, and many tractor owners from near and far hauled their old iron down to northeast MA for the day. Everyone had a good time at the event, and Cider Hill Farms hopes to do this event again next year.

On the 3rd, all of the participants drove in their tractors for the next day:

On the fourth, the farm opened the gates to the event at 9 o'clock in the morning. Not long after the gates opened, we heard a loud roar from the bottom of the farm drive. A few minutes later, The evil Bazza pulled up into the field, making quite an entrance with his NH TJ530, even though it was not vintage. He quickly set up his stall, and began doing what he did best: selling off some of his stock from UTS to benefit the event. Even though he was on temporary jail release and was not being supervised, he seemed to be on his best behaviour. One might question that he may be up to something:

The farm owner managed to walk around and take a few pictures of the tractor rally towards the end of the day. First up in the line was BBLQO92's Super M, a very nicely restored tractor:

Next up was an IH 300U owned by Tris, another nicely restored tractor:

After the IH 300U was Garret's Farmall 300, a very nicely restored tractor:

Following the Farmall 300 was a Massey Ferguson 98 GM owned by Marky Fordson, a very interesting tractor:

Even Kiwi6920 managed to attend the event after he finished disking. He brought his fully restored John Deere 4620, almost identical to the one that we own at Cider Hill farms:

We cleaned up our Farmall A the night before, and put it in the show. It is still in surprisingly good condition, considering that it has only been restored once, and is still used daily around the farm for light jobs:

Next up was Old Ford's old John Deere GP on steel wheels, a true piece of  farming history:

Following Old Ford was Sean with his IH 5288, quite a large tractor even by today's standards:

Next, Mandy showed up with her IH 560. A very well taken care of machine:

Last, but definitely not least, Jason Hasert from the USA came with his Case 1570 Spirit of 76', quite an appropriate tractor for the occasion. It's not everyday that you find a tractor as nice as this at a vintage tractor rally:

The USA and British flags were flown high over the farm that day:

An overall shot of the event near the end of the day:

At the end of the day, we launched off several fireworks for the 4th of July. Many people stayed for the event, and some other people came. The farm owner got one shot of the beginning of the grand finale:

Overall it was a great day down at the farm, certainly a great way to spend the 4th.

One note to Marky from Mrs. Safety: your $20 ticket will double to $40 if it is not paid by Sunday

are any pea harvesters available as modell/toy somewhere? Possibly a conversion based an a combine harvester?

By the way, very interesting pictures in here - for the farmers in my region unbelievable under which weather and soil conditions these harvesters work; over here in the lower Rhine area (Germany) any work on the fields is only done in dry conditions if ever possible ....

Jason Cutts has done a Ploeger EPD 500 (?) pea harvester in 1/32. He is a member on here

Some more excellent work mate, looks like a lot of time an effort went into each one of those...it is quite a bonus that the Britains hitches can keep them up  :D

The past few days have been perfect...20-23 degrees with breezes and clouds each day...could use a day of rain though, the plants are not looking very happy from the two 35 degrees we had last week 

Cut the grass at the neighbours for them as they are away, now reading through 5 pages of unreads...you lot have been busy today  :D

Got an e-mail from Outback Toys that stated the IH 806 Precision from Ertl would not be released until November. I am really starting to get disappointed with Ertl...can't get their models right, and now can't even get their delivery dates within a ballpark. I really think that there is no excuse that the model has to be delayed four additional months... especially considering that the prototype images have already been released and that it has been publicly announced for June delivery at least three months ago... 

vent over, sorry chaps 

Cracking shots Chris, around what date was the pea harvesting taking place? 

Absolutely brilliant Tim - I am so honoured to be a part of your awesome journal.....

Thank you soooooooooooooooo much

Thanks Mandy 

Brilliant Timmy B.. as always mate...

Now Garrett... not being funny... but one of my sandwiches has gone from my box this afternoon... did you bring a packed lunch...

As for Mrs Safety... you can whistle for your $20 Wilson 

Thanks Marky...you best pay up though as that ticket will double in price for every week that it is not paid  :D

No problem Marky I might have a spare sambo or 2 another great read Tim

Lucky you Marky I'm selling flowers like a big girl  :D :D only kidding Tim great stuff

Thanks Garret...sorry about the flowers but someone had to sell them. I will put Marky on the flowers next time 

Cracking as ever Tim  :D

I thought the evil one had destroyed that 3630 or whatever it is  :D

Nice signature too mate 

It was fixed....again  :D

Cheers mate, glad you like the signature too 

Start on this one then

Was the driver o.k. Graeme?  \