Daryl

I've only just started getting into things again, i too was raised in the country and adored my little Britains empire. I bought a Case Magnum tractor recently, i thought the quality and detail was really good, although the turning circle was rubbish and the hydraulics seem a bit weak. Overall i thought it was a really nice model. So based on this, i bought another Case, a CVX1145 with loader which was a bit of a disappointment. If i put them both together, its hard to believe they are from the same manufacturer. The difference in quality and detail is unbelievable, sadly. I appreciate things change with demand etc, but i would have expected a closer level of consistency. D

I'm glad you said that, its now sat on the shelf behind me Quite a nice model, the header's a bit rubbish, doesn't turn and its flimsy. Doesn't help that the dog has taken an interest! I can see my old TR85 being a back up for breakdowns!

I've just spotted one of these at a local shop who have a sale on. Its up at 19.99. I know this is a good price, but what's it actually like compared with the other Britains combines? Am i better off paying more for say the NH or Case. There was one in a display cabinet but it was difficult to get a good look at it. Its an ugly looking thing but i kind of like that! Thanks D

Ha, no my rekindled interest is too young for that at the moment. I used to have one every year as a kid though. I had a fair few combines with swiss roll headers, party ring wheels and curly wurly augers

Yep she's arrived. and what a beauty it is too! I'll get some pics of it tonight. Not been able to have a play yet, our wedding is only a week away!

don't know yet, the tractor is still in transit. A nice orange marston trailer would look well behind her too

Made the first contribution to my newly started collection. Bit of an impulse purchase really as i saw it going cheap. I'm having a Case Magnum delivered hopefully over the weekend. It looks a bit of a ploughing beast

ha!

Afraid not, it appeared sometime last week and then vanished almost as fast. I don't think the auction ran it's course

I think there was one on ebay a couple of weeks ago. I don't think there are too many around, most of my friends as kids didn't bother getting it. I got mine as a present when i was in hospital aged 8!

It was just a recoloured TR85 with a maize head. Where the TR85 had the flat corn effect top, the Corn king had a smaller tank in the front half of the tank insert and an engine behind. It was just the TR85 with the TR's yellow bits in green and its red parts in yellow. The cab was yellow too. I think it was the first model to have Britains first effort of producing a straw chopper. I cut some JD badges and stuff out of a combine brochure and stuck them over the corn king writing, and pretended the maize head was a pick up header! It didn't get much carpet mileage, it was a bit of a non entity to me as a kid, it didn't look like anything really

nice collection I still have my very worn and used workhorses from my childhood. There's a lot of hours on the clock. MF 760 TR85 Corn King! Thats it at the moment. Hoping to acquire a few in the future though.

why no trollies? Whats wrong with these people?! What do you use trolley wise for your Britains? I remember as a kid, i used to prise the end caps off the axles on my TR85, pull the axle out and take the header off. I used to lay it on top of an old muck spreader for the trolley! Happy days

Joe - How about the CR980, is it as good as the CX? I like the look of the Case. Do Britains still do an MF? I can't see one in any of the shop listings. Thanks D

Thanks, they don't still make it though do they?

I like the NH's but i like the JD's too. Decisions!

Wow! You're fond of the CX880 then?!

Joe - How many combines have you got?! I want them all when i see them! I need to restrain myself!

Right, so looking at the UH stuff, the Laverda, MF and Fendt are the same is that right? So in terms of authenticity, are the Laverda and Fendt available in the UK or jut the MF, like the Lexion is marketed as a CAT in the US? And whats a Challenger? looks the same model but never heard of a Challenger before. Combines have always been my primary interest and i've got the Clayson Jaditoy top of the list at the moment

Hi again. Following the recent rekindling of my interest in tractor stuff, combine stuff and agricultural stuffage in general, i'm itching to start my new collection. Whilst i've downsized somewhat from the vast expanse of carpetry i studiously farmed in my pre adolescence (i grew up in a 3 bed detached, and have scaled down to a 2 bed end terrace). You may recall from my last post that i was wanting to replicate my childhood empire. As predicted by those of you who replied to my first thread, my head is already turned by some of the new stuff thats available. So, my question is this. I'm going to get a new combine and put the TR85 out to grass. What would you chaps recommend? I like the Britains NH's, and the JD's. And then i saw the Case, and then i looked a little further outside of Britains, and saw the Fendts, the MF's, the Lexions and the Tucano and the Laverda! When i was a kid, it was either the red one or the yellow one and now i'm spoilt for choice! I know you'll all have different opinions, but which do you reckon would be best to go for and what should i look out for. Sorry if this is a numpt question or in the wrong place. Thanks Daryl

Thank you

Just been out with the dog. Spotted an old 1983 NH 8050 bringing in some very late barley and in the next field a 1996 Dominator Classic 76 in wheat. I want to get my toys out!

Well, thank you all for your comments. I feel very welcome, which is more than can be said for some of the cliquey vw forums i've frequented in the past. Incidentally, i've spent most of the afternoon under the camper van, laid in the damp, and thinking fondly of the times ahead that can be spent in the dry and warmth with my new hobby! I'm overwhelmed a little by people's replys and views. I only found this forum a few weeks ago and only registered this week. Harvest time always unearthed my childhood memories and longing to get involved. I had a ride in a JD combine when i was about 11, otherwise its been carpet wearing for me. I reluctantly parked up my TR 85 when i was about 13. I always longed for an 8000 series sperry newholland, and i've finally found one since joining here! Thanks for your kind wishes regarding the wedding, which is 3 weeks today. My dad asked me if there was anything i needed when he comes over next week, so i asked if he could nip in the loft and dig out my mb trac, tw35, mf2680 and whatever else he cab find! I have seen some of the models other companies produce, but my heart will always have a fondness for the toys that brought my childhood dreams alive. I still remember, aged 4, my dad counting all the pennies and coins in my moneybox and telling me i finally had enough for an MF760. It came in a straw box (i think thats what people in the know call them?) and my dad played his wurzels vinyl LP as i made my first carpet harvest!

Lord Ferguson - Yes, i have heard of the 590. I am positive my old Masseys, (thinking about it, there might have been 3) were all 595's. I would have been 3 or 4 so it would have been 81/82/83. I know in all the junk in the loft there are still the old chassis from them and a couple of bonnets and mudguards. I know for certain the wheels were slotted. BUT, i keep thinking that the ones my uncle says he has in his loft might have a 590 among them. My cousin would have acquired them roundabout the mid 70s. I get married in 3 weeks, i'll ply him with drink and have a word!!! ha! Thank you all for your kind welcomes. I'm pleased if people have chuckled at my ramblings. That wasn't my intention, but i realised the other day how humourous things must have been when my parents were explaining my childhood antics to my fiance. Apparently, there were some delicate negotiations to evict my brother from his bedroom when i was about 9, as i was very concerned about some late winter wheat that needed bringing in!!

Hi, i'm intrigued by your comment, as common as a burnt out Massey. I remember a local farmer had a 1986 MF 29 or 31(?) combine. It burnt out, then there was a later one, a 38 or something burnt out. Masseys disappeared very quickly near us. Everyone started running NH TX's. Is this a fairly common problem? I must say when i was a kid when i was absolutely obsessed with them, the MFs were the most common i used to see, i don't think i've seen any in my area for the last 10 seasons or so?